NEWTOWNSANDES
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SUNDAY: When did Sunday go from being the Day of the Lord to an hour for the Lord…maybe…unless…you know….there is something more interesting or important in my life?
That is where it is for the overwhelming members of the USA, Canada, and Europe. I daresay that even the overwhelming majority of those who identify as Roman Catholics are the same.
I remember, as a child, that the only places open on Sunday were churches and hospitals (maybe there were others). The only people who had to work were emergency, medical, law enforcement, and ministers/priests. I don’t remember there being organized sports leagues (non-professional) or practices scheduled on Sundays.
I suppose, as Church and God became less important in our culture, that the concept of a day of rest did as well. Now everything except Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A seems to be open, sports have soaked up even the Sunday mornings (got to get all the games for the tournaments in), and Sunday is as busy as the rest of the week. I am sure that isn’t contributing to how worn out most people feel. Not at all.
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KINGDOM PICKLEBALL CLUB are hosting an OPEN Night in Listowel Community Centre on TUESDAY 13th January from 7 to 8 p.m. to give you a chance to try out playing Pickleball, the world's fastest growing sport. Pickleball is fun, social, easy to learn and seriously addictive! Come along, bring a friend, and experience Pickleball. You will love it! Adults all ages and abilities ( 18+).
LISTOWEL KARATE CLASSES: Kerry Martial Arts School are recommencing karate and self-defence classes in Presentation Secondary School Hall on Monday 12th January. All ages from 4 to adults welcome at 6pm. Contact (089) 490 7724 for further information or search Kerry Martial Arts School on Facebook.
Feb 2026.
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OLYMPICS: by Junno Arocho Esteves
(OSV News) – As the world prepares for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Catholic Church in the host city has launched an initiative to ensure that amid the competitions and stress, athletes can find a place to pray and reflect.
At a press conference in Milan Jan. 23, the Archdiocese of Milan unveiled the launch of “For Each Other,” a program that will coincide with the Feb. 6-22 Olympic Games and the March 6-15 Paralympic Games.
“For me, the aim of our contribution is to be against the banality of sport, meaning sport reduced to performance, to exaggerated competitiveness, to business, to idolatry,” said Archbishop Mario Delpini of Milan.
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Tribute
John Lynch was born on a family farm in Kilgarvan Ballylongford in 1935. He attended school in Coolard N.S. and St. Michaels College before proceeding to third level education finishing his studies in 1957 with a Diploma in Dairy Science.
He spent the following 36 years in the creamery industry in Clare and Kerry before retiring in 1993. During his early years he developed a keen interest in the cine business first handling a movie camera in 1969. In1971 he acquired a second hand semi-professional Bolex 16mm camera for £160.00. This had a wind up motor, no light meter and no sound recording ability. Any sound track would have to be recorded separately with an audio recorder before being added to the 16mm film. John also had a keen interest in local history and he used his Bolex to document many gatherings and events for posterity. He captured a simpler way of life that has now largely vanished. Hand milking the cattle, use of the horse drawn plough, thatchers at work, the cobbler producing hand crafted shoes and many more scenes and traditions that have vanished in the mists of time.
In 1982 John teamed up with Michael Mulcahy a sound engineer from Ardagh Co. Limerick to buy their first video camera. Michael had previously worked with John to produce backing tracks for his films. This enabled them to produce programs with synchronised sound, which gave them great freedom. John currently has about 250 hours of continuous video material, Michael would have something similar in addition to his sound recordings.
John also was ably assisted by the late Tim Griffin who was invaluable in setting up a lot of the locations that John used for recording. Not forgetting to mention the Poet John Malachy Raftery who narrated some of his excellent compositions on a number of John’s productions to great effect. A special mention to the late Eamonn Keane for his wonderful scripts and narration on Johns films “The way I remember it”and Bliain Dar Saol
John’s work was recognised by RTE who screened a compilation of some of his productions as part of the Home Movie nights series in 1998.
John has decided to give easier access to his work to the general public by uploading his recordings to You Tube under the heading “John Lynch collection” on a phased basis. There are currently in excess of 50 titles live on You Tube to view with more being added.
There will also be links to this material posted on facebook on the “Listowel Do you know?” page.
The archive section of Kerry County Library is currently in the process of incorporating Johns work as an asset for the general public.
https://theadvertiser.ie/john-lynch-capturing-moving-life-since-1969/
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David Kissane
stSdornopem1843,f6f1a 572aM1a2c4ucc55cfh0cfa7at2gh0c531 l00r ·
Maurice O'Mahony who was a committee member of Coolard Open Sports, held annually on Easter Sunday for ten years. Now read about one year of those famous sports...
Easter Rising in Coolard
By David Kissane
My father used to say that Easter was never on time. It was always late or early. Indeed the formula for calculating the Christian Easter is based on the calendar of nature: the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox.
There was a special athletic significance to Easter a number of years ago in North Kerry and beyond. It was the occasion of the first track and field sports of the year in the region. Maybe in Ireland. And Coolard in the parish of Ballydonoghue was the venue. And there was no athletic club in the parish. Never was. Still isn’t. The paradox of life that we thrive on in Ireland.
The Coolard Sports were organised by a local committee for ten busy years between 1977 and 1987. It was the harbinger of summer athletics for many. Canon Sheehan of Cork wrote a book called The Magic of Spring. It could have been about the Coolard Sports. A local committee organised a sports in Coolard. Same celebration. Different disciplines. Located on the eastern side of Ballydonoghue Parish, Coolard is an area you might never have heard of if you weren’t local. It has a historic importance with a monument to The Gabha Beag, a local Robin Hood figure who was hanged twice. Yeah, twice. The rope didn’t work the first time because the rebel had a hidden collar to protect his neck. The second time, well, the less said on that the better. The area’s proximity to the youthful home of Herbert Horatio Kitchener whose image is on that famous World War 1 poster is also significant. “Your country needs you.” He never boasted of being reared in such a beautiful place. On the contrary, he mentioned something about a stable. Real local sportsmen and women, though are proud of their association with the Coolard area, notably Eddie Dowling who played for Kerry in that famous Polo Grounds All Ireland final of 1947 in New York. A warrior to the end.
If you were an athlete around this time of the year coming up to Easter in, say 1985, you would have been dusting off the cobwebs from hibernating hamstrings and calving calf-muscles. Something new would be dancing within you. Spikes would be unearthed from the cowshed and yes, you forgot to take off the cross country-length spikes and they are rusted in over tat wet winter. Not to worry, you may need the longer spikes as the going could be soft-to-yielding in the new Coolard GAA field. Only recently developed there won’t be dust on it till August. No indoor training done of course. The only indoor training done in the 1980s was watching TV and having to get off the chair to turn it on and off. No remote controls then either. You are like a newly-born heifer hopping to get out into the springness of life, revving up and raring to go into the fresh green fields. A few Easter eggs, you know the soft ones wrapped in the coloured silver paper that Behan’s and Hegarty’s and Moss Joe’s used to sell at Lisselton Cross, would be downed on Easter Sunday morning. After having given up all sweets for Lent and you would be full of eye-popping carbs and the joy of Easter and off then to Coolard and let the good times roll. As the primroses peeped out along the ditches of Coolard, with the daffodils in their prime around Janemount nearby, it was time to end hibernation. Real spring here we come.
In that year, 1985, you would have to queue outside the gate as there was a massive crowd heading for the venue. Heaven was there with smiling faces at the gates. Senior and juvenile events were on the programme and the bad weather of the previous few days and especially overnight had not dampened enthusiasm. You cannot stop the spring of youth. There had to be a pitch inspection on the morning, but the decision was that all was runnable. Despite the loss of county board starter Mick Clifford to a bad dose of the flu, there was no shortage of deputies to take his place. You can hear Donal O’Sullivan’s tannoy asking people to keep off the track. Maurice O’Mahony, the dynamic local school principal, and his dedicated experienced committee, are orchestrating the harmony of the day. The committee of 1985 of Gerald Fitzgerald, Teresa Flavin, Ned Bolger, Tom Leane, Pat Griffin, Sarah Buckley, George O’Donnell, John Joe O’Donnell, Enda Kilgallon, Ann Dillon, Anne O’Mahony, Peggy Fitzgerald and Marie Leane are calmly in control. These people are among those who have made the parish what it is. One of the women on that committee, Ann Dillon of Carhoonaknock (one of the coolest-sounding townland names in Ireland!) had seen President Kennedy in person in College Green on his visit to Dublin in 1963. Many other people contributed their time and expertise over the previous and future years of the sports.
At 2pm, the spring of athletics begins. An underground stream of excitement is about to become a river of possibilities. The wonder of athletics has been released. The universe of those present, whether athletes, officials, parents or supporters, will belong to Coolard and to Coolard alone for these precious hours. Classical in intention, human in content, fulfilling in experience.
The singlets of the clubs of the time from Kerry and West Limerick could be seen around the field first events were called on that long-ago day. Killorglin, Farranfore Maine Valley, Tarbert, Clounalour, Ríocht, St John’s, North Kerry AC, Feale Harriers, Broadford, Lios Tuathail, St Michael’s AC, St Ita’s Abbeyfeale and more were milling to get going.
In the juvenile events, Shane Hartnett (Lios Tuathail), Michael O’Brien (Spa Fenit), Michael Hassett (Killorglin), Jerry Reidy (Feale Valley), Enda Keady (Clounalour), John O’Sullivan (Ríocht), Ken Hernan (Clounalour), Declan O’Connor (North Kerry), Seán Mulvihill, Sharon Leahy (North Kerry), Michelle Molyneaux (St Michael’s), Marie Collins (St Ita’s), Cathriona Hannafin (St John’s), Sinéad Nolan (Riocht), Breda Joy (North Kerry), Siobhán Lyndon (Tarbert), Yasmin McGinley Tarbert), Aisling O’Carroll (Moyvane), Helen O’Rourke and Freda Davoren (North Kerry). That same Freda was to break Irish records and represent her country in the years ahead.
