Kerry Badminton honours four greats including long-serving Junior Griffin
KERRY Badminton Association has recognised the outstanding contribution of four former members of their executive committee at the special reception.
At the special event in Castleisland Association president Johnny Brosnan told the large audience that “between the four of them they had given 110 years of service to Kerry Badminton”.
Marian O’Neill has been involved with badminton in Kerry since the 1980s. She served as treasurer for the Ashe Club in Tralee and subsequently with the County Club after the Ashe club disembarked.
She spent several years as treasurer of the Kerry Badminton Association and also managed the Grade E Kerry team with Catherine Murphy for four years.
In honour of her work for badminton in Kerry the Ladies Doubles Division 4 Cup has been dedicated in Marian’s name.
Paying tribute to Vice-Chairperson of the Association Mike Corridon, fellow Moyvane clubman and vice-president of the Association, Olly Conyard, said Mike was involved in the club since its inception in the 1970s and part of a Mixed Final team that reach a county final in 1986 and many times subsequently.
Mike Corridon spent many years as Chairperson of the club and was still there in 2016 when Moyvane were named All-Ireland Club of the Year. At Kerry level Mike spent 17 years as vice-chairperson .
The Division 4 Mixed League Cup has been named in Mike Corridan’s honour.
Tom Clear, vice-chairperson of Kerry Badminton, spoke of the dedication Brid Murphy gave to the game she first feel in love with whilst in fifth class in school. He spoke about the wonderful success she enjoyed as a players.
Brid has spent several years as secretary of her Kingdom Club in Castleisland and spent several years as Assistant Secretary at Kerry level before taking over the role of Secretary from Peggy Horan in 2016.
In honour of Brid the Ladies Doubles Division 2 Cup will has been named in her honour.
Kerry Badminton Chairperson Tom Bourke paid a glowing tribute to the great Junior Griffin who stepped down as Chairperson of the County Board after 42 years of service.
“Forty-three seasons later with almost 1,000 competitions of which Junior has missed only a handful. What a record,” Mr Bourke said. “Junior, diminutive by name, magnificent by nature. Given three words to describe him – innovative, committed and personal.
“Prince of the pen – master of the written word, with a quintessential turn of phrase, how we so looked forward to reading his weekly reports. Junior always maintains that a picture paints a thousand words but his words painted many a priceless picture such was his wonderful command of the English language. How many of us have plagiarised and paraphrased his words over the years? He was also a master with the spoken word, a master of persuasion.”
Johnny Brosnan of the Kerry Badminton Association made a special presentation to Junior.