Team of 1997 celebrates end of ‘The Famine’

THE class of ’97 gathered in the late Páidí O Sé heartland of Ventry on Saturday night to stoke the fires of Kerry’s All-Ireland victory of 1997 and to celebrate a moment in time few followers in the Kingdom will ever forget.

When referee Jimmy Dennigan blew the full-time whistle at the end of the 1986 All Ireland football final against Tyrone, not even the world’s best guesser could have forecast this most celebrated of Kerry rituals would vanish for over a decade.

The famine years of 1986 to 1997 is still referenced as the ‘lost generation’ of Kerry football and an era when children and adults were pickpocketed of Sam’s visits to Kerry on late September nights.

Over 26 players from that famous ’97 panel, including management, made the trip west for an event organisers felt could only take place in one venue, and Páidí’s house was an appropriate setting in which to honour what was arguably PO’s greatest ever achievement for Kerry.

MEP Sean Kelly spoke at the reunion and recalled how in 1997 he faced the rather unusual prospect of completing his term as the first Kerry County Board Chairman in history never to see Kerry win the All-Ireland.

“In 1996 when I appointed Páidí O Sé as manager I’ll never forget what he said to me: ‘Sean, I will have an All-Ireland for you before you leave at the end of 1997’. And he did. Páidí was far better than people ever gave him credit for and he was a remarkable man that always achieved what he set his mind to,” Sean said.

Sean also stressed how Saturday’s celebrations honoured one of the most important All-Ireland’s ‘ever one won by Kerry’ considering the county

VETERANS AND FRIENDS OF THE 1997 ALL-IRELAND WINNING TEAM GATHERED IN PÁIDÍ O SÉ’S PUB ON SATURDAY NIGHT TO REMINISCE ON THE DAY KERRY CAME BACK FROM THE WILDERNESS.

had gone from a situation where they won 8 titles in 11 years, to not winning any in 11 years, the frustration in the county was understandable according to Sean.

“I remember relaxing when Maurice Fitzgerald put the amazing sideline kick over the bar. But my standout moment from that time was coming up through the streets of Tralee and Killarney and seeing the faces of the people. We had a picture here on Saturday night showing the crowds extending from the top of Denny Street to the bottom, which told you what it meant to the people.”

Sean concluded: “Saturday night in Paidi’s was an absolute credit to the players who organised it and also to our sponsors Kerry Group and Garvey’s who have stood squarely by Kerry football since that time. 1997 is a year we will never forget.”

Sure they haven’t changed a bit! The 1997 team reunion at Páidí Ó Sé Pub in Ventry on Friday night.

Photo by Declan Malone Tomás Garvey chatting with Mike Hassett. Mike Frank Russell, Denis O’Dwyer, Aoife Ní Mhuirí and Barry O’Shea.

Photo by Declan Malone Stephen Stack, Darragh Ó Cinnéide, Tom O’Connor and Peter Twiss with Páidí Ó Sé’s wife, Máire, at the ‘97 Kerry team reunion in Páidí’s pub on Saturday night. Máire is holding a framed montage of photos from the 1997 All-Ireland final, which the team...

Photo by Ray McManus The Kerry team’s prematch parade prior to the 1997 All-Ireland Final against Mayo.

Photo by Declan Malone Seamus Moynihan, Stephen Stack, Aoife Ní Mhuirí and Peter O’Leary.

Photo by Declan Malone Dr Dave Geaney (left) and Billy Keane with a very smiley William Kirby.

Photo by Declan Malone William Kirby, Maurice Fitzgerald, Peter O’Leary, Donal Daly, Tomás Garvey, Seamus Moynihan, Sean Kelly, Declan O’Keeffe and Billy O’Shea at the 1997 Kerry team reunion in Páidí Ó Sé’s pub on Saturday night.

Emir O’Shea, Noreen Moynihan, Gráinne Kirby and Jean Browne stayed on at the table for a chat.