The senior events saw impressive performances by Tommy Kerins (Clounalour), Brian O’Connor (Coolard), Simon Clifford, Peter Murphy while Mike Cox from Ballylongford proved best in the 56lbs for distance. In the senior women’s events, Mairead Kennedy of Ríocht was a star in the 800m while Helen McMahon of Limerick was lauded in the long jump. But a local star in sports like these puts a special gloss on the day and Norma Leane from down the road was such a star, winning the shot and the high jump in style for her club Lios Tuathail. She would make a name for herself, her club and her school in the years ahead.
There were track and field events but there was also a 5 mile road race around the undulating land of Coolard. This was run while the track and field events were in progress and then the road runners finished their race in the field, always to tremendous acclaim. Previous to 1985, the names on the winning trophy in this road race included Sonny Fennell, Des O’Connor, Willie Counihan, John Lenihan, Tom Lenihan and the three Griffin brothers, John, Stephen and Liam. And it was Liam Griffin (St John’s)who took the honours for a second time that year ahead of rising star Noel Stack (Clounalour) and Séamas Enright (North Kerry) but Lios Tuathail took the team event there with Risteárd Pierse leading his team home in 5th position. The women’s road race was won by Eibhlín Lovett of Kilmoyley ahead of C O’Sullivan and M Galvin of Lios Tuathail.
And there were also confined events in Coolard also, an opening for new athletes. There were big numbers involved in the various events which ensured a viable introduction to athletics. And of course the day’s activities finished with the inevitable thrill of the relays. The heavens opened during these relays but spirits were not dampened and there was an even distribution of prizes among the clubs. All good.
The importance of local sports like Coolard cannot be overstated. The provision of events confined to the parish ensured that new athletes could have a stage to do their thing. The athletes who took part in those confined events might never have the courage or present ability to participate in the open events. This is what’s missing from many counties’ events in recent years. A chance to enjoy an introductory standard of competition which might lead on to joining a club and moving on to the next level. The loss of open sports means a loss of potential athletes, a loss of numbers, a loss of the opportunity to taste the joy of athletics.
The comprehensive menu of track and field ensured as many disciplines as possible were catered for, including high jump and 56lbs which were not in all open sports those days. Even if these events were not available to all age-groups, at least they were visible and the younger eyes were fed with jump and throw feats. See first and then do.
The provision of a road race was a master stroke as road running was not always available at open sports and the events brought in the talented Liam Griffin and other impressive athletes that year and other years. In fact, that was the second road race in the parish of Ballydonoghue that Easter weekend as the GAA Sportsfield Committee had run a road race on Good Friday afternoon also. The road running boom had begun nationally and a massive crowd of over 400 runners and walkers turned up for that event. Kerry football star Jack O’Shea was on hand to present the prizes. The men’s race was won by Noel Stack, ahead of Willie Guiney and Stephen Enright. The women’s event was won by Ann Hennessy with Niamh Ward and Catherine Liston close behind. Over the next hour a host of run-and-giggle athletes wandered home to applause. A new celebration of Good Friday that became a tradition for a number of years on a weekend of athletics in Ballydonoghue Parish.
The Coolard Sports committee had been honoured in 1981 with a visit from national president, Fr John O’Donnell for their big day. An honour well earned. Local people doing extraordinary things. As the 1980s came to a close, so, unfortunately did these sports. But for ten great years, the members of the committee organised an Easter Rising in athletics on the green grasses of Coolard. There was a rightness to it all. Sourcing and sustaining the most natural and beautiful sport on earth. Keeping the flame alive.
One of the PROs who reported on Coolard Sports over the years, and who loved the occasion, was Tim Griffin. Tim passed away a number of years ago. Two members from that year of 1985, George O’Donnell and Anne O’Mahony have also since departed this life. Their part in promoting those vital local sports will not be forgotten. This article is dedicated to them, their families and the committee.
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From David Kissane
David Kissane
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On Swifter Feet
A Christmas story celebrating a national gold medal 50 years ago
(Photo shows Sonny Fennell in the 1970s)
By David Kissane
Fifty Christmasses ago a Kerry athlete won an All Ireland cross country championship. He crossed the finish line in front of 249 other athletes in Belfield on Sunday, December 7th, 1975. He won the All Ireland BLE intermediate championship over 6 miles by 80 yards from the nearest challenger.
A runaway victory and rare enough as not too many home-based Kerry athletes had won national individual titles in cross country. Ardfert’s Tom O’Riordan had won the AAEU senior cross country championship in 1963 for Donore Harriers. Tomo then won the first BLE national senior men’s title in Mallow in 1968 (running for Dublin) and won it again in Thurles in 1970 (running for Kerry). His Ardfert neighbour Dan Murphy, training from his home base in Kerry, had won the intermediate cross country title in 1970 in Wexford. Jerry Kiernan (competing with Clonliffe Harriers) had won the national junior title in Holycross in 1973.
To add one’s name to this iconic Kerry cross country list would be special indeed. It would be the perfect Christmas present for the 25 year old Tarbert athlete.
Sonny Fennell was born in London in 1950. His father, Patrick, and mother, Elizabeth came to live in Tarmons in Tarbert two years later to the family farm. Sonny (or Morgan as he had been christened after his grandfather) was a late starter as an athlete. In his late teens, he had started winning local races in Kerry while at Listowel Technical School and was soon catching the eye in both track and cross country. A front runner with an unrelenting pace and as stylish as Prefontaine. Looked like “Pre” also.
The Fennell’s had the distinction of living in Tarbert parish but with a Moyvane postal address. A boundary family. A boundary location was often associated in Celtic mythology with extraordinary powers. Energy from two sources. A river ran by them also. Destiny awaited.
First Race
Sonny attended Listowel Technical School in the mid 1960s and he recalls his first ever race for his school. It was on one of the glorious Kerry Vocational Schools’ annual sports days and he lined up for a 100m race. It was in Killarney and he had no spikes (very few did) and he slipped at the start and that was the end of his first race! He entered the 400m and won it easily. That put wings on his feet. He loved the experience and there was that Fennell smile after the finish line. He also gladdened the heart of school supremo, Paddy Drummond when he helped to win the relay. That was the most important cup to Mr Drummond. The next year, the county sports were in Listowel and this time Sonny was firing on all cylinders and won everything he entered, as well as anchoring the relay. Mr Drummond delighted again!
It was a summer evening in Moyvane sports field. A Macra na Feirme field evening with the whole parish of Moyvane alive and sporting. Sonny entered 5 races and won them all. He remembers in particular the two mile event where Donal Crowley (St John’s AC) was miles ahead, until the last bend when Sonny caught him with a ferocious sprint. Billy Bunce, a neighbour, was so delighted when Sonny did the impossible that he threw his cap in the air.
An athletics career had begun.
Westward Bound
After two years competing with success at county, Munster (he was the bronze medallist in the Munster U18 cross country championships in Dromoland in Clare in 1969, a race won by Kerry colleague Dan Murphy) and national level (he was 4th in the All Ireland U18 in 1969 in Mallow, doing only about 30 miles a week) - fate brought Sonny Fennell as a twenty year old to the US in February 1971. He had won the Munster senior 800m title in Thurles in 1970 and was later offered a scholarship to Murray State University in Kentucky. Here he breasted the tape first in a number of top class races and was described by his coach Bill Cornell in 1971 as “my best runner so far”. He was often called by his proper Christian name, Morgan. However, as with many scholarship holders from Ireland in the 1970s, Sonny’s form dipped and he moved to New York where he joined the Millrose Athletic Club. He worked as a stone mason by day and trained in the evenings. He was winning half marathon races in 1:05.27 in Central Park for his new club in 1974. He won popular 12 mile races also, one being the John J Kelly 12 Miler in New London, Connecticut in August 1974 in a time of 56:55 with 154 competitors. He beat the highly rated Norb Sander, a New York Marathon winner, that day.
He retains warm memories of those days in the US. On one occasion he ran across the bridge where the 18 year old Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) reportedly threw his gold boxing medal into the Ohio River on returning from the Rome Olympics as a protest against racial discrimination in a nearby Louisville restaurant. Sonny stopped and thought for a long while on that bridge.
In Louisville, Sonny met two priests, Fr Daltons, who were brothers from Listowel and they chatted about their famous relation, Bunny Dalton of the showband fame. The Irish came to chat with the Kerry athlete wherever he went and the support was appreciated.
Events dictated another move, however, and Sonny Fennell decided to return to Ireland in 1974 to continue his career on home ground. The hard training done in the US bore fruit in 1974 and 1975 as he swept to victory in practically all his county competitions on his return. He wrote a host of road and cross country titles in to his portfolio and won the Kerry 1500m and 3000m titles on the track in the summer of 1975. Tarbert benefitted also as he immediately started a brand new club in his native parish with the help of Jim Friel, Michael O’Connor and Des O’Connor.
Munster Success
Then Munster beckoned. On a November Sunday in 1975 he drove to Tralee to join the Kerry team bus going to Castlemartyr in Cork. A legendary centre for cross country championship running. This he did and drove off to Catlemartyr with Amos Murray, the youngest member of the new Tarbert AC. Togged out with the Kerry team and jogged up to the start line. He did then what he was used to doing in the US…Hared off from the start and won the Munster intermediate cross country title. In fact, he won by 200 yards from Michael Lawton of Cork and Cyril Donlon of Clare. Not only did Sonny take the individual gold, but he led the Kerry team to bronze medals for the first time ever at these championships. The team was Donal Crowley, Stephen Griffin, John Griffin, (all St John’s), Michael O’Connor (Farranfore), Con Dennehy and Alan Diggin (Killorglin), David Kissane (UCC), Des O’Connor, Michael O’Connor (Tarbert), David Horan and Michael Flynn (Cordal). A curious postscript to the bronze win, however, was that there were no bronze team medals available, and the team members are still waiting.
