The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
County, country... and globe will berepresented atComórtas‘19
THE Lidl-sponsored Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé has become an integral part of Corca Dhuibhne’s football calendar, but its appeal beyond west Kerry – around the county, the country, and the globe – is constantly growing.
And the lowdown on the 2019 festival of football – which will run from February 15 to 17 – is further evidence of this.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the much-loved weekend, and its launch in Dublin this week had the kind of personnel it deserved: the recently retired Kerry legend, Kieran Donaghy; three-time All-Ireland medallist with Dublin, Lyndsey Davey; nine-in-arow winner with Kerry, Eileen Lawlor; Kildare great Dermot early; and prominent media figures Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Billy Keane.
A total of 44 teams will compete in either the men’s or ladies’ competitions, adding to the more than 15,000 players to have lined out at the event over these past 30 years. Among these teams will be groups from 17 counties, as well as clubs based in the UK and United Arab Emirates.
“We are delighted with the response to our 30th anniversary Comórtas, with 17 counties represented, the largest amount in our history,” Chairman Pádraig Óg Ó Sé, the son of Páidí Ó Sé, said. “We thank our UK GAA friends, with five traveling teams, and indeed Dubai Celts, who are making the longest journey of all.
“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,” Pádraig added.
Aside from the title sponsors, Lidl, it is also supported by EJMenswear.com, Kerry County Council’s Tourism Unit, and Lee Strand Milk, and organisers were also quick to thank these parties for their backing.
Kerry as a whole, and not just west Kerry, is set to be well-represented again this time around. In the senior men’s competition alone, there will be three teams from the Kingdom lining up to claim the Dermot Earley cup: the late Páidí’s An Ghaeltacht; neighbours, Dingle; and Milltown/Castlemaine. Annascaul and Lios Póil will compete in the intermediate equivalent, while Cromane and Renard are preparing for a tilt at the junior title. In the ladies section, Corca Dhuibhne and Austin Stacks will compete for intermediate honours, with John Mitchels and Dingle set to line out in the junior competition.
But, as always, the weekend has always been about much more than football. On each night of the event, Páidí Ó Sé’s Pub in Ceann Trá (Ventry) will host free entertainment, while the Árd a’ Bhóthair venue will also be the scene for a players’ banquet at the competition’s marquee on the Saturday night. All further information is available from www.paidiose.com, or you can follow the updates on Twitter at #Comortas2019 and @PIOs85.