Kerry Association in Dublin / Kerry GAA Supporters’ Club

Dublin

Happy New Year to all our members

We look forward to seeing you at some of our events over the next few months.

The first event kicks off on Tuesday evening 12th January with the press reception for the announcements of (1) the 2016 Kerry Person of the Year and (2) Laochra Chiarraí 2016, our inaugural group award, in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Iveagh House, St. Stephen’s Green.

Due to the popularity of this event and the limited number that can be accommodated in Iveagh House, we have to manage the invitations and we have decided that the fairest way to do this is to restrict the invitations to those who are fully paid up members of the Association. Membership of the Association is €20 per annum. If you are unsure whether you have paid your membership since the last AGM in April, please either contact our secretary Mary (087) 926 2789 or assistant secretary Keelin – [email protected] and they can confirm for you. If you haven’t, there is still time to do so by contacting either Mary or Keelin (a membership form is attached on the last page of this newsletter). Paid up members should have received their invitations by the time you are reading this newsletter. If you feel you should have received an invitation but haven’t, please contact us as soon as possible. It promises to be a great night.

Details of other upcoming events are set out throughout the newsletter. We look forward to seeing you soon and wish you all good health and happiness for 2016.

Kind regards Leesha Duffy Contact Us e:

Since our last Newsletter in October:

 Our Annual Mass for deceased members, family and friends took place on Friday 6th November, 2015 in the University Church, St Stephen’s Green. We were delighted to have Professor Brendan Kennelly attend, who recited his poem, Begin, at the end of the ceremony. Refreshments were served afterwards in the Harcourt Hotel.

 On Saturday 28th November a large Kerry contingent attended the Courtyard Hotel in Leixlip for a signing by Tomás O’Sé of his recently launched book, The White Heat. Photos of the night can be found on our website www.kerryassociation.ie or on our facebook pages www.facebook.com/KerryAssociation and www.facebook.com/KerryGAASupportersClubDublin

 The draw took place on Saturday 28th November in Leixlip for the Kerry GAA Supporters’ Club’s Grand Raffle. The prizewinners were as follows:

1st Prize: Golf for 4 in Tralee Golf Club, overnight in Kilcooly’s Country House, Ballybunion, followed by Golf for 4 in Cashen Course, Ballybunion – Mick Burke, Leixlip, Co. Kildare

2nd Prize: Golf for 4 in Dooks Golf Club, overnight accommodation in Killarney, followed by golf in Killarney Golf Club – Eugene O’Gorman, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan

3rd Prize: Week for 2 adults and 4 children in a house in Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry - Paul Greene, Navan Road, Dublin

4th Prize: 2 nights B&B and one evening meal for 2 people in the Malton Hotel, Killarney - Dermot Daniels, Lucan, Co. Dublin

5th Prize: Golf for 4 in Waterville Golf Club, overnight accommodation in Kenmare Bay Hotel, followed by golf in Kenmare Golf Club – Damien Barry, Leixlip, Co. Kildare

6th Prize: 2 nights B&B for 2 people and 1 evening meal in either Hudson Bay Hotel, Athlone, or Galway Bay Hotel – Alice Howlett and Tina Barnwell, c/o St. Paul’s, Dublin 8

7th Prize: Flight in light aircraft around the Ring of Kerry - Roger Kissane, Lisselton, Co. Kerry

8th Prize: 4 Ball in Royal Dublin Golf Club - Ann Dunphy, Greystones, Co. Wicklow

 On 28th November at the book signing of Tomás O’Sé’s The White Heat in the Courtyard in Leixlip, a cheque presentation of €35,000 was made to John Joe O’Carroll of Kerry County Board on behalf of the Kerry GAA Supporters’ Club in Dublin. This represented the proceeds of the Supporters’ Club- Dublin’s fundraising activities during 2015. All funds will be contributing to Kerry’s Centre of Excellence in Currans.

