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Kerry clubs at odds over controversial Parish Rule

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5 years ago

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LEADER: Midfielder Johnny Buckley will be hoping to lead Dr Crokes to their eighth County Championship in 10 years. Pic: Piaras î M’dheach/Sportsfile.

In simple terms, Rule 20 (aka the Parish Rule) states that a player must play for a GAA club in the parish where they live.

It was introduced decades ago as a means of safeguarding smaller clubs; it prevents “ambitious” players from transferring to bigger, more successful teams, thereby ensuring that the smaller teams have enough players to stay alive.

Ironically, over time, the rule began to benefit the larger town clubs. As young country families moved into towns like Killarney for work, their children, in accordance with the Parish Rule and irrespective of their mother or father’s allegiances, had to line out with one of the parish’s three clubs, namely Dr Crokes, Legion or Spa.

The rule appears to be taken more seriously in Kerry than in other counties (notably Dublin and Cork) but even here it has not always been strictly enforced. In some parts of Kerry, neighbouring clubs agree to share a common area (not in line with parish boundaries) from where they can both draw players. Some clubs simply turn a blind eye to the rule altogether. When it boils down to it, a player is unlikely to run into trouble unless there is an objection, which, if it comes, invariably comes from a club in the “new” parish where the child’s family now reside.

One of the most famous cases arose a decade ago when a local couple took matters to the High Court after Firies objected to their two sons lining out for Listry on the basis that the family lived in Firies parish. The fact that the boys attended primary school in Listry and that their home was 1.4 miles away from Listry’s pitch and 7.2 miles away from Farranfore was irrelevant according to the rulebook. The matter was ultimately left to the county convention to decide, and clubs voted 59-23 against giving the O’Sullivans a derogation (i.e. an exemption from the rule).

MAJOR PROBLEM

Now, the issue is becoming a major problem in the Killarney area. With suitable, affordable housing difficult to come by in Killarney town, many young families have decided to settle in satellite parishes like Kilcummin, Fossa and Firies, among others. These parents often have strong personal and familial ties to their own GAA club, and they want their children to follow in their footsteps. However, by the letter of the law, unless the child has represented their town club at under 12 level or above (i.e. if the family relocated after that point), they must line out for the club in their new parish.

The Parish Rule, which was initially brought in to help rural clubs, and then, for a time, helped town clubs, now appears to be benefitting “satellite” clubs more than most.

To the uninitiated, it might not seem like a big deal. The child has a club to play for regardless and surely that’s the most important thing. Some parents do see it that way. But to some dyed-in-the-wool GAA men or women, the thought of their child playing for another club is anathema. There have been instances where the family have said, “it’s our club or no club at all,” and the child has been lost to other sports as a result.

One father who has been confronted with this prospect says the idea of his son lining out in different colours is “upsetting” and “unthinkable”.

“It’s hugely important to me that he plays for my club. The GAA is built on tradition. I played for the club, his family are all involved, and then he’s told he can’t play for the club because of where he lives? Mind-boggling is how I’d describe it.”

There is an even greater concern within Killarney GAA circles that the current trend of losing families to out-migration could eventually lead to a stark new reality; one where there aren’t enough players to sustain all three clubs in the town.

This imagined future isn’t the stuff of science fiction. Current vice-treasurer of Kerry GAA Joe Crowley communicated this very point to local clubs as part of his role as chairman of the parish rule and player registration committee.

It’s a possibility that newly-appointed Dr Crokes chairman Matt O’Neill is fully aware of. Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, he said that the Parish Rule, though good in nature, is causing “difficulties”.

“First of all, I think the Parish Rule is the way to go,” he clarified. “It’s a good rule and as a club we would be in agreement with the full application of it. But it is presenting certain difficulties.

“With rural depopulation, some clubs, particularly in South Kerry, are having difficulties putting underage teams together, which is a pity. [The day after this interview was conducted, it emerged that Valentia Young Islanders were officially looking for a club that would consider an amalgamation at senior level.]

“I think for the likes of Killarney, it’s going to be problematic for the three clubs here in the future because new families are not going to be able to afford to live in the town. It’s already happening. The houses that are coming on the market are going to older people coming here to retire, and people buying for hospitality. Airbnb and things like that. It’s very difficult for young people to buy in the town, and if you don’t have young people living in the town, you’re not going to have children to play with the clubs.