Fennell’s new Tarbert AC created another landmark on the day as travelling colleague Amos Murray won the first ever Munster juvenile cross country gold medal for his club in taking the U16 title. After Amos had won, Sonny went up to congratulate him and the young confident Amos said “Now your turn, Sonny!”
An unfortunate footnote to that win in Castlemartyr for Sonny was that his grand aunt, Lizzy Hanrahan, passed away on that very day in Ballylongford. She had been a keen supporter of his athletic success and he had spent a valued time with her before going to Cork that weekend.
Pre-All Ireland
Around that autumn, Sonny went to live in Ballylongford, got a job in the ESB in Tarbert Island, working with Fitzgibbons Painters from Cork, and discovered that the roads around Ballylongford were ideal for training. Out to the Cross of the Wood and back, early morning runs and again after work with Jim Friel. Jim was a tough runner and had also competed in boxing and hurling (where the famous Todd Nolan was a colleague). With the upcoming All Ireland in mind, he had upped his mileage to 80 per week with relentless regularity over the 6 weeks previous to the nationals with the help of his Tarbert AC team mates. Sonny measured his runs with his trusty car speedometer (no Garmins in those days) and always timed them on his wristwatch.
He had no coach, just his own experience and advice from team mates.
One issue that didn’t help in the lead-up to the big day was that Kerry did not enter a team for those national intermediates so Sonny was to carry the can for his county on his own. Travel and job commitments in the 1970s could be a challenge and the nationals were to be staged in Belfield in Dublin. Dublin was a lot further away from Kerry in the 1970s than it is now! That said, the huge crowd that travelled to see Kerry win a dramatic All Ireland football final in September against Dublin weren’t worried about the distance!
Surprise Visit
On the Fri evening before the race, a visitor arrived from the US. Old friend and college colleague, Illinois-native Jim Crejci found his way to Tarbert and was directed to Ballylongford by a local taxi man. Crejci was an All American in 1971 when he and Fennell were the top two hopes in Murray State University. He was a lean 6 foot 2 incher, a gifted athlete who had served time with the US Peace Corps in Micronesia in the middle of his college career but returned to Murray to run 14:24 for two miles and become both an inspiration, a training partner and an opponent for Sonny. They shared first and second places in many races, although Krejci was a senior in college when Sonny came as a freshman. After leaving college, the Illinois man worked on an oil rig in Norway but found Sonny in Ballylongford on Friday, December 5th 1975, just as the Kerryman was building up his focus on the big day. The visit was an inspiration and Sonny laughed when Jim said “This race on Sunday is a piece of cake, man!”
The two travelled together to Dublin on Saturday and called to Neil Cusack’s sports shop in Limerick on the way. Jim and Neil had been friends and opponents in their college conference. Neil Cusack had of course carved a huge reputation in the US as a student and had won the NCAA cross country title for East Tennessee in 1972. He had become an Irish senior hero when he won the Boston Marathon in 1974 and was celebrated wherever he went. Good man to meet on the day before the All Ireland championship race.
Jim and Sonny stayed in the Montrose Hotel that night and the Kerry man dreamed his dreams.
Day of Destiny
On Sunday morning, December 7th, as the city and the country were ready to go shopping or having a lie-in before the big traditional Christmas shopping day on December 8th, Sonny and Jim walked across the road to the Belfield cross country course where athletes from all over Ireland were gathering for the highly-rated intermediate cross country championships event. Intermediate was the grade below senior, but many of the athletes involved were county senior champions and had finished well up the field in national senior championships. Young and not-so-young were involved and a number of future internationals were in the field.
With the presence of his friend and the importance of the occasion itself, Sonny found he was becoming increasingly nervous as he was finishing his warm-up. That had never happened him before. By the time of tracksuits off, he was shivering. He recalls two fella wishing him good luck as they passed, but he hardly heard them. He did hear his friend Jim roar from the crowd “Remember, Sonny, piece of cake, man!” That helped to settle the nerves. Another incident helped to get rid of the nerves also. As the athletes lined up, all 250 of them, Sonny was ushered way out to the edge of the massive crowd, away from the key close-to-bend position which can be vital in a large cross country field. The individual athletes were often placed on the outside away from the county teams. That got his dander up and was the spur he needed to run in anger! He did!
When the gun went off, he tore across the army of runners like a raging bull and that was the last they saw of Sonny until after the finish. He led all the way to the line and had an estimated 80 yards in old measurements to spare over his nearest challenger, Richard Barron of Waterford.
Sonny recalls that half way through the race, a woman in a Cork track suit ran along in the crowd to urge him on. He worried at one stage that the officials would disqualify him, thinking the woman was coaching him. He never saw the woman again, but thinks that she was a Cork athlete in the women’s race later (which was only 2 miles) which had two Cork women in the top two individual places, and won the inter county and the inter club. But she wouldn’t have been the first woman to try to chase Sonny Fennell, the Steve Prefontaine of Irish athletics that day!
The official men’s results read as follows: 1. Sonny Fennell (Kerry), 27:30; 2. Richard Barron (Waterford), 27:40; 3. T Ryan (Waterford), 27:47; 4. M Greene (Clonliffe); 5. Robert Costello (Limerick); 6. D Sherry (Clonliffe); 7. J Bolger (UCD); 8. M Hayden (Tullamore); 9. M Walsh (Leevale); 10. Liam O’Brien (Midleton); 11. Dick Hooper (Raheny Shamrocks); 12. J Greene (Clonliffe). The inter county was won by Dublin and the inter club by Clonliffe.
Dick Hooper and Liam O’Brien, who followed Sonny a long way behind that day in Belfield, were among the finishers to reach international recognition in their chosen events. Dick was to represent Ireland in the marathon at three Olympics, in Moscow (1980), Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988) and Liam went on to represent Ireland in the 1984 Olympic steeplechase in LA.
A last feature of the day irked Sonny as he waited around to be presented with his winner’s medal. The inter-county medals were presented first and Cork were mistakenly given the gold, and went off home to catch the train. They were gone when it was announced that in fact Dublin had won! In the confusion, the officials forgot to present the individual medals until Sonny and the two other medalists asked “What about us!”
The radio report that Sunday evening said Sonny Fennell had a tremendous victory, but worried his supporters by looking back often to check where the rest of the competitors were. Sonny had no memories of looking back. Just crossing the line with joy and satisfaction.
Apres Run
He celebrated with a group, including Jim (who was right…it was a piece of cake that day for the Kerryman!) in the Montrose that night and remembers meeting some athletes who were big names at the time. Kevin Humphreys was one. Kevin, quite an athlete in his day and a future politician, seemed more interested in talking about horse that night and wasn’t too interested in talking to Sonny about his All Ireland victory!
On the following day, December 8th, as the trains pulled in to Heuston loaded with country shoppers on the other side of the city, Sonny went for a 5 mile run around Belfield, now silent after the excitement of the day before. “I was fresh and full of running” he says now, smiling with a fifty year-old satisfaction. In fact, he ran like a gazelle for the following days after returning to Kerry between Ballylongford and Tarbert and had a pleasant run-up to one of the Christmasses of his life.
That wet and damp Christmas of 1975, he celebrated Christmas Day at home in Tarmons with his mother and father, Patrick and Elizabeth, his brother Noel and sisters Maura and Norma. As the oldest in the family, he felt he had done something big at the close of that great year of 1975.
How rare and precious big events are. How fleeting is the joy. Sonny was never to reach the heights of national titles again on home soil. Injury, the absence of a coach, getting a career with work satisfaction, life’s ups and downs all came across his path and made that December day in Belfield his final watershed occasion in Ireland.
Back to New York
Sonny returned to New York soon after and ran some fine races at various distances in 1976, with notable successes, as in the Eastern Region 10,000m in Yonkers. He won the 8.5 mile Magopac road race in 41:10.1 and helped his Millrose Club to the highly-respected team win. He also acted as pacemaker at Fordham University
The Tarbert man’s wandering foot brought him back to Kerry again soon afterwards and he tried a spell in Dublin where he secured a job. He joined up in training sessions with Clonliffe Harriers where Jerry Kiernan was thriving. But the job he had secured was not to his satisfaction and he returned once again to Kerry. He then focused in the national senior inter county cross country championships in Ennis on February 27th, 1977 and rated his form highly going into the race. A place on the Irish senior team for the upcoming international cross country in Dusseldorf was his aim. But he got spiked at the start of the seven and a half mile race over the hills and dales of Clare as defined by St Flannan’s College grounds, another athlete’s shoe swept the spike off his foot and he had to scramble back to retrieve it in the mud. He finished 10th and just missed a place on the Irish team. Danny McDaid got over the line in front of Sonny and the Donegal postman was later selected to wear the green vest. Jerry Kiernan (Clonliffe Harriers) finished in 5th place just ahead of Neil Cusack (Limerick AC). Sonny was named as a reserve for the Irish team for Dusseldorf but wasn’t called upon to travel. How small are the margins. How close can you come. How cruel can the hand of fate touch our cheeks.
Endgame
A week later Sonny won the Kerry BLE 10 mile road championship title in Farranfore in a time of 52:45.2 ahead of the upcoming star John Griffin (St John’s) and later got the role of coach with the Kerry cross country team but the winning days were done.
Sonny remembers his last races. He ran the annual Ballybunion Road Race in 1977 where he remembers the late Bernie O’Callaghan urging him on. “Hallo Bernie!” Sonny said as he led the group along Sandhill Road on that summer evening. Sonny was starting a new club, Kingdom Striders that summer but, alas, the club had a short lifespan. He ran in Coolard in the inaugural road race on Easter Sunday 1977 and of course he won it. His very last race was around the streets of Killarney in 1977. It was while he was working in Burlington and he finished as he started. He won in style. He may not have realized it that evening, but the sun had set on his running career and it was time to move on.
He lives in his native Tarbert now and is proud of his US experience and his landmark 1975 national title.
Prologue
The words of Brendan Kennelly, from Ballylongford where Sonny upped his training to 80 miles per week in 1975, ring very true for the Tarbert man. The words articulate the lives of so many athletes, from the poem called “The Runner”:
“I wish him well
Whatever barriers he breaks.
