Stabannon to fly Louth flag at Paidi O Se tournament

LOUTH will be well represented by Ladies SFC champions Stabannon Parnells in the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé 2017, the famed club Gaelic football tournament and festival which takes place 17-19 February in Comórtas HQ at Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry and various GAA venues across the Dingle Peninsula.

Parnell’s compete in the senior cup against Kerry’s Southern Gaels, 2016 Dublin senior league champions Ballyboden St. Enda’s, Boardsmill of Meath and Wicklow’s Bray Ladies.

32 teams in all compete from 14 counties across all four provinces as well as teams from the UK and the United Arab Emirates in ladies and men’s senior, intermediate and junior competitions

Pádraig Óg. Ó Sé commented, ‘We are thrilled to have Stabannon Parnells Ladies footballers take part. They are the best Louth has to offer in club football and we hope the tournament will be a good yardstick to see how they stack up against their club peers from other counties.

‘Also, I’d like to thank our new title sponsors Lidl who are already great supporters of Gaelic Games in Ireland as well as Grant Thorton for helping to maintain one of the oldest club tournaments in the country.’

The football festival, which is also supported by Fáilte Ireland, Kerry County Council Tourism Unit, Grant Thorton and Lee Strand Milk, has attracted over 13,000 club players since it began in 1989 and is a big boost for tourism in the area with over 1,800 bed nights created over three nights. This year, as well as nightly music and entertainment in Comórtas HQ at Páidí Ó Sé’s pub there will also be a special excerpt from a John B. Keane play hosted by the late playwright and author’s son Billy Keane on Sunday evening in the pub.

For a programme of events and a full list of teams visit www.Paidiose.com . Group A: Mattock Rangers v Geraldines; St Josephs v Cooley Kickhams Group B: Na Piarsaigh v Kilkerley Emmets; St Mochtas v Ardee St Marys Group C: Hunterstown Rovers v Dundalk Gaels; Naomh Fionnbarra v Naomh Mairtin Group D: O’Connells v Newtown Blues; St Fechins v Clan Na Gael Group E: Dundalk Young Irelands v Dreadnots; Glen Emmets v St Patricks Group F: St Brides v Sean O’Mahonys; Oliver Plunketts v O’Raghallaighs Group A: Naomh Malachi v Cuchulainn Gaels; Glyde Rangers v St Nicholas Group B: Naomh Mairtin B v John Mitchels; Wolfe Tones v St Kevins Group C: Lannleire v Sean McDermotts Group D: Roche Emmets v Westerns