Kerry’s magnificent seven light up GAA fundraiser

FIRST HOME BASED EVENT FOR CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE CELEBRATES KERRY’S MODERN ‘GOLDEN YEARS’ ERA

EVERYONE knows that Kerry football draws from a vast reservoir of tradition and one of the key advantages of this is knowing if - on the rare occasion - a bit of a lean spell is encountered, it allows us the luxury of taking stock of everything achieved thus far by our glorious heroes in green and gold. And this is precisely how events transpired on Saturday last as 850 guests turned up at the INEC for a gala event to celebrate the ‘Magnificent Seven’ and look back on Kerry’s All-Ireland victories from 1997 to 2014.

Names like Liam Hassett, Seamus Moynihan, Dara Ó Cinnéide, Declan O’Sullivan, Colm Cooper, Fionn Fitzgerald, Kieran O’Leary and Darren O’Sullivan were among those fortunate enough to have lifted Sam following victory in the heat of battle on a September’s afternoon in Croker and they shared their memories on the night.

But this is a county that believes strongly in the principle of standing on the shoulders of giants and the whole purpose of the evening was to raise funds for Kerry’s new Centre of Excellence at Currans; a centre that will help sustain the future of Kerry’s football and hurling stars.

A special DVD cataloguing the famous victories since 1997 was also released on the night and if it’s a sequel to ‘Kerry’s Golden Years’ you’re after, this is it. The DVD starts in 1988 and extends to 2014 and victory over Donegal. The DVD costs €20, while a special booklet has also been released commemorating those glory years which costs €5.

“It was very well attended and we had over 70 tables full on the night,” said John O’Leary, PRO of the Kerry County Committee.

“It is a fundraiser for the Centre of Excellence in Currans and it’s the first homebased event as the other fundraisers were held in America and England. Eighty-seven players won medals during those seven All Ireland’s and the event was a great way to raise funds for what is an exciting new project in Kerry GAA,” John added.

Kerry Stars David Moran, Tommy Walsh and Donnchadh Walsh are presented paintings by Patrick O’Sullivan Kerry County Board Chairman and Stan McCarthy CEO Kerry Group

Michael McCarthy, Donal Sheahan, Mairead Carey (back from left) Tom Barry, Eleanor Larkin, Ann and Donal Kelleher at the Kerry GAA Gala Celebration and DVD launch in the INEC, Killarney on Saturday

FAR RIGHT: Stan McCarthy, CEO Kerry, Group at the Kerry GAA Gala Celebration and DVD launch at the INEC.

RIGHT: Erika and Declan Quill, Barry O’Shea and Maura O’Connor