He runs towards a freedom
Desired by every one
But always there, ahead of him,
Freedom runs on swifter feet…”
St Brendan's AC Fit4Life/Running Group
StBrendan's AC Ardfert
Kerry Athletics
Farranfore MaineValley Athletics Club
Tarbert Town
Athletics Ireland
North Munster Schools Athletic Association
Munster Athletics
Munster Schools Athletic Association
Moyvane Gaa
Athletics Leinster
Irish Schools' Athletics Association
(KRSP) Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership
Mid West / South Athletics Development
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https://www.facebook.com/david.kissane.50
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GAA: THE famous Kerry teams of 1975 to 1986 were celebrated at a special event in The Glenbeatly Hotel last Friday night.
The players who became household names all over the country were feted 50 years after the beginning of the greatest era in the county’s football history.
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GAA Knockanure Lotto Draw Results for 9th of December 2025. Jackpot was E2.500. Winning numbers 1-4-11 and 28. No Winner. Lucky Dips went to , James Moore, Tralee; Noreen Daly, Knockane, Listowel; Mickey Costelloe, Kilmorna; Michael O Connor, Keylod, and Aine Shine, New Kingdom Bar. Next Draw on Dec. 16th and the Jackpot will be E2.600.
GAA Moyvane; Recently 2 of our long serving officers stepped down after years of dedicated service given to Moyvane GAA. Micheál Walsh stepped down as Chairman after 9 years in the role. Micheál served as secretary for over a decade prior to that and has been a dedicated officer throughout his involvement in the club. The work and time Micheál has put into Moyvane GAA behind the scenes has been phenomenal and we are very appreciative of the countless hours he has given to the club.
Áine Cronin stepped down as secretary as one of our longest ever serving officers. Áine first joined the Moyvane GAA committee in 1995 as Scór Officer, and has been an ever present member since, going on to hold the roles of PRO, Assistant Secretary and Secretary amongst others during her 30 years of service. Áine’s knowledge and passion for all things Moyvane GAA are unrivaled and we are sure she will continue to cheer on her beloved "Boro" in the years ahead. On the night of their last AGM, incoming Chairman Mike Brosnan thanked both outgoing officers for their years of service as they received a standing ovation from the large crowd in attendance.
All in Moyvane GAA wish Micheál and Áine the very best and thank them for the service they have given to our club.
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Video link
https://youtu.be/NZLP1e3IlHc
Filename
Waiting for Kerry Team July 2025.mp4
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Video link KL
https://youtu.be/Vu5rDVDFPB8
Filename
Welcome Home Kerry Team 2025.mp4
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Video link KL
https://youtu.be/wbyoyGZU8jA
Filename
Tribute to Kerry Champions 2025 GAA.
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GAA Kerry homecoming 28 July 2025
https://traleetoday.ie/photos-thousands-line-streets-to-welcome-kerrys-heroes-to-tralee/
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Ballydonoghue GAA
We had an unbelievable demand for tickets for the All Ireland football final, unfortunately we could not accommodate everyone.
Those who secured tickets in our draw for the final we hope you enjoy the match. Everyone in Ballydonoghue GAA club wish the very best of luck to our own Jason Foley, the Kerry team and management.
We also want to sincerely thank Maurice O' Mahony, our own unbelievable club man who represents Kerry at Croke Park, who secured an extra 25 tickets for us.
Without his massive input we would have been in a more precarious position. Thank you Maurice. Once again best of luck to Jason Sunday.
Ballydonoghue GAA
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQbgRqbZwNbLqPlWSVddbfCkNvb
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GAA: one of Kerry’s greatest footballers, a Moyvane man, Con Brosnan. A younger generation will never have heard of the man who played in eight All Ireland finals and won six All Ireland medals, a different time, a different era but an All Ireland is an All Ireland in any era. He played in his first All Ireland final in 1923, losing to Dublin. In 1924 he won his first All Ireland medal and went on to win six, the first being in 1924, then 1926, and the four in a row in 29, 30, 31 and 32, captaining the 31 team that beat Kildare. Con hung up his County boots in 1934. He also won nine Munster Championship titles, four consecutive National League titles and was included in the National team in the Tailteann Games. After his retirement he still maintained his connection with Kerry football. He was a selector and trained Kerry teams to win All Irelands in 1939 and 1940 and served for many years on the Munster Council
Taken from Moyvane Notes
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BADMINTON:
Moyvane was an all-conquering Badminton club in the 80’s and 90’s, completely dominating the Kerry Badminton scene and had 3 teams garner a silver and two bronzes at the National Community Games. https://moyvane.com/badminton-photos/
The juvenile club continued to flourish under the expert coaching of Madge Groarke and her hardworking committee including Margaret O’Connor. Secretary, Marie Stack and Margaret Mulvihill Treasurers. In the Community Games, Moyvane under 15’s represented Moyvane and Kerry nine years in a row. https://moyvane.com/sports/badminton-club/
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History of the North Kerry Board
When County Convention of 1924 adopted a Listowel motion calling for the setting up of Divisional Boards to promote Hurling and Football all over Kerry, the stage was set for eighty six exciting years and eighty six tumultuous years in North Kerry.
Maurice McGrath, the then Postmaster of Listowel was the genius behind the motion and it was fitting that he should be the first President of a North Kerry Board. Six Clubs affiliated for the new League, Ballydonoghue, Ballylongford, Duagh, Faha, Listowel and Moyvane. Five pound grant was given to each team, five sets of jersies were to be obtained, Listowel having their own already and the winners were to get a set of gold medals while the runners up received a football. The competition was won by Moyvane in that famous match known as the "North Kerry All Ireland". But it was not the first league in North Kerry. In 1918/20 leagues had been run under the aegis of a league Board set up under the auspices of Listowel club. Listowel won the 1918 league, and Dromlought (Ballydonoghue) that of 1919/20.
http://northkerryfootball.com/contentPage/158575/h_i_s_t_o_r_y_n_k_b_o_a_r_d
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By Zelda Caldwell
CNA Staff, Dec 23, 2024 / 15:00 pm
Pope Francis expressed his appreciation for the ball sport of bocce during an audience with representatives of the Italian Bowling Federation on Dec. 20, praising its social aspects and emphasizing that, unlike other sports dominated by billionaire stars, bocce allows “normal people” to excel.
“I admit that I am fond of the game of bowls, for two reasons: the first, because it is a ‘poor’ sport, compared to those of the ‘stars’ with billionaire contracts, who always fill the media. I think that bowling champions are people who work as clerks, or teachers, or plumbers,” the pope said.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/261217/pope-francis-praises-bocce-calling-it-a-sport-for-normal-people?utm_campaign=CNA%20Daily&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=339955336&utm_content=339955336&utm_source=hs_email
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GAA: ON NOVEMBER 1 1884, seven men convened in the billiards room of Lizzy Hayes’ Commercial Hotel, Thurles to set-up what would go on to become one of the greatest amateur organisations in the world.
https://www.the42.ie/gaa-foundation-meeting-3056866-Nov2016/
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RAILWAY: The opportunity to travel from Rathkeale to Listowel by train ceased on the first Saturday of February in 1963. It was the beginning of the end of the Limerick to Tralee railway.
With the recent extension of the Greenway to Listowel, the railway corridor once again links Counties Kerry and Limerick: albeit by shanks mare and bicycle.
The new February Bank Holiday weekend coincides with the sixtieth anniversary of that last regular passenger train and the Great Southern Trail company, the voluntary body which has been working on cycle and walking trails in Limerick for three decades, is organising an opportunity for a cycle along the entire 50km route or a run/stroll along shorter sections.
https://www.limerickpost.ie/2023/01/23/remembering-limericks-railway-link-to-listowel/
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But a father-in-law can play a positive, supportive role in the life of his son- or daughter-in-law, which enriches their connected families.
I’ve had a great example of this in my own father-in-law, Kate’s dad, Rick Surwilo.
Here are some things I’ve picked up from him in the twenty years we’ve had a father-in-law/son-in-law relationship that I hope to carry forward when I become a FIL someday.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/people/fatherhood/father-in-law/?mc_cid=ebcf439a3e
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GAA Oct2024; Brian Diggins, From the Royal County of Meath to the Kingdom of Kerry.
Ronan delighted to show his grandfather the Meath Minor A Hurling Championship Cup he won along with his brother Conal and his Kildalkey teammates on 12th Oct. This was the club's 1st win since 1948 at this grade.
Also pictured are a collection of his grandfather's hurling medals which include 3 County Senior Championship medals for Ballyduff, 2 National League Division 2 from 1967 (vs Meath.....) and 1968 vs Antrim, playing midfield both days in Croke Park. Played in Croke Park on over 10 occasions.
Also included are some medals from his playing days in London, (GAA clubs included Brian Boru, Brother Pearse, The Kingdom Gaels) including London Intermediate and Senior Championships and UK Intermediate and Senior Championships. He played for London in the All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final in 1972 against a Cork team that included some of the greats of the game.
Eamon takes grade pride in his grandsons playing hurling and the phrase it's skips a generation is most definitely true here.
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Glin GAA club proudly celebrates 125 years of existence this year. To mark this significant milestone, we are writing a book on the history of the club from 1898 to the present day. Many who have made valuable contributions to this period will have memories of their first involvement with the club, the fields around the parish they played in and will remember great teams and players. Perhaps also, people may have old newspaper clippings, photographs, match programmes and medals kept which would be of great interest to us in preparing this book and will allow us to best tell the story of Glin GAA over the past 125 years. Our book committee has begun the process of interviewing people and shortly, for those comfortable with technology, a questionnaire link will be sent around where interested individuals can make their own contributions. We will be holding an evening in Glin in the next while where old Glin GAA photographs, medals etc. can be brought in to be photographed and scanned, and the owners can share their stories relating to them. If anyone would like to be sent the questionnaire link or wishes to be interviewed, send an email with your details to [email protected], contact us through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/glingaa, or contact James O’Donovan on 087 2311156 or Tom O’Donovan on 086 1710136.