Si L-r Keelin Kissane, Marion Walsh, Eugene O'Sullivan, Finbarr Kennelly, Luke Moriarty, John Joe O'Carroll, Leesha Duffy, Frances Purcell

 This year our annual Christmas Lunch was held on 4th December in the Croke Park Hotel, Jones’s Road. It was a particularly successful event with more than 40 members attending. As is customary, there were plenty of singers on hand and the celebrations carried on long into the evening. Photos of the day can be viewed on www.kerryassociation.ie or on our facebook page www.facebook.com/KerryAssociation.

 You may by this stage also have had an opportunity to browse through our revamped website – www.kerryassociation.ie. Under the “Archived Photographs” section of the “Gallery” you will find photographs of former Kerry Association events since 1998. You may even find some photos of yourselves. Special thanks to Sheila Prendergast for all her work on upgrading the website.

Sympathy

We extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Patrick Curtin, who tragically lost his life following an accident in Guatemala over the Christmas period.

The 26 year old Moyvane native played in all grades of inter-county football with Kerry. He played minor in 2006 and 2007, under 21 in 2009 and 2010, junior in 2009 and made his senior championship debut against Tipperary in 2012 having made his league debut earlier that year against Dublin.

In all, Patrick made six championship and 10 league appearances for the Kingdom.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Calendar of Upcoming Kerry-related Events:

January February March

Tuesday 12th Monday 1st Saturday 5th Press Reception – Opening Night of Big Maggie Oíche Chiarraí Announcement of Kerry Person of the Year 2016 and Gaiety Theatre Ballsbridge Hotel Laochra Chiarraí 2016 Dublin 2 Dublin 4

Department of Foreign Affairs Iveagh House St. Stephen’s Green Dublin 2

Friday 15th Thurs 4th – Sunday 7th Sunday 6th GAA Night with the O’Sé February Kerry vs Wexford, Allianz brothers Éigse na Brídeoige Hurling League

Beann Éadair GAA Club Iveragh Gaeltacht 12.45pm Austin Stack Park Howth

Friday 29th Sunday 7th Sunday 6th Kerry GAA Fundraising Gala Kerry vs Roscommon, Allianz Kerry vs Donegal, Allianz Dinner Football League Football League Hilton Doubletree Hotel 2pm Fitzgerald Stadium Dublin 4 2.30pm Austin Stack Park (Formerly the Burlington Hotel)

Saturday 30th Sunday 14th Sunday 13th Kerry vs Dublin, Allianz Kerry vs Laois, Allianz Hurling Kerry vs Clare, Allianz Hurling Football League League Div 1b League 7pm Croke Park 2pm O’Moore Park, Portlaoise 2pm Cusack Park, Ennis

Sunday 21st Sunday 13th Kerry vs Limerick, Allianz Kerry vs Mayo, Allianz Hurling League Football League 2pm Austin Stack Park 2.30pm MacHale Park, Castlebar

Sunday 28th Sunday 20th Kerry vs Down, Allianz Kerry vs Offaly, Allianz Hurling Football League League 2pm Pairc Esler Newry 2pm St. Brendan’s Park, Birr

Sunday 27th (Easter Sunday) Kerry vs Monaghan, Allianz Football League

2pm St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones

Tuesday 12th January Press Reception – Announcement of Kerry Person of the Year 2016 and Laochra Chiarraí 2016

Electronic invitations issued today Monday 4th January to paid up members of the Kerry Association. Those of you who attended last year’s press reception will have witnessed the beautiful setting that is Iveagh House, a fitting location for the announcement of the prestigious Kerry Person of the Year award, now in its 38th year.

This year will also see the announcement of the inaugural recipients of our new award, Laochra Chiarraí (or Kerry Heroes). This award will honour a group or organisation in the Kerry community, who have shown leadership, brought honour to and performed community, charitable or other services to such an extent that could be described as being beyond the norm of everyday life.

Friday 15th January – 8pm, Páirc O’Ruairc in Howth GAA Night with the Ó’Se brothers

Beann Éadair GAA Club in Howth have asked us to share the details below of their upcoming night with Darragh, Tomás and Marc Ó Sé on Friday 15th Jan.