“They’re moving out to the satellite towns and villages and those clubs are picking up a lot of extra young families.

“Killarney is going to find it difficult to service three clubs in the future. That’s the way I see it going.

“It’s going to be a problem down the road, both for rural Ireland and the bigger towns like Killarney. The satellite towns and villages are expanding at a big rate so they’re the beneficiaries of it.”

When it comes to the parents and children involved, O’Neill says it can be hard for them to, effectively, change clubs.

“There are people who can’t live in Killarney so they move slightly outside of town, and they would dearly like their children to play for a Killarney club. Similar situations have happened in Tralee, and the reverse has also happened: people have moved into a larger town looking for work, and they would like their children to play for their home club. There have been a number of cases where derogation has been sought to allow that to happen. The place where the people are living want to hold onto them, and rightly so.

“If there’s somebody who has had a history with the Crokes, for example, and they want the child to play for Crokes, and they have a case, you would like to support them. But the rule is the rule and, at the end of the day, you’ve got to abide by that if you want to play. That’s the game. It can be a bit tough for some people to accept.”

ENFORCED

Meanwhile, the clubs in the satellite parishes rightly say that they are merely asking for a rule to be enforced. Although rival clubs might not be happy about the situation, they seem to fully accept that the likes of Fossa, Firies and Kilcummin, for example, are well within their rights to flag players who might be playing for the “wrong” team.

Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, Fossa secretary Merry Talbot accepted that objections pertaining to the Parish Rule were causing conflict between local clubs, but he added that “Fossa aren’t breaking the rules”.

“This isn’t a rule that Fossa dreamed up. It was brought in as a mechanism to preserve and protect the community spirit of the GAA. Is it the best mechanism? We don’t know. Does it suit everybody? Of course it doesn’t. But it is a mechanism to do that. You would imagine that the smaller club would lose out if it was removed.

“There are people who say the Parish Rule is outdated but give us another mechanism to protect the smaller clubs, something that will stop the better players migrating to the bigger clubs.

“There have been motions to change it or get rid of it and, each year, it’s defeated. The rural clubs would be very much in favour of it. For Fossa, it’s important to try and maintain the Parish Rule. That’s the view the club takes.

“Fossa is bordering Killarney town, which has a couple of big clubs. If there was no Parish Rule and you [an outsider] moved to Fossa and were looking to get your son playing – maybe you were a good footballer yourself – it might sway your decision [to join a bigger club].

“Fossa have many players who are living in other parishes and their kids have to play with those other clubs. It works both ways.

“70% of our membership are non-native, coming from other parts of the county or other counties. If we didn’t protect the club [by using the Parish Rule], would there be many of them playing in town? You’d have to wonder.”

Local club officers seem to agree on one thing (if nothing else): finding a resolution that will satisfy everyone is impossible.

One prospective path forward that has been suggested in the past, and one that appears to be favoured by the town clubs, is a relaxation of the current rule that would allow children to play for the club of their mother or father. This rule has technically been okayed by Croke Park but it must be passed at county convention before coming into effect here in Kerry. However, when Dromid Pearses, a small, rural club in South Kerry, tabled this motion in 2018, it was soundly defeated.

The fact that it was Dromid and not, say, Austin Stacks or Dr Crokes, who put forward this amendment seems to indicate that smaller clubs might be agreeable to a “parent rule” as it could lead to the children of former players coming home, as it were, to the clubs of their forefathers.

The problem lies in getting it passed at county convention by club delegates who have a reputation for favouring tradition over innovation. After a club forum in 2017, Kerry GAA chairman Tim Murphy stated that the Parish Rule is “sacrosanct for clubs and they want it to stay”, although he also said that perhaps it could be tweaked if doing so would benefit small clubs.

Meanwhile, clubs in satellite parishes, who are currently experiencing a boom-time after many years in the shade of their more illustrious neighbours, will rail against any changes whatsoever. And why wouldn’t they?

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Lakers aiming to secure first win at home to Malahide

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5 hours ago

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17 October 2025

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The Utility Trust St Paul’s Lakers will be hoping for a turn of fortunes this weekend after suffering a defeat in Week 2 of the 2025/26 National League season.