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Sadness in the midst of Joy- By listowelconnection
On January 25, 2023
That 1947 All Ireland Final
Yesterday I shared with you Kathleen Reynolds’ great uncle’s first hand account of a spectator at that match.
Here is an extract from Kathy’s email;
The game was attended by 34,500 including my father’s uncle, Mike Fitzmaurice, who had left Moybella South, Lisselton around 1910 for Waterbury, Connecticut.
Notes (Irish Independent & Wikipedia)
The Artane Boys’ Band also travelled to New York to play before the match.
Michael O’Hehir broadcast a radio commentary from New York. O’Hehir noticed that broadcasting delays would bring the radio link down five minutes before the final had ended. He later recalled his plea:'”If there’s anybody along the way there listening in, just give us five minutes more, and I kept begging for five minutes more” The link stayed open.
Kerry — D O’Keeffe; D Lyne (capt), J Keohane, P Brosnan; J Lyne, W Casey, E Walsh; E Dowling, E O’Connor; E O’Sullivan, D Kavanagh, B Garvey; F O’Keeffe, T O’Connor, O Kennedy.
Subs: W O’Donnell for Dowling, M Finucane for Walsh, T Brosnan for O’Donnell, G Teehan for Kennedy
Score 2-11 to 2-7
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14 September 1947 All Ireland Final Cavan 2-11 V Kerry 2-07 Polo Grounds, New York City Attendance: 34,491 Referee: M O'Neill (Wexford) For the first and only time, the final was played outside Ireland, at the Polo Grounds in New York City, to cater for the large Irish-American community there. -----------------------
There was a North Kerry man on the team.
The last surviving member of that Kerry team, Ballydonoghue man , Mick Finucane passed away in 2016; Here is a fine tribute to Mick by his friend, Brendan Hegarty, published in 2016 at the time of his death.
Brendan Hegarty 2016- Tribute to Mick Finucane
To not have engaged with Mick is to not have lived and anyone he touched is the better for it. Non-drinker and non-smoker but socialiser extraordinaire. I was having a chat of an evening with him and one of the nuggets I picked up was that from 16 years of age, his weight never budged from 12 stone. Now I don’t know a lot about boxing but he could pack some punch and they say he was also gifted of a sturdy lowish centre of gravity, canvassing a good few laddos in his day, though never raised a hand outside the ring nor never had the bad word.
A few of his comrades in London would have recalled in later years how he brightened up many a dark day in hard times and his role as a public relations man was no accident as he was the type that nobody could refuse. He even had Tony O’Reilly arranging taxis for him from the airport on arrival. I’d often say that North Kerry were talkers and South Kerry more grafters, so John Murphy chose wisely with Mick as his front man and boy could he tell yarns of those rather interesting times.
I also recall a fella disputing an umpiring decision Mick once made, well about 40 years ago to be more precise, he told Mick “he’d hit him only he was an old man” and to which those in the know might have commented that it was a wise decision, a lucky escape if there was ever one for the would be assailant and he didn’t even have to run away. As a friend of his my own father, Jackie got fierce mileage out of this one as Mick used affectionately refer to him as “Auld Hegarty”. I could tell hundreds of more good wans from Lisselton Cross and Urlee. The one thing that always puzzles me is how the Barra Road didn’t throw up more silverware, even in later years there was so many football houses, individual families where you have a handful of top class footballers, maybe soccer was part of it but I recall evenings that you’d have maybe 30 or 40 lads chasing a football. Finucane’s yard was littered with balls and you’d see Mick and the boys taking a kick in between chores, soloing in from milking the cows or a carefully gauged point between a telegraph pole and a shed, between feeding calves.
The stories he would tell himself would be the basis of many a subsequent literary work and I myself penned “What they think of Mick Finucane in Donegal’. It was after that chat with him that I went to the local and my smile had em asking what it was all about. When I told em I had just been chatting to the oldest holder of an AI medal they started on their mobiles, checking out the story, etc, doubting Thomses! Anyway we storied ’till the not so small hours after that as a few more congregated and we regaled his life and times.
By the way the ’47 final was played in The Polo Grounds because Croker was a building site. He would say after that an admirer commented that “she couldn’t understand a word he said but she loved the sound of his voice” so everything about him inspired of scope, more of scope that contradiction.
So all we can say is thanks for the music Mick, RIP.
https://listowelconnection.com/2023/01/
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Kerryman- Damian Stack- February 01 2023
Tarbert woman Joan Henchy was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon as one of the eleven recipients of the GAA President’s Awards (Gradaim an Uachtaráin) for 2023.
Henchy took the international award for her long service to New York GAA. She has served on the New York board for over twenty years, serving as PRO, secretary and latterly for the last three years as chairperson. She is the board’s first female chair.
Born Joan Kiely in New York to a prominent GAA family – her father Dan was active in Gaelic Park in the 1960s with the Kerry club – she moved back to Tarbert with her family before starting primary school, going on to play ladies football with Tarbert.
At the age of seventeen she returned to the Big Apple with her then boyfriend, now husband, Brendan Henchy. They settled in Yonkers New York and raised two daughters, Tara and Shauna.
Henchy became immediately involved with the GAA scene in New York, joining the Kerry club that her father Dan had been involved with, filling every position in the club before moving up the ranks to the county board.
Her passion over the years has been for the development of the underage game in the States and of developing American-born players. Indeed, one of her proudest moments was to stand in Croke Park last year as a New York Junior team comprising of all American born players took the field for the All-Ireland Junior Football final.
She has always been a huge supporter of Féile where New York teams have performed with great distinction. She also has a keen interest in hurling and, with her direct involvement, New York, for the first time in ten years fielded a county hurling team when they recently won the Connacht hurling league.
She has also been hugely supportive of the Ladies GAA, Camogie and Scór. As Gaelic Park undergoes redevelopment, she has been at the forefront of fundraising and promoting it as the GAA’s home in the Big Apple for the next century. She is, in other words, a more than worthy recipient of the award from GAA President, Larry McCarthy.
“The success of the GAA has always been down to the people who, through their loyalty, selfless dedication and commitment, have invested so much to ensure that for almost 140 years the Association has gone from strength to strength,” the Cork native said.
"Gradaim an Uachtaráin affords us the chance to single out people who are responsible for extraordinary service to Gaelic games. In saluting the deserving recipients tonight, we are mindful that they are ambassadors for the thousands of people who do so much for the betterment of our Association. I warmly congratulate all of our recipients and acknowledge the support of TG4 and AIB in this most worthwhile initiative.”
The awards are a cross-section of people, who have shared the common theme of making an inspirational impact on their code and also their club and community.
The 11 awards are made on a provincial and code basis. As well as Gaeilge, Education and International Awards, the presentation of the annual Dermot Earley Family Award will also take place.
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Dillon, Kevin
December 09, 1994
Across The Cork/Kerry County Border With KEVIN DILLON Few rivalries in gaelic football are as passionate, intense and last but not least healthy as that which exists betweens the gaels of Cork and Kerry. Those fortunate enough to be born in either camp exude a pride in their pedigree which is hardly equalled or surpassed in any other part of the country. For a player to have been able to keep a foot in both camps, enjoy and wallow in the good times shared by both tribes was indeed fortunate. Kerry native and former Cork star Kevin Dillon was one such player. Born and reared in the rabid football territory that is Duagh in north Kerry, the young Dillon had his choice of sporting icons from which to pick his hero from. Before he could kick a ball in anger the likes of Dan McAuliffe thrilled all and sundry in the locality and beyond with his classy performances for the Kingdom. Ironically it was for Kerry's archrivals that McAuliffe's neighbour would play out of his skin. McAuliffe, the All-Ireland medal winner was in good company at Duagh too. The fifties was a very successful decade for the home club of big Don Kevin Dillon and their ilk. The club was the top club in north Kerry for quite a period and put north Kerry championship titles back to back in the mid-fifties. It was at the latter end of Duagh's purple period that the teenage Dillon entered the adult fray and remembers listening to the commentary of the 1955 All-Ireland Senior final in which three Duagh clubmen were included with the Kerry team which beat the Kevin Heffernan, Ollie Freaney powered Dubs. The Dillon family of Duagh contributed five fine footballers to the area. Kevin was one of them. One of his older brothers Dialmuid was another and was a substitute on that self-same Kerry team of 55. Meanwhile, Paul Dillon was Kerry's centre-half back on the Kerry Junior team in 1954 which went on to win the All-Ireland title. A clerical student at the time, unfortunately Paul was unable to take his place in the final line-up because of Church rules. Other brother Pat also went on to star for Kerry Juniors as a tigerish defender. The fifth brother Matt was a regular on the Duagh team and a fine player too. For a brief period all five Dillon brothers lined out together for Duagh in the north Kerry divisional league. Unfortunately a combination of injuries, migration etc served to break the Dillon connection with the Duagh team all too quickly for the liking of connoisseurs of football in the area. A graduate of Rockwell College in Tipperary, Kevin Dillon was a lover of all sports as a teenager but excelled principally at rugby and gaelic football. His fondness for both games got him in hot water though during the reign of the infamous Ban however. For the last two years he spent in College he was suspended from playing gaelic games because of his penchant for playing out half and scrum half with the newly-formed Abbeyfeale rugby team. "I remember being notified by the County Board for playing rugby for Abbeyfeale and getting suspended for twelve months from the date of the last game. Every time I kept playing rugby I just added to my suspension. I felt very strongly about the Ban and fought to have it removed at every opportunity." The Duagh born former star footballer eventually made his way as a twenty year old to work in the agricultural field in Clonakilty, an area equally steeped in GAA tradition. "Clonakilty had a very good team back then and being able to play football made a blow-in to Clonakilty very welcome. We should have won the county championship but unfortunately we never did. It was a well balanced team but it had its fair quote