Emergency meeting as Young Islanders struggle for numbers

ON the night of January 23, the Valentia Young Islanders GAA club held an Emergency General Meeting in the Ring Lyne Bar and Restaurant of Chapeltown, where a large attendance was present.

Despite the euphoria of being promoted to Division Four of the County League last year and defeating Waterville in a South Kerry Championship first round encounter, the club once more finds itself in dire straits as it struggles for players.

Numbers are dwindling: there have been a few injuries and retirements, and a number of players are travelling to work overseas.

In her opening address, Chairperson Deirdre Lyne spoke emotionally and passionately and stated that, in view of last year’s progress, she did not expect the club to be under threat once more so quickly.

There is a very real danger that the club will not field a team for 2019, and she stated that such an eventuality would have a hugely negative impact on the island community in general.

Manager/Trainer Michael A O’Connell also spoke with passion and a gung-ho attitude, stating that he saw a lot of potential for 2019 if the club and players could get themselves together.

There were also very significant contributions from players and the general attendance.

The Valentia Young Islanders club was formed in 1905 and won its last South Kerry Championship final in its centenary year of 2005.

Down through the years, it has been up there as one of the most prominent clubs in South Kerry football.

The club has won many significant trophies; and its players have donned the Kerry jersey and won All-Ireland senior, junior, minor and under-21 medals in the process.

The club lies second to St Marys of Cahersiveen in the South Kerry championship roll of honour.

Many local club heroes of past times will forever remain etched in the memory.

The club has always been the biggest and most significant sporting organisation in Valentia; it is part of the very fabric of this small island community.

It has always been a way of life here and part of our DNA. Its loss would have huge implications for other aspects of the wider island community and would tear the heart out of this small island, both socially and economically.

At the end of the meeting, a number of people were appointed from the large attendance to approach and entice players not currently involved in a playing capacity to take to the field once more for the benefit of one of the great and long-established clubs in Kerry football.

Dairbhre abú.