The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Paídí Ó Sé tournament all set to take place next month
THE respect for Kerry legend Páidí Ó Sé can be found in GAA communities across both Ireland and the globe.
Having attracted teams from the UK, Germany, and even South Korea, preparations are already underway for the 2018 Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé, which has been billed for February 16 to 18 on Páidí’s home turf in west Kerry. Now in its 29th year, the comórtas has tempted 40 teams and a massive pool of over 1,200 players to Corca Dhuibhne to compete in its senior, intermediate, and junior tournaments for both men and women, while also offering a range of cultural and social events at ‘Comórtas Headquarters’: Páidí Ó’Sé’s Pub, Ventry.
‘We are thrilled to be breaking new ground by hosting a team from South Korea, and it’s great to see Team Germany ladies and men’s teams, made up of six German GAA clubs, making the big effort to travel,” Chairperson Pádraig Óg Ó Sé, Páidí’s son, said ahead of the upcoming competitions.
“It reflects the expanding reach of the GAA community globally but also shows the interest in our tournament has spread far beyond what my father ever imagined.
“The support of local host clubs is crucial in ensuring we can maintain such a high number of teams and we thank them for their co-operation,” he added, while also praising partners Lidl, Lee Strand Milk, EJ Menswear, and the Kerry County Council Tourism Unit for their support.
In the Men’s Senior Championship, Dingle and Ardfert will represent Kerry, with Annascaul, Lios Póíl and Keel flying the green and gold in the intermediate equivalent. In the ladies’ tournaments, Na Gaeil and Rathmore will play in the senior competition; west Kerry’s Corca Dhuibhne will line up for the Intermediate Championship; and Dingle and Fossa will attempt to take home the junior title. In addition to these teams, there’ll be something of a Kerry flavour to men’s intermediate competitors Rathangan, managed by Kildare’s Karl O’Dwyer, son of Kerry phenomenon Mick O’Dwyer.
The tournament draw will take place on February 5, and for any information between now and the start of proceedings, visit www.paidiose.com, or follow @PIOs85 or #Comortas on Twitter.