of exceptional players such as Tommy Connolly who played with Cork and Kildare, Harry de Long who was a great club footballer and the Hayes brothers Flor and Tim F, both of whom had amazing all-round ability." Playing for Clonakilty led to Kevin being selected for the Cork Juniors in '65: "I remember being asked by county selector Eamonn Young as to whether or not I minded playing against my native Kerry. All I ever wanted to do was play football though so I jumped at the chance of lining out for Cork. Even though we lost to them in '65, it wasn't long after that I got promoted to the Senior team." Generally a tigerish half-back with Clonakilty but the type of athlete who flourished amidst the wide open space afforded him at midfield, Kevin Dillon was a five foot eight inch, eleven and a half stone terrier who could run all day but it was just as well for the Kerry born former Cork star recalls being charged with marking speedsters like Galway half-forward Seamus Leydon. "My small physique left me at an awful disadvantage but I could run forever. I needed to because I was up against some great footballers. Unfortunately I became overly negative in my play and because too much of a man to man marker which meant I was out of the action for long periods of the game which, to be honest, slightly lessened my enjoyment of the game. Some of the great wing forwards I played on at that time are Derry and Thorney O'Shea, Brendan Lynch of Kerry, Galway's Cyril Dunne and Seamus Leydon, Joe Corcoran Of Mayo, Meath's Tony Brennan, whom I played on in the 1967 All-Ireland, Jackie Donnelly of Kildare - all players of exceptional skill and vision and a bit ahead of their time as were my old Clonakilty clubmates Flor Hayes and Pat Griffin. The ball was not played as they would have liked it, which made it easier for backs to mark them." Despite putting in fifteen years of loyal service with Clonakilty, Kevin Dillon found himself with nothing to show for his efforts in terms of silverware. In 1968 he both trained and captained the Clonakilty side which lost the county final to Carbery that year after a replay. "We were the only Senior team in west Cork at that time and we had a great team spirit, better than what most of the divisional teams had at least. We were unlucky in the replay though because it was only a great goal by Donal Hunt which separated us in the end," explained the man who trained the last Clonakilty side which reached the county final. Carbery at that time included Castlehaven an O'Donovan Rossas and many other clubs which now have their own Senior team. Married to Maria, Kevin's family have all inherited his love of sport. His son Terry regularly lines out with Highfield Rugby Football Club in the Centre while his Clonakilty outings see him togging out on the forty for his beloved Clonakilty . Reflecting back on his days in the county colours with Cork, Kevin recalls the joy of playing with the county Seniors for a four year period between 1964 and '69. The joy of it all comes flooding back to him in waves of nostalgia. "We had a well-balanced team with tremendous team spirit and comraderie. Many of those friendships are still intact today". Executive Secretary of the Irish Holstein Freisian Society, a full-time job which sees him based in Clonakilty, Kevin Dillon's business involves him running the pedigree section of the Black & White breed which produce 99% of the milk we drink here within the Society and he loves every minute of it. Still the game he graced in the deepest south excites him like nothing else. "One of the greatest memories I have of my time playing gaelic football was when I was playing with Cork Seniors. We beat Kerry in two Munster finals in a row, in 1966 and '67 which was unheard of at the time. In fact I think we were the first Cork team to achieve that distinction," Kevin added. But just how good were the Cork teams of '66 and '67? The team's ace defender goes for the jackpot. "The Cork team of '66 could and should have one the Sam Maguire Cup. There was definitely an All-Ireland title in that squad but we were beaten by a great Galway team in the All-Ireland semi-final which included the likes of Enda Colleran, Noel Tierney and the Donnellan brothers and a host of other really exceptional players including of course Seamus Leydon. That Galway team was possibly the best team I ever played against. They must have been one of the best football teams ever." Kevin disappeared off the county scene when is free time was curtailed by the purchase of a small farm in 1968. Reflecting back on Clonakilty's failure to make the breakthrough in his day, Kevin is remarkably philosophical about the conspicuous absence of silverware. "It was naturally disappointing. Maybe we stick too much and too long to the old traditional catch and kick type game. Pat Griffin was one of the best players I played with but his style of play wasn't adopted by the club for a long time. Dave McCarthy was another great Clonakilty stalwart at the this point in time also, small but great hearted and superbly fit, who had a tremendous work rate which justifiably earned him an All-Star." Still living in the GAA heartland of Clonakilty, Kevin Dillon has a bank-full of memories. Memories of one of the most talented players he ever played with, Eoin O'Mahony, are there too. "He was a special footballer with Clonakilty and the county team but he never fulfilled his potential unfortunately." Clonakilty at present are going through a lean period at Senior level but tremendous work is being done at underage and this year's all-conquering Under 14 team has some great prospects. Having won seven county Championships in the 40s the club has a proud past. Another one is well overdue and anything would give Clonakilty people, particularly Kevin Dillon, more pleasure. Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 9th December, 1994
https://www.hoganstand.com/county/cork/article/index/119404
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BY: Irish Post- April 30, 2016
THE prestigious Tara Camogie Club London was set up in 1986 by Carmel and Majella O’Neill – sisters from Thomastown in Kilkenny – and was originally based in Locket Road, Harrow.
Over the club’s 30 years, like many other sports teams, there has been some great wins coupled with devastating losses. With victories came the delirious celebrations that often lasted for days, weeks and in some cases even months. Of course, with the defeats came crushing heartbreak and inevitable disappointment, but almost always with these losses there were valuable lessons learned and it often fuelled an even bigger hunger for success.
By 1988, Ann Hehir had become a key member and won the club’s player of the year, but nobody could have imagined that 23 years later her daughter, Helen, would help crush Tara’s dreams of an All-Ireland title when she played a stormer for Inagh Kilnamona of Clare in the All-Ireland Junior Club Final against Tara in 2011, scoring a decisive goal.
https://www.irishpost.com/sport/then-and-now-tara-camogie-club-celebrate-30th-anniversary-87415
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Family and Friends remember the Champion Knockanure Team of 1973. Team, Goalie- Willie Stack, Pat Connor Right Corner Back-, Full Back-Frank Collins, Left Corner back- Brendan Stack, Right Half Back- Jerry Coen, Centre Back- Jim Collins, Left Half Back- Tom O Connor, Centre Field- Willie Moore, Midfield- Jim Moore, Right Half Forward - Michael O Connor, Centre Forward- Patsy Collins, Left Half Forward- John Looney, Right Corner Forward-Maurice Collins, Full Forward- Neilie Buckley, and Left Corner Forward- Willie Joe Leahy. Selectors were Tom Flavin, Patrick O Dowd and Willie Finucane.
GAA: Knockanure GAA Club held a great night at the Community Centre on 12th October 2013, to mark the 40th Anniversary of the 1973 Division 2 North Kerry Football Championship win. Attendance included, brothers Brendan and Willie Stack, brothers Michael and Pat O Connor, brothers Frank, Jim, Patsy and Maurice Collins, Tom O Connor Keylod, Jim Moore and his wife now living in Galway, Also from Galway came Lisa Moore daughter of the late Willie Moore, Gerry Coen also made the trip from Galway. Anthony Maher Kerry Footballer presented trophies to the players to mark the 40th anniversary of their win, Jerry and Ann Woods sponsored the trophies. Fr Tom McMahon, Fr Brendan O Callaghan and Fr John Lucid were also in attendance. John Looney who travelled long journeys 40 years for training and to attend matches sang a song composed by Willie Finucane describing the match and praising the players, while Gabriel Fitzmaurice sang a newly composed song extolling the virtues of the 1973 players. The Club would like to thank the Community Centre for providing their facilities and thank Maureen Stack and her staff for providing the meal.
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John Looney sings song written by Willie Finucane about the Champion Knockanure Team of 1973. Team, Willie Stack, Pat Connor, Frank Collins, Brendan Stack, Jerry Coen, Jim Collins, Tom O Connor, Willie Moore, Jim Moore,Michael O Connor, Patsy Collins, John Looney, Maurice Collins, Neilie Buckley, and Willie Joe Leahy.North Kerry Championship Final against Ballylongford in 1973, venue for the final was Ballybunion.
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Champion Knockanure GAA Team of 1973. Team, Goalie- Willie Stack, Pat Connor Right Corner Back-, Full Back-Frank Collins, Left Corner back- Brendan Stack, Right Half Back- Jerry Coen, Centre Back- Jim Collins, Left Half Back- Tom O Connor, Centre Field- Willie Moore, Midfield- Jim Moore, Right Half Forward - Michael O Connor, Centre Forward- Patsy Collins, Left Half Forward- John Looney, Right Corner Forward-Maurice Collins, Full Forward- Neilie Buckley, and Left Corner Forward- Willie Joe Leahy.
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During the winter, about 20% of Americans will experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD — the “winter blues.”
The main culprit of SAD is the lack of sunlight due to shorter days and longer nights. Consequently, the best remedy for SAD is to get more sun.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/health-benefits-sunlight-vitamin-d/
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How did we get it so wrong? How could people with low vitamin D levels clearly suffer higher rates of so many diseases and yet not be helped by supplementation?
As it turns out, a rogue band of researchers has had an explanation all along. And if they’re right, it means that once again we have been epically misled.
These rebels argue that what made the people with high vitamin D levels so healthy was not the vitamin itself. That was just a marker. Their vitamin D levels were high because they were getting plenty of exposure to the thing that was really responsible for their good health—that big orange ball shining down from above.
https://www.outsideonline.com/health/wellness/sunscreen-sun-exposure-skin-cancer-science/
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As well as contributing to regular running costs, fundraising efforts by individuals and local businesses in 2021 have allowed the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team to procure additional technical and medical equipment, ensuring that the unit is equipped to the highest standards for the year ahead.
https://www.killarneytoday.com/one-fatality-and-89-people-injured-on-the-mountains/
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“The race was an amazing experience. It was amazing to see the northern lights while running the first night,” he said.
“Temperatures dropped to minus 30 but it didn’t feel that cold as I was moving all the time,” he added.