The club’s men’s team came up short in Jordanstown against the University of Ulster (91-70) having trailed by just four points heading into the final quarter. There were some positives – mainly the form of Steve Kelly, Sam Grant and Mark Sheehan – but head coach Luke O’Hea will be eager to pick up his first win of the Division 1 campaign at home to Malahide on Saturday. Tip-off at Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is at 7.30pm.

Malahide have also lost both of their opening two matches, to Drogheda and Portlaoise.

Meanwhile, James Fleming’s women’s team maintained their 100% Super League record by beating the Panthers in Portlaoise on a scoreline of 62-72. The Killarney girls raced into an early lead but they had to weather a storm in the second half as the Panthers rallied admirably.

Maisie Burnham led the St Paul’s charge early doors with Lovisa Hevinder, Lorraine Scanlon and Leah McMahon making important contributions as the game wore on, but it was Tara Cousins who really made her mark in the fourth quarter, racking up 16 crucial points. Each one was significant as Paul’s tried to keep the Panthers at bay – in fact, the American guard registered her team’s final 10 points of the game to help secure a hard-fought 10-point victory.

“It was a good win on the road,” Hevinder told club PRO Enda Walshe. “Portlaoise is always a tough place to play and a difficult team to play against. I think we did a great job defensively, and at times we had really good flow on offence.”

Like their male counterparts, the St Paul’s women have a home game at Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre tomorrow. They host Munster rivals Fr Mathews with the tie tipping off at 4pm. Mathews are seeking their first win of the season.

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Killarney Athletic stalwart Donie does it for the love of the game

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13 hours ago

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17 October 2025

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Ahead of Killarney Athletic’s 60th anniversary, Adam Moynihan spoke to club stalwart and current chairman Donie Murphy about his passion for soccer (and the Blues)

Donie, Athletic have a big milestone coming up. Sixty years in existence. How and when did you first come to be involved with the club?

I joined the club in the 1974/75 season as an 18-year-old, so I have 50 years done. People think I didn’t play with anyone else but I joined from Woodlawn Rovers, which was a team made up of a group of friends who used to play down in Billy Doyle’s place at the back of Woodlawn. When that team disbanded, 90% of the boys joined Killarney Athletic. The rest is history, as they say. I didn’t move anywhere else after that.

What sort of footballer were you?

I would consider myself a whole-hearted player. I had a bit of pace. Not an awful lot of skill, but good in the air. I was committed and I expected much the same from everybody else. I played centre back all my career except for one game when I was coming back from injury and I was thrown up centre forward for the B team.

And? How did it go?

One game, one goal [laughs]. I had a 100% record.

Who were some of Athletic’s best players that you lined out with?

You had the likes of Brian McCarthy Senior, Denny Hayes, Pat Moynihan, Connie Doc, Pat Shea… You could throw Mikey Sullivan in there as well. He was a whole-hearted player.

What was the highlight of your playing career?

Well, we were runners-up and beaten finalists in a lot of things, but the one thing we did win was the Munster Junior Cup Kerry Area. It was a big thing at the time. We beat Tralee United 1-0. On the other end of the scale we had a relegation battle over in Castleisland. We had to win and we did, 1-0. We were mean enough in defence. Other than that, I played with the Kerry District League in the Oscar Traynor Cup for a couple of seasons, which was nice as well.

When did you hang up the boots?
I stopped playing with Athletic in 1990. But, of course, there was the Killarney Athletic 7-a-side then as well and I played in the over 35s for a few years after that.

You must have fond memories of the 7-a-side, going all the way back to the start in 1976?

The memories are great. Well, for the first tournament in 1976, Brian McCarthy refereed all the games and I was his sidekick. So I didn’t play, I was running the show while he was reffing. But I played with Killarney Hardware for many years alongside Connie Doc, Pat Shea, Seánie Shea… And DD Mulcahy and Dan Leary from Rathmore.

It would have been staged in the Áras Phádraig at the time. What was that like, for those who weren’t around back then?

Ah, it was unbelievable. We had 74 teams one year with every game being played on the one pitch. So it went on for nearly three months of the summer, because it had to. Everyone who was there saw every game. It is handier in Woodlawn, it takes half the time, but up in the Áras, you could see everything. You couldn’t replicate that atmosphere anywhere else. It was like a cauldron.

When did you first coach an underage team? Do you know how many teams you have trained down through the years?

I couldn’t tell you how many but I’ve been involved with a team every year since I started. I took a Community Games team in 1976 and I did that for a few years. And after that it was Killarney Athletic underage teams. I’m not training a team now but I am involved with the U5s and U6s. Now that is tough going [laughs].

