New jerseys for Old Comrades
WHEN Dingle football teams next go out on the field wearing their new kit, their opponents won’t have any difficulty understanding why ‘O’Flaherty’s Bar’ and the Random Restaurant logo appear on their jerseys. They might find it more difficult, however, to interpret the words ‘Old Comrades’, topped by an image of a little bird.
It’s only fair to help them grasp what people in Dingle already know.
The bird is a wren and ‘Old Comrades’ is a tune played by every Wren in Dingle and adopted in recent years as a battle hymn by local football teams. Without doubt, having it on the jersey will give strength and courage to everyone who wears it.
The new football kit, which has been sponsored by publican Fergus O’Flaherty and Random Restaurant owner Michael Begley, was unveiled with all due ceremony last Wednesday night in O’Flaherty’s bar.
“Fergus and Michael have sponsored a home set of jerseys that has our traditional red and white colours and an away set that is blue and green - the combined colours of Sráid Eoin and Na Piarsaigh. The Dingle GAA logo of the fishing boat coming in the harbour’s mouth on the front and the words Old Comrades on the back, a tune played by the Dingle Wrens that signifies the great traditions of our town and club,” said Paul Geaney, Cathaoirleach CLG Daingean Uí Chúis.
“We know that our footballers will wear our colours with pride and distinguish themselves on the field of play like all those that have come before them,” he added.