© KillarneyToday.com is the 24/7 online news service provided by O’Mahony Media
https://www.killarneytoday.com/ultra-cool-kevin-completes-worlds-toughest-marathon/
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John Hunt, who spent most of his life over in the US, helped form the Limerick hurling club in Chicago and was the first Chairman of the club back in 1959.
The GAA club announced his passing yesterday and the hurling fanatic will be sorely missed by the community.
The club said on Facebook: "The Limerick Hurling Club Chicago would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Hunt family on the passing of the Great John Hunt.
"John a native of Athea Co. Limerick was one of the founding members and the first Chairman of the Club in 1959 which it is celebrating 60 years this year.
https://www.thesun.ie/news/3931718/tributes-98-year-old-gaa-superfan-john-hunt/
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Moyvane Club History
Home » Sports » Moyvane GAA Club » Moyvane Club History
article taken from “Souvenir Match Programme” of 1999 N.K. Championship Final)
Moyvane’s record of success for all of Seventy years, is such that it would be impossible to do it justice in the space available here, in this 1999 match final programme. In any account, however brief, the following facts would have to be highlighted.
Records show that Newtown’ played Dromlought in Murphy’s field in Knockanure in 1917. The Line-out was: John O’Sullivan, Mossie Walsh, Joe More, Johnny McCabe, John Thade, Jimmy O’Mahony, Bill & Paud O’Sullivan, Paddy Finucane, Maurice Walshe, James (‘Sonny’) Harrington, Mike Goulding, Tom Stack, Jim Nolan, Tom O’Callaghan and Con Brosnan.
Newtown later participated in the North Kerry League organised by the Listowel club (the earliest established club in North Kerry), prior to the establishment of the North Kerry Board in 1925. Newtown, in fact, won the first ever North Kerry championship run by the board in 1925. One member of that winning team had already lined out for Kerry at midfield in the All-Ireland final of 1923, in which Kerry were defeated. However, the contribution of Con Brosnan, of whom I write, did not go unnoticed, even though Kerry had to give way, on the day, to Dublin. His immaculate fielding, precision, kicking and unflinching endurance on that occasion were destined to be oft repeated. Not alone for his native Moyvane but even more emphatically and importantly these qualities were to carry him to such a pinnacle of fame before his career’s end as to be proclaimed among Kerry’s greatest mid-fielders ever!
1923 was to be the first of Eight appearances for Con in All-Ireland finals for Moyvane’s most famous son. Con won six All-Ireland medals. Thomas Mahony, his team-mate on the Moyvane of that time, followed him on to the Kerry team winning All-Ireland medals in 1926 & 1927. In these early days of Moyvane football, club games were played in Bill Stephen Stacks field, located just south of the village on the banks of the Ownamoy. County championship games were held, however, in John O’Connor’s field, just across the road. North Kerry senior championship victories in 1925, ’27, ’28, ’30 & ’32 had enabled Moyvane to stamp their authority; on North Kerry football.
Besides Con Brosnan, the team abounded with footballers of great stature: Tom O’Callaghan, Paddy Windle, Tom O’Mahony, Dan Kearney, Joe McCabe, J.Brassil (goals), J.Finucane, W. O’Sullivan, J.Stack, Josie Enright, Paud O’Sullivan (father of renouned Finuge footballers: Tom, Tim & Christy and also a Kerry Team panellist of his era), W. Finucane, D.Mulvihill, J.J.Moriarty, J.Mahony, J.McCabe and John Flavin.
John Flavin won an All-Ireland medal with Kerry in 1937 and contributed hansomely to Kerry’s eclipse by Galway in the All-Ireland final of 1938.
After winning four North Kerry championships in a row 1936 to 1939 (inclusive), Moyvane suffered a slump in football fortunes that was far from temporary. However, patient and dedicated addministrators kept the club going, through the forties and early fifties, when rural clubs were being deprived of their life-blood by the scours of unemployment and emigration. Success at administrative level was the club’s main boast at this period, with Con Brosnan training the successful Kerry teams of ’39 and ’40 and acting as Kerry selector and later Munster Council representative for a number of years. (He also acted as chairman North Kerry Board from 1936-’42).
The emergence of a minor team in Moyvane, good enough to win a North Kerry Championship in 1954, heralded a new dawn of Moyvane footbal. The upswing continued until 1958. Moyvane marched to victory in the North Kerry championship. On that team were men who had upheld the honour of Moyvane during the lean years, energised and reinvigorated by the new blood from the ’54 minor team.
Moyvane football was back with renewed vigour. Many felt another championship or two could be gleaned but few could visualise the golden era that was to ensue.
The early sisties were dominated by a truly great Moyvane team. Four North Kerry championshps and three North Kerry leagues were anexed from 1961 to 1966. In 1963 Moyvane the double of North Kerry Championship and North Kerry League and also won the Frank Sheey Tournament, a tournament which carried much prestige at the time. Liam Hanrahan won an All-Ireland medal with Kerry juniors in1963. Both Joe Sheey and Bernie O’Callaghan won National League medals with Kerry. The 1963 team lined out as follows: Ed.Stack (goal), Stevie Stack, P.J.Kennelly, Paudie Hanrahan, Brendan Sheey, John McEnery, Timmy Hanrahan, Liam Hanrahan (capt.), Maurice Stack, Des Broderick, Bernie O’Callaghan, Brendan Broderick, Tommy Mulvihill, Michael Hennessy, Colm O’Callaghan.
The 1964 championship win is especially memorable in that it was achieved without the services of Bernie O’Callaghan who was hospitalised for the final (v.Tarbert), a factor which militated against Kerry’s chances against Galway in the All-Ireland final of the same year.
The 1966 final is probably best remembered for a great display at centre forward by John C.Cunnigham and an overall display that belied the teams’s longevity, though pitted against a youthful and soon to be dominant Ballylongford team. An unsuccessful if gallant appearace in the North Kerry league final of ’68 agains Tarbert was to be this team’s swan song. Eleven of this team had represented Kerry in one grade or another during the team’s ascendance. Prior to that Jim Brosnan and Micheal had represented Kerry at the highest level. Micheal winning an All-Ireland medal in 1953 and 1955. Having purchased the sportsfield in 1964, Moyvane set about funding its development mainly by means of staging an annual carnival. Avery successful tournament was held each year in conjunction with the carnival. Outright victory in the Moyvane carnival tournament was sought with fervour by all participating teams. Besides the upgrading of the pitch itself development was carried out in the area of dressing room erection, stand erection, concrete terrace, walled facade, etc. In the GAA centenary year of 1984, on June 17th, county chairman Frank King, officially opened the Con Brosnan Memorial Park.
Apart from a North Kerry minor championship win in 1968 and an unsuccessful appearance in the North Kerry senior Final of 1971, Moyvane had to wait until 1977 for their nexr major North Kerry title when they won the league, defeating Ballylongford in the replayed final.
Denied by Beale on five occasions, Moyvane again made the breakthrough in 1983, taking their first championship in 17 years. The team was as follows: J.Fitzmaurice (goals), N.Sheehan, M.Mulvihill, Noel Larkin, J.Stack, J.Mulvihill, E.Fitzmaurice,, M.Flaherty, T.Mulvihill, T.Keane, S Beaton, E.Sweeney, D.Mulvihill, P.Mulvihill and C.O’Callaghan (note: Johnny Mulvihill, no.6 on this team, had risen to fame, first in 1975 winning an All-Ireland minor medal, to be followed by U21 and senior medals subsequently).
An unsuccessful appearances in the North Kerry senior final of 1987 was followed by victory in the N.K U21 championship of 1989. In 1993 the club won their second ever minor championship (N.K.) after a 38 year lapse, a fact which enabled Moyvane to reach the North Kerry senior final of 1995. Moyvane gave a truly memorable display to oust a very good Listowel team in the final of 1995.
1996 saw Moyvane forced to give best to Finuge in the replayed senior final, after an epic draw previously. Although fielding strong teams, Moyvane failed to Ballylongford and to Ballyduff in ’98, after a fine game of football saw them short by a point. And so on to 1999! “Hope springs eternal …” they say. After a first round bye, Moyvane were faced with the unenviable task of bearding the Listowel Lion, dual champions in ’97 and ’98.
In many yeas of being present in Moyvane dressing rooms, this writer has to say that never before was there such a pervasive atmosphere of dedication, determination and total commitment. This carried Moyvane through agains a Listowel team who were hardly at their awesome best on the day.
And so, on to a semi-fnal joust with Ballylongford, those doughty warriors from Shannonside. In a game of swaying fortunes and perhaps with a nod of good fortune or two from lady luck, Moyvane won the day with two points to spare. Already this year Moyvane have annexed a county title in the Barrett Cup grade. To add the North Kerry senior championship of 1999 would be sweet indeed. All will be revealed today!
Guín rath agus ádh ar an dá fhoireann agus go raibh an bua ag an bhfoireann is fearr.
-Article taken from the ‘Souvenir Match Programme’ specially produced for the last North Kerry Championship Final of the century just past.
Update:
Moyvane went on to become gallant winners on final day bringing home the cup in a fitting end to an illustrious seventy years of football in the twentieth century.
https://moyvane.com/sports/gaa/moyvane-gaa-club-history/
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History
History of the Ballydonoghue GAA Club
Ballydonoghue GAA Club takes in the entireparish of Ballydonoghue. But this wasn't always the case. In the early decades of the 20th century, various townlands had their own teams taking part in County competitions and North Kerry competitions (after the formation of the North Kerry Board in 1926).
Ballyconry, Dromlough, Lisselton, Ballydonoghue, Gunsborough, Glouria, Guhard and Tullamore all had teams, not always at the same time, up to the 1930's.
After that there was only one club, taking in the whole parish, and in the 1940's it became a major in North Kerry Football. The club won its first North Kerry Championship in 1945 and two more before the end of the decade (1946 and 1949). Apart from threeof its players being regulars on the county team (Gus Cremin, Eddie Dowling and Mick Finucane), the club also provided the backbone of the successful Shannon Rangers side of the 1940's.