Friday 29th January Kerry GAA Gala Fundraising Dinner

The inaugural Kerry GAA Gala Fundraising Dinner will be held at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel, Dublin on Friday 29th January. This black tie event will take place on the eve of the opening game in the Allianz Football League in which Dublin and Kerry will meet again in Croke Park. The enduring rivalry between our great footballing counties will be a central them of the Gala Dinner which will be attended by many of the stars of the legendary Kerry-Dublin clashes over the decades. Leading personalities from other sports will also be in attendance.

All funds raised on the night will be invested in the development of training and coaching facilities at the Kerry Centre of Excellence Project.

Despite the disappointment of the result of the All Ireland Senior Football Final, 2015 has been a very successful year for Kerry GAA. Our minor and junior footballers both won All Ireland titles. The Hogan Cup was retained by Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne. Our senior hurlers won the Christy Ring Cup and retained their Division 2a league title and, as a result, will play in Division 1B of the national league this year.

For Kerry’s success to continue, the Centre of Excellence project is so important. It will provide Kerry GAA with the necessary infrastructure to ensure that all our young players can benefit from having world class sports facilities within their own county. The County Board are delighted to report that of the total funding requirement of €5.8 million they have now passed the €5.3 million mark and are very confident of reaching their final target by end of 2016.

A table of 10 for the Gala Dinner costs €2,000 and includes:

 Dinner and entertainment, compered by RTÉ’s Darragh Moloney, including interviews with current and past Kerry and Dublin legends and a current International Rugby star with strong Kerry roots.  Music, led by the great Liam O’Connor.  The chance to participate in an auction of Kerry and Dublin GAA and other collector’s sporting memorabilia  Networking opportunity amongst the Kerry Diaspora Business Community in Dublin  Tickets to the Kerry v. Dublin National League opening match on 30 January 2016  Tickets for a legends Tour of Croke Park to take place on the afternoon of 30 January 2016.

If you are interested in booking a table, please visit www.kerryfundraiserdublin.com or contact Carley Donegan on [email protected].

Monday 1st February Opening Night of Big Maggie at the Gaiety Theatre

We are pleased to announce that the Kerry Association have secured tickets to the opening night of John B. Keane's, "Big Maggie", on Monday 1st February in the Gaiety.

The tickets are €38.50 each. Just to note also that the tickets are in the Upper Circle (close to where we were for the opening night of The Field last April).

As it is the opening night, it will be a sell-out and as we have a limited number of tickets, it's advisable to get your names to either Mary or Keelin as soon as you can to reserve your tickets.

Kerry’s own Aisling O’Sullivan returns in the title role as Big Maggie and is joined in the cast by Killorglin’s Muiris Crowley.

Éigse na Brídeoige This year’s festival which takes We have been asked to bring the place in Ballinskelligs, dates of the Éigse na Brídeoige Caherdaniel, Dromid and festival to your attention, which Waterville has a full programme takes place this year from commemorating 1916. For more Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th details see February. www.eigsenabrideoige.com

Membership Form

Annual Membership falls due in April each year. If you have already paid we would like to say "thank you". If you have forgotten, please forward €20.00 to the address below. Most people have now forwarded up to date details for our Database. We would be pleased to receive any additional information from you on this form, which of course is strictly confidential and for use of the Kerry Association only.

Name: ______Address: ______Phone/Fax: ______/ ______

Email: ______Kerry Birthplace: ______

Company Name: ______Company Address: ______Phone/Fax: ______/ ______

Email: ______Website Address: ______

Do you know other interested people? Do you know any friends, relations or work colleagues who would like to join the Kerry Association for fun outings, cultural or social activities? If so, please complete the following and we will forward details to them:

Name: ______Address: ______Phone/Fax: ______/ ______

Please send the completed forms and €20.00 to the Secretary of the Association, Mary Shanahan, 12 Belvedere Place, Dublin 1, (087) 9262789.