So you’re coming up on 50 years of coaching underage teams? That’s a lot of players…

It’s a lot of players, and it’s a lot of names and faces to remember. Christmas in Killarney is a disaster. There are so many fellas away and they come back for Christmas and they’re saying, “Hey, Donie, how’re things?” I probably didn’t change a lot in the last 30 years, but they did!

What’s your coaching philosophy?

My philosophy is that communication is very important. Everybody should have a voice. I don’t like talking down to anybody. Once I can communicate my ideas to the kids and they buy into it, that’s the big thing. It’s fine going down training and doing the drills but sometimes they just need to be spoken to.

What is it about working with kids that you enjoy?

First of all, it’s the love of the game. But I do prefer to take – I won’t say underdogs – but maybe a B team, and see can I get them better than what they were. Rather than taking a team of stars who are going to be pretty good anyway, I like to bring on the next category of players. That’s what I measure myself against. Within a season, are we better against an opponent in the reverse fixture than we were the first time we played them? I like to see players that are maybe ‘middle of the road’ improving.

Do you find the kids easy or difficult to manage? Do many of them have long-term aspirations of playing professional football?

In general I’ve always found the kids to be great. Boys and girls. I think the girls listen a bit more than the boys [laughs]. Diarmuid O’Carroll and Brendan Moloney have shown that it is possible to go pro. And now Luke Doolan is with Kerry FC. He’s a man who might make it, and he came all the way up along through the ranks. So it is possible.

Do you watch a lot of soccer in your free time?

I do. My wife (Marie) will probably tell me I watch too much soccer. I’m an avid Spurs fan. But I do like to watch other sports as well to switch off.

How would you describe Killarney Athletic’s rivalry with Killarney Celtic?

In the early days it used to be a kind of friendly rivalry. But I think it’s more than friendship now! I would say it’s fierce. We both have so many teams, we’re playing each other at some age grade nearly every single weekend. You always want to win those games. But even going back to my playing days, if you never won another game, the Celtic game was the one you wanted to win. You have to win the derby game for bragging rights. Unfortunately they’ve have had a little bit more bragging rights than us lately but, you know yourself, the wheel might turn, hopefully.

How different is the soccer scene in Kerry today compared to when you first became involved?

There’s no comparison, really. It’s the pitches and the facilities that are the big thing. When I started playing, it was below in the Half Moon field (near Killarney House). It was a case of: jump the wall, put up the goals, line the pitch, play the game, take down the goals… Everything had to be put away. No dressing rooms or anything like that. But now with the facilities we have at the moment, if you haven’t everything in order for them, they’re not happy [laughs].

But the facilities and the all-weather training pitch help the club grow. We have a lot more teams now, going all down the ages, and obviously there’s a lot more coaching going on as well. The kids get into a system of playing, which is good.

Looking back over all your time at the club, what are your fondest Killarney Athletic memories?

For me it’s the people and the players you meet, and the friends you make. My involvement with Athletic has given me lifelong friends. That’s the best thing about it.

You must be looking forward to the club’s 60th celebration dinner?

I am. It’s a big night for the club and it’s a great opportunity to catch up with people you might not have met for a while. There will definitely be a bit of nostalgia. It’s also a great way for people to support the club. We’re developing a new pitch on a piece of land adjacent to our current pitch, so a percentage of ticket sales is going towards that project. Our 50th was a big celebration and a lot of things have happened since then. We have doubled in size membership-wise and girls now make up around 33% of the club. We’re hoping to go from strength to strength.

And, sadly, some of our club members have passed away since the last anniversary so they’ll be remembered on the night as well.

What are your hopes for the future of Killarney Athletic?

There are a lot of great people volunteering in the club so I don’t have any worries about the future. They will take the club onto the next level. Of course I hope we continue to win trophies, but most of all I hope the people involved, be they players or coaches or officers, will enjoy the experience. Everything else will follow after that.

The Killarney Athletic 60th Celebration Dinner takes place in the Gleneagle Hotel Ballroom on Friday, November 14 at 6.30pm. Tickets available via Audrey (087 4585697), Lisa (087 9365322) and Rose (087 6765064).

They can also be purchased from Colette at the Dromhall Hotel, Brian James, O’Neills and the Blackthorn.

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