In the 1950's the men of Ballydonoghue continued in their role as kingpins of North Kerry Football winning the championship in 1952. This was also the golden age of Clounmacon and Duagh, and so Ballydonoghue were beaten at various stages of the championship from 1953 to 1958.
In 1959 they recaptured the crown.
Through the sixties and seventies the GAA continued to play an important part in the life of the parish, though success and silverware eluded the club. However the tradition of Ballydonoghue players representing their County continued (Jer D. O Connor, who captained the team in the 1965 All Ireland final and Johnny Bunyan).
The eighties were no more successful, though by then under age teams were frequent winners of North Kerry and County competitions, at different levels.
In the late seventies and eighties came the purchaseand initial development of our new home in Coolard. This was a remarkable achievement in recessionary times.
Collecting the money physically laying out the pitch, and building the stand and dressing rooms, were all done by a relatively small group of volunteers.Local Volunteering is central to the ethos of the GAA. The original work in Coolard, in particular, typifies this spirit of volunteerism. Undertaking this voluntary work is a million miles away from the corporate boxes in Croke Park.
The nineties sat the emergence of a very talented, up and coming senior team and in 1992 came the long awaited breakthrough. The North Kerry championship title was lifted for the first time since 1959. Great things were expected in the following years but unfortunately the 1992 success could not be repeated at senior level through the rest of the decade. The U21's did have an historic championship win in 1993 and the Juniors had some successes through the nineties.
The club again had a representative on the county seniors (Liam Flaherty).
The late 1990's saw the transformation of Coolard with major developement of the terrace, the dugouts and the playing surface, making it playable in all weathers and putting it up there with the very best pitches in the county.
The noughties have been no more successful for the seniors and we still await the return to former glory.
We've had tremendous success, through the '90's and '00's at U12's, U14's, 16's and Minor level, none more than the U12's of 2009 who won the County Division 1 title as well as the North Kerry U12 League and Championhsip and the Tommy Madden Memorial Championship.
Foundation of the GAA in Ireland
When Michael Cusack moved to Dublin, in 1877, to open his academy preparing Irish students for the Civil Service examinations, sport throughout Ireland was the preserve of the middle and ascended classes.
Within Cusack's academy sport was central with students who were encouraged to participate in rugby, cricket, rowing and weight-throwing.
In the early 1880's Cusack turned his attentions to indigenous Irish sports. In 1882 he attended the first meeting of the Dublin Hurling Club, formed â˜for the purpose of taking steps to re-establish the national game of hurling'.
The weekly games of hurling, in the Phoenix Park, became so popular that, in 1883, Cusack had sufficient numbers to found â˜Cusack's Academy Hurling Club' which, in turn, led to the establishment of the Metropolitan Hurling Club.
On Easter Monday 1884 the Metropolitans played Killiomor, in Galway. The game had to be stopped on numerous occasions as the two teams were playing to different rules.
It was this clash of styles that convinced Cusack that not only did the rules of the games need to be standardised but that a body must be established to govern Irish sports.
Cusack was also a journalist and he used the nationalist press of the day to further his cause for the creation of a body to organise and govern athletics in Ireland.
On October 11 1884 an article, written by Cusack, called â˜A word about Irish Athletics' appeared in the United Ireland and The Irishman. These articles were supported a week later by a letter from Maurice Davin, one of three Tipperary brothers, who had dominated athletics for over a decade and who gave his full support to the October 11 articles.
A week later Cusack submitted a signed letter to both papers announcing that a meeting would take place in Hayes's Commercial Hotel, Thurles on November 1 1884.
On this historic date Cusack convened the first meeting of the â˜Gaelic Athletic Association for the Preservation and Cultivation of national Pastimes'. Maurice Davin was elected President, Cusack, Wyse-Power and McKay were elected Secretaries and it was agreed that Archbishop Croke, Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Davitt would be asked to become Patrons.
From that initial, subdued first meeting grew the Association we know today.
http://www.ballydonoghuegaa.com/contentPage/215809/h_i_s_t_o_r_y
Famous Quotes
Anonymous Clare hurler:
'Ger Loughnane was fair, he treated us all the same during training-like dogs'
Michael Smith, Tipperary
The toughest match I ever heard off was the 1935 All-Ireland Semi-Final. After 6 minutes, the ball ricocheted off a post and went into the stand. The pulling continued relentlessly and it was 22 minutes before any of the players noticed the ball was missing"
Managers
Ger Loughnane on Tipp
⢠I'm not giving away any secrets like that to Tipperary. If I had my way, I wouldn't even tell them the time of the throw-in"
Ollie Murphy
I used to think it was great being a wee nippy corner forward, but its better now being a big, fat one
John O'Mahony
Whenever a team loses, there's always a row at half time but when they win, it's an inspirational speech".
Babs Keating before Tipp played Cork in 1990 (Cork went on to win the All Ireland...the shower of donkeys!!!)
'You can't win derbies with donkeys'
Babs Keating description of Offaly in 1998
'Sheep in a heap'
A clap on the back is only about two feet from a kick in the arse.
Babs Keating
Manager to a club player in Derry.
We're taking you off but we're not bothering to put on a sub. Just having you off will improve our situation.
Val Andrews in response to modern training methods
"Cones are for Guards and ladders are for firemen"
Others
Joe Lynch, actor.
I love Cork so much that if I caught one of their hurlers in bed
with my missus, I'd tiptoe downstairs and make him a cup of tea"-
Kerry player during league campaign 1980s
'Life isn't all beer and football...some of us haven't touched a
football in months' -
Tipp fan to Ger Loughnane
'Any chance of an autograph? Its for the wife...she really hates
you' -
Offaly fan in 1998
'Babs Keating 'resigned' as coach because of illness and
fatigue. The players were sick and tired of him' -
Cork fan 1988
'Meath make football a colourful game-you get all black and
blue'
Keep your eye on the ball, even when it's in the referee's pocket.
Christy Ring
Several broken sticks, two broken heads, and two bruised fingers were part of the afternoon's play, for hurling, the Irish national game is the fastest and probably the most dangerous of sports. It is a combination of hockey, football, golf, baseball, battle and sudden death. It was a real Irish game
Daily Mail
Reporting on a match held in London (1921).
Brendan Hegarty's â˜take' on Micheál O'Muireartaigh's â˜would be' account of Gus Cremin scoring a winning point in Croke Park from 60 yards in the '46 All Ireland Final, and his greyhound, aptly named 'Kerryman', winning the Irish Derby at Harold's Cross.
"Two formidable Kerrymen, one chasing the ball, the other chasing the hare, both chasing fame, both catching it, one from the 60 the other from the 525, both winning, Ballydonoghue forced to share the spoils with Ballydonoghue, On the Line, on the world stage. Serial law breakers cutting loose on Track and Field who will not be caught, both with serious form, peerless Track Records, Track and Field Records.
One from a football stronghold, the other from a greyhound stronghold, both from Ballydonoghue, the same Ballydonoghue, the same stronghold, what a stronghold. What am I talking about, the same household, what a household. GUBU it is, Gus, Unbelievable, Ballydonoghue, Unprecedented."
John B. Keane
A Kerry footballer with an inferiority complex is one who thinks he's just as good as everybody else.
John B.Keane ventures into coaching
Now listen lads, I'm not happy with our tackling. We're hurting them but they keep getting up.
Pat Spillane on the Cavan football team
'They have a forward line that couldn't punch holes in a paper bag'
Pat Spillane reflects on an Ulster Championship clash.
The first half was even, the second half was even worse.
"Is the ref going to finally blow his whistle?... No, he's going to blow his nose!"
Radio Kilkenny commentator
From the great MÃcheál Ó Muircheartaigh:
"And Brian Dooher is down injured. And while he is, I'll tell ye a little story. I was in Times Square in New York last week, and I was missing the Championship back home. So I approached a newsstand and I said 'I suppose ye wouldn't have â˜The Kerryman would ye?' To which the Egyptian behind the counter turned to me and he said 'Do you want the North Kerry edition or the South Kerry edition?'... He had both... So I bought both. And Dooher is back on his feet..."
"Anthony Lynch the Cork corner back will be the last person to let you down - his people are undertakers"
"Pat Fox has it on his hurley and is motoring well now ... But here comes Joe Rabbitte hot on his tail ... I've seen it all now - a Rabbitte chasing a Fox around Croke Park!"
"He grabs the sliothar, he's on the 50...... He's on the 40...... He's on the 30...... He's on the ground"
"Teddy McCarthy to Mick McCarthy, no relation, Mick McCarthy back to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation "
"In the first half they played with the wind. In the second half they played with the ball".
"We're short two" - The Late Timmy Carr's response to a roadside interrogation by an officer of the law, who was wanting to know how many soldiers were in his single armoured vehicle calvacade (ie Blue Ford Anglia Estate Reg FIN 572), as he led them to war in a neighbouring parish playing field back in the '60's.
"There wasn't a coat of paint in it" - Eamie Kissane's take on a close encounter.
"It would be aiser to go over you than around you" - Johnny Buckley's observation of a player in his first training session back, having Wintered well, very well, too well?
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https://youtu.be/Wjez6dGibvs
Vintage Tractor parade
MOV07271.AVI
Knockanure National School July 2 2021
Huge congratulations to Moyvane u12s who won the North Kerry League Division 2 Final last night. A special well done to our 3 girls, Emily, Chloe and Éadaoin. What a great start to the summer holidays.
August 2021; Best wishes to Knockanure past pupil, Kelly Enright, who is playing in the Munster U 16 Football Final against Cork on Sunday. We’re all very proud of what you have achieved and we’ll be cheering you on.
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TOKYO: there will be 29 athletes competing at the Paralympic Games for Team Ireland including, Eight Athletes Named to Represent Ireland in Para Athletics, which will take place from 24 August-5
https://paralympics.ie/eight-athletes-named-to-represent-ireland-in-para-athletics/
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