Hall of fame award for Ballyheighue’s O’Connor
THE North Kerry Hurling Board held their Annual Awards evening in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday last.
The guests of honour included Kerry GAA County Committee vice-chairman Diarmuid Ó Sé and well known broadcaster Andrew Morrissey.
Fifteen awards were given to juvenile players from various North Kerry hurling clubs and to Senior players for their achievements on the field during the past year. .
He thanked all sponsors, especially Rhyno Quality Feeds, The Ballyroe Heights Hotel for hosting the event and to Liam Ross of Ross Centra Ballyduff for sponsoring the evening’s programme.
Diarmuid Ó Sé acknowledged the contribution from the clubs to the success of the inter-county hurling teams and in doing so, helped Kerry retain Division 1 status in the Allianz Hurling league, playing in the Leinster Senior hurling Championship and also to our Minors in collecting five in-a-row Minor Hurling All Ireland titles.
Andrew Morrissey said that his passion for hurling did originate in the Rebel county but he is now residing in Tralee, playing hurling with Austin Stacks and seeing first hand the drive, commitment and grá in Kerry for the small ball.
He told the players and parents to continue supporting the North Kerry Hurling Board as they have a fantastic tradition and passion for the game and a strong community steeped in hurling in Kerry and long may it continue.
The NKHB 2016 Hall of Fame award went to James O’Connor of Ballyheigue, for his contribution to the GAA on both sides of the Irish Sea, and his service to the North Kerry Hurling Board as a current Joint Treasurer.
A native of Ballyheigue, like many of his generation James was forced to emigrate to England in the late 1950s and settled in Huddersfield where he was instrumental in setting up the Bros Pearse Hurling Club.
He became Chairman of the club and they took part in the Yorkshire Championships.
He then moved south to London in the early 60s and got involved in the Kingdom Club as Chairman of the hurling wing of the club. The Kingdom club won the London Junior in 1970 and the Intermediate Hurling Championships in 1971.
James then returned to Tralee in the early 70s and got involved with Austin Stacks and then with Ballyheigue. Over the past 20 plus years, James has been involved with the North Kerry Hurling Board in various capacities as PRO, Oifigeach Cultúrtha and is currently Joint Treasurer.
James has always taken great interest and pride in our Irish music and culture and has made a fantastic contribution to both Scór and Comhaltas Ceoiltórí Éireann, having been Chairman of CCE Ciarraí, Treasurer of CCE in Munster and the Munster Delegate to their National Council of CCE for many years.
James resides in Tralee with his wife Eileen, and his daughters Marion and Caroline and son Seamus have carried on his grá for Irish music as indeed has his grandchildren.
Tá an oniór seo sár tuilte ag James, Comhghairdeas.