in the shadow of SLIABH MISH in the shadow of SLIABH MISH Published by: Derryquay I.C.A. Date Sept. 2001 ISBN 0-9540952-0-0 Printed by: Kingdom Printers Tralee Co. Kerry. All rights reserved Front Cover Picture: Reflections Caution: Many of the sites mentioned are on private property. Liability for any act of trespass, or any injury, loss or damage to persons or property shall not attach to the editorial team, publisher or printers. Profits from the sale of this book will go towards future heritage projects. RESEARCHERS Breda Browne, Celia Cooke, Mary Hurley, Bridget Keane, Phil Leen, Imelda Moriarty, Julianne Murphy, Peggy O’Shea, Mary O’Sullivan, Joan Trant. in the shadow of SLIABH MISH G.A.A. History 153 in the shadow of SLIABH MISH achievement. As was common-place at the time, 1929-2000 competitions for one year often over- ran into the next and the 1930 League Final was no different. A record of the West Kerry Convention held on Sunday the 8th of February St. Patrick’s 1931 shows that the 1930 final was fixed for Sunday July 5th 1931, the venue to be agreed by the two clubs involved i.e. Blennerville and Annascaul. Records show that this G.A.A. Club team comprised of players from Derrymore to Clahane including Blennerville. Blennerville defeated Annascaul in the final, played in Castlegregory. A special train left The earliest record of a G.A.A. club in the area on a formal Blennerville carrying supporters to the game. Prominent basis was in the year 1929. It appears that the club i.e. players of this era were Dan Moriarty (Dan Din), John Blennerville F.C. took part in the West Kerry League in this Greaney, Bill Sayers, Ned O’Donnell, John “Farmer” Sullivan, year. For a few years prior to that a team from the area Dan “Sergeant” Murphy and Maurice McKenna from played a number of challenge matches against Curraheen/Derrymore; Charlie Kerins, Jimmy O’Shea and neighbouring clubs. At that time the West Kerry League Danny Hanafin from Tonevane; Pa O’Donnell, Tommy covered the entire peninsula both North and South. Teams “Tiger” Tangney, John Cournane and John “Buster” Brosnan from the Southern side included Keel, Annascaul, Lispole from the Clahane area; Fr. Jimmy Duffy, Johnny Foley, Con and Dingle. Moriarty, “Jopsey” Lehane, Jack Mc Carthy, Henry Curtin and John Sayers from Blennerville. For the record the Chairman and Secretary of the Club, Jimmy O’Shea and Stephen Falvey respectively, elected at the Club Convention on the 9/1/1931, were also the delegates to the West Kerry Convention held on the 8/2/1931. 1939 Over the next number of years emigration took its toll as well as retirement of some of the aforementioned players and the Club ceased to operate on a competitive basis, although a number of challenge games continued to be played. A team of young players came together in 1939 and Johnny Foley from the earlier team came out of retirement 1930 West Kerry to lead them. Jimmy O’ Shea let his village field to them and in that year they played a number of friendlies against League Final teams from Castlegregory and Tralee. They entered the West Kerry League in 1940, which comprised of teams from Camp, Castlegregory, Stradbally, Maharees, Ballyduff and In the Club’s second year in existence i.e. 1930, it qualified Blennerville. At this time there were two teams from the for the West Kerry League Final, which was a significant peninsula competing in the County Championship. Dingle 154 in the shadow of SLIABH MISH entered on its own, drawing players from Annascaul and District League. The 1953 panel comprised of the following Lispole. The second, titled West Kerry, came from the Muiris Moriarty, Michael Keane, John Joe Riordan, Moss O’ northern area of the peninsula i.e. Castlegregory area. Riordan, Paddy “Bawn” Moriarty, Pat “Fox” Foley, John Unfortunately emigration again took its toll and in about a Foley, Dan O’ Connor, Eddie Hanlon, Michael Dillane, Paddy year ten of them had left Kerry, the majority to work in O’ Connor, Michael Horan, David Fitzgerald, Michael England. The panel in 1940 comprised of Michael Riordan Knightly, Paudie Murphy, Michael Horan and Tom Foley. and Paddy Riordan from Annagh; Pat,Mick and Jim Savage, Around this time the players from Derrymore and Paddy Galvin and John Daly from Tonevane; Johnny Foley, Curraheen learned their football skills at Clasheen in a Mikey O’ Sullivan, Jack Falvey, Charlie O’ Connor, Berty O’ pitch affectionately known as the “Polo Grounds”, called no Sullivan, Dinny Reilly, Bernard King, Tommy and Noel doubt after its namesake in New York, where the 1947 All Cooper, Mickey Deady, Paddy Moriarty, Johnny Daly and Ireland Final between Kerry and Cavan was played. Success Patsy Duffy from Blennerville; Jerry Reidy