John Lenihan’s decades of service to East Kerry GAA to be recognised

2017 EAST KERRY PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: JOHN LENIHAN

THIS year’s East Kerry GAA Person of the Year Award recipient, Kilcummin’s John Lenihan, has given ongoing service to the GAA community in East Kerry, over many decades, ranging from club, through County (Coiste na nÓg), Fitzgerald Stadium and East Kerry GAA Board and extending to the broader community.

John played at all juvenile grades with Kilcummin CLG right up to U21. He was involved as a mentor from U12s up, from 1988 right through early ‘90s, a very fruitful period at underage for Kilcummin. In 1991 the U14 team had a clean sweep in East Kerry and County U14 competitions and so they represented Kerry at the prestigious Féile competition in 1992. Former Kerry senior Mike Mc Carthy was among this exceptional group of players.

In 1993 and 1994 John was a member of the organising committee when Kerry hosted the National Féile Pheil na nÓg in Kerry both years.

John served as secretary of Kilcummin CLG Coiste na nÓg for 11 years and was Delegate to East Kerry and County Coiste na nÓg. John also served on the County Coiste na nÓg in many capacities in the 1990’s. He started as fixtures secretary for U12 games from 1993 to 1996 (reference Caoga Blian ag Fás), moved on to Secretary in the latter end of the decade and served as joint vice chairman in 2001.

His involvement in GAA administration continued when John served as East Kerry Board secretary with chairman Ger Galvin, from the early 2000s up to 2007, moving on then to representing his club on the Board as a Delegate. The Chairman of East Kerry Board was also a member of the County CCC. When Ger was unable to attend a meeting of the CCC, John attended in his place.

John was a club referee for approximately 10 years in the 2000s, both District and county, mainly at juvenile football games.

John became involved in stewarding at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, in 1971 at the young age of 16, for the Munster Hurling Final, Tipperary versus Limerick. John attended any training that was provided for the stadium stewards and so built an extensive expertise over the years. He is the current Event Controller in Fitzgerald Stadium, and served as assistant to the previous incumbent, Billy Doolan. John is responsible for the organisation of major events in Fitzgerald Stadium. He is always keen to acknowledge the entire team that work with him: “I have a very good team with me and I can’t speak highly enough of them.”

The demands on this role have increased in recent years with attendances of 38,000 to 40,000 at Munster Finals and replays in the Stadium (due to the rebuilding of Parc Uí Chaoimh).

Other events hosted include four finals in Féile Pheil na nÓg 2016 Finals.

In 2012, recognising the importance of facilitating access to the necessary training for stewards, John organised a training course, presented by Munster Council, in Killarney to over 40 Stewards from around the County.

John has also been involved in voluntary stewarding at a number of events in the area including the GAA Annual Congress (2004, 2006) in the Great Southern Hotel, in the tenure of Sean Kelly (Kilcummin) as Uachtarán CLG and at the Ordination of the Bishop of Kerry (2013).

John can always be relied on, by the East Kerry GAA Board, for support and assistance in organising events such as the Homecoming for Kerry All-Ireland teams; The Killarney Parades for Féile Pheil na nÓg 2016, and to celebrate 50 years of Coiste na nÓg in Kerry in 2017, both of which started and ended in Fitzgerald Stadium. He also serves as acting club secretary on occasion.

With his ongoing and wide ranging commitment to GAA matters and events in the East Kerry District area John Lenihan is a truly worthy recipient of the 2017 East Kerry GAA Person of the

Year Award.