The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Walking tours’ Gerry has family GAA tradition
GERRY Enright is a Tralee man who, through his work with the Legal Aid Board, has been based in Cahirsiveen for the past 17 years, residing in Over-The -Water.
Gerry takes a keen interest in history and local historical affairs. He currently offers guided historical walking tours through the town, beginning from the Community Centre with a commencement of 10am and 12 noon, Monday to Friday. The walks will continue until September 30. They make for an entertaining tour of the town of Cahirsiveen, the capital of the Iveragh Peninsula on the Wild Atlantic Way and gateway to the Skellig region.
It is a short stroll around town but a long walk through history. You get a chance to explore the history of Cahirsiveen through the ages and visit sites of historical interest. Discover the stories of Daniel O’Connell the uncrowned King of Ireland, Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, Canon Brosnan and the Pope, Sigerson Clifford, poet and song writer and many more. The tour will take one hour. Enquiries and bookings: 086-8587680 or Gerry Kerry@gmail.com.
Interestingly, Gerry Enright’s grandfather Jack’ Sean’ McCarthy was a very prominent GAA trainer player, administrator and referee.
Born in Blennerville in 1898, he moved to Strand Street in Tralee. He trained the Kerry senior footballers to their first four-in-a-row All-Ireland victories from 1929-32 and made the famous Kerry team tour to America by boat with the team in 1931
As a footballer he was midfield with his friend John Joe Sheehy on the Kerry senior team beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semifinal of 1919.
In 1919 also he won a County Championship football medal with Tralee Mitchels and a County Championship hurling medal with Tralee Parnells.
He was one of the founders of the Kerins O’Rahilly’s club in Tralee.
He played midfield for Tralee Mitchels with John Joe Sheehy and captained the Kerry juniors to All-Ireland victory versus Longford in 1924. He was also an accomplished athlete excelling at running and long jumping.making him the perfect midfield candidate. He was the referee in the All-Ireland finals of 1934 (Galway defeated Dublin) and 1936 (Mayo defeated Laois).
As an administrator, he was the delegate to the Munster Council between the years 1925-31.
He also became Chairman of the Kerry County Board in 1927. He was Joint Secretary of the Board in 1928 with Din Joe Baily, and then Secretary from 1929-31.
Remarkably, he served as Secretary of the Munster Council from 1931 to 1977 and passed away on July 24, 1977 while still in office.
Appropriately, the date of his death coincided with that of the Cork v Kerry Munster final in Killarney. His family will, in a few days mark, the 40th anniversary of his passing.
Another angle to Gerry’s life is that his paternal great grandfather was Thomas Enright, who was a coach driver for the Knight of Kerry and worked seasonally in Glanleam, Valentia.
He was married to Anne Keane from Portmagee. She was at home with her people when Gerry’s grandfather Peter Enright was born in Portmagee in 1888.
They later lived in Tralee.