from Farmers in the Club continued and in 1955 a milestone was reached Bridge; and Jimmy Baily originally from Derrymore. Mickey when the Club won both minor and senior championships O’ Sullivan and Noel Cooper were on the (CBS) The Green of the Castlegregory District Board on the 5th September team that won the Munster Colleges Championship in 1939 1955. The Minor Panel comprised of the following Michael and 1940. Mickey O’ Sullivan captained the Kerry minors to Murphy, Jackie Baily, Patrick Williams, Billy Kelly, Charlie victory in the Munster Championship in 1940. Jack Falvey Foley, Don O’ Mahony, John Joe Sheehan, Donal O’ Connor, later played with O’ Rahillys and won two Senior All- Connie Kelly, Denis Enright, Con Breen, Donal Shannon, M.J. Irelands with Kerry. During the War Years the club again O’ Connell, Christy Murphy, Teddy Kerins and Jimmy O’ went into decline, although some challenge games Shea. For the record the 1955 senior panel was Jim Foley, continued to be played. Tom O’ Connor, Denis Foley, Michael Moynihan, Donal O’ Donoghue, Muiris Moriarty, Tom Ahern, Patrick Hayes, Billy O’ Donoghue, Michael Fitzgerald, Pa Williams, Con Kelly, David Fitzgerald, Jimmy O’ Riordan, Paddy “Bawn” Moriarty, Eddie Hanlon, Jerry Dillane, Donal King, Johnny O’ Connor, Muiris O’ Donnell, Michael Dillane, Denis Moriarty, Stephen Finn and Donal O’ Connor. The Club ceased to exist in 1957 but was reformed again in October 1963 at a meeting held in Stephen Shannon’s house. The A.G.M. was held in February 1964 and Johnny O’ Castlegregory Connor was elected Chairman with Paddy Joe O’ Shea as Secretary and Jimmy O’ Shea Treasurer. The Club affiliated to the Tralee District Board and played in the Tralee District District League Junior League for a number of years. The Club reached the final in 1964 and were narrowly defeated by John Mitchels. The Club did not reach the final again until 1968 when Winners Kerins O’ Rahillys defeated it. Players of this era included John Crean (Ballyseedy), Michael Moynihan, Moss Williams, Eddie Scanlon, Pat McKenna, Jimmy O’Shea, Con Breen, Records of the late forties are sparse but in the early and Donal O’Connor, Muiris Moriarty, Johnny O’Connor, Michael mid-fifties the club was again thriving. The club was Hurley, Tommy O’Connor, Billy Galvin, Johnny Quane, officially registered as St. Patrick’s G.A.A. Club in 1953. In Patrick Corkery, Michael Horgan, Noel O’Leary, Tom Kelliher, this year the club was again victorious in the Castlegregory Christy Hallinan and John Moynihan. 155 in the shadow of SLIABH MISH The Club had an active Juvenile set up and fielded teams at under 14 and under 16 level in West Kerry. Michael O’Regan and Jim Moriarty won under 16 County Championship medals with West Kerry in 1969. The Club rented a field from Michael O’Sullivan, Derrymore West for a couple of years and in later years Con O’Shea’s field in Curraheen, next to Keanes, was the Club base. Con O’Shea was the Club Chairman for the period of its existence. The Club was well served by excellent secretaries namely, Martin Sayers in 1967, Tommy O’Sullivan in 1968, 1969 and 1973, Michael O’Regan in 1970 and 1971 and Denis Healy in 1972. Jim Savage was Vice-Chairman of the Club from 1968 to 1973. BLENNERVILLE TEAM 1956 FRONT (L-R)Tom De Lacy and Tom O’Connor MIDDLE (L-R) Dan O’Donoghue (young child), Donal O’Donoghue, David Fitzgerald, Johnny O’Connor, Muiris Moriarty, Michael Keane, Michael Moynihan, Stephen Shannon. An annual match between the veterans and younger BACK (L-R) Paddy “Bawn” Moriarty, Jerry Dillane, Michael Knightly, Muiris O’Donnell, Patrick Hayes, Paudie Murphy, Michael Dillane. players was played for the Silver Swan Cup kindly donated by John Keane. In 1970 the veterans comprised of Mick Heffernan, Bernie O’Donnell, Denis Moriarty, Eddie Scanlon, Paddy O’Sullivan, Con O’Shea, Michael Enright, Jimmy St. Kevin’s G.A.A. Club Murphy, Timmy Kerins, Jackie O’Sullivan, John O’Sullivan and Christy Browne. The younger players were Pat Joe In early 1967 a number of people in the Browne, Joseph Enright, Jimmy and Garrett Savage, Denis Curraheen/Derrymore area felt that with a young Enright, Jim Moriarty, John Hilliard, Sonny Flaherty, Tommy population in the area there was need for the formation of O’Sullivan, Martin Sayers, John McElligott, Michael a club. This came to pass on 8th March 1967 when the first O’Regan, Padraig O’Sullivan and Denis Healy. meeting of St. Brendan’s G.A.A. Club, as it was then called, was held in Flaherty’s house in Derrymore East. The following Officers were elected at a meeting on the 18th March 1967; Chairman: Con O’Shea, Secretary: Martin Sayers, Vice Chairman: Jackie O’Sullivan, Joint Treasurers: John O’Sullivan and John P.