Fifty golden years

OVER fifty years ago, Gerald McKenna, the current President of Kerry GAA, proposed at the 1966 County Convention that Kerry, who were struggling at the time, set up a juvenile system.

A room in the KCYMS building in Denny Street was the venue for the first meeting in 1967.

Fifty years later, many of the same people were in the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney, joined by the officers who succeeded them down through years in building Kerry Bórd na nÓg, now Coiste na nÓg, into Kerry’s record juvenile success in recent years.

Proceedings opened with a mass by Fr James Linanne, the cornerstone of the whole organisation, for deceased members.

Jerome Conway, chair of both Bórd na nÓg and the Senior County Board, was MC as Munster Chairman Jerry O’Sullivan, Vice-Chairman Liam Lenihan, County Board Chairman Tim Murphy, Johnny O’Sullivan of Lee Strand (great sponsors and supporters since 1985) were also in attendance.

Another former Chairman of Coiste na nÓg Johnny Brosnan paid tribute to Coiste na nÓg and the many people who had seen the handful of juvenile games back in 1967 grow to over 1,000 games in both hurling and football fifty years later.

There was special applause for two of the greatest exponents of those codes on the night, Kerry footballer Colm Cooper and Kerry hurler John Griffin.

Current Chairman of Coiste an nÓg, Tom Keane, closed out proceedings before all former officers were presented with commemorative slate mirrors to mark the occasion. A booklet outlining a brief history since 1967 was distributed on the night.

The Kerryman spoke to Chairman Tom Keane after the event.

“We are delighted and very proud to be able to thank to all the people who worked so hard to make Coiste na nÓg what it MCs today and, of course, to all the great people in the clubs who continue to do so, and we greatly appreciate the Munster Chair and Vice Chair and County Board Officers who came here to deny to show their appreciate as well.

“It has been a great night, a fitting commemoration after fifty years and we are very grateful to everyone who helped to make it happen.”

Photos by Michelle Cooper Galvin Coiste na nÓg Chairman Tom Keane with officers and former officers of Coiste na nÓg at the organisation’s 50th celebration dinner in The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney on Saturday.

Photos by Michelle Cooper Galvin RIGHT: PJ Shanahan, Ger Lynch, Damien McCarthy (back) Therese Shanahan, Kathryn Brosnan and Josephine O’Connor at the Coiste na nOg 50th celebration dinner in The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney on Saturday.

ABOVE: George and Kathleen Rice with Tom O’Donoghue and Richard Cotter.

Johnny and Norma Sheehy, Louise Moriarty (back) Sean Moriarty, Maurice O’Mahony and Martin Sheehy at the Coiste na nOg 50th celebration dinner in the Gleneagles Hotel, Killarney on Saturday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Mairead Dillon, Liam Moriarty, Muiris and Mary O’Sullivan

Sean and Kathleen O’Sullivan with Tim and Kathleen Ryan, East Kerry Board.