A new partnership between Kerry GAA and the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee (BSHT) has been described as the "first of its kind for a County Board in Ireland". 

Both Bon Secours Hospital Tralee (BSHT) and the Kerry GAA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the hospital to become a new health partner.

Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Kerry GAA and BSHT will collaborate across a range of mutually beneficial areas. This collaboration will include our elite players having access to physiotherapy services, certain diagnostic testing, DEXA scans and other diagnostics as required.

The collaboration will also include BSHT basing their Physiotherapy Out-Patient Service in the Currans Centre of Excellence along with other office-based staff.

The document was signed on behalf of the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee by Mr TJ O’Connor, CEO and on behalf of the Kerry GAA by its Chairman, Mr Patrick O’Sullivan. The partnership has been agreed initially until 2027 and both the hospital and the Kerry GAA are keen to see this partnership develop into a longer-term relationship.

Mr TJ O’Connor, CEO of Bon Secours Hospital Tralee, welcomed the agreement.

“Bon Secours Tralee is very happy to sign this MOU with Kerry GAA," he said.

"When Liam Lynch first approached us with his vision for this partnership arrangement, we immediately embraced the concept and are delighted to bring it to fruition. We look forward to sharing our state-of-the-art facilities and people with our elite GAA athletes over the coming years for the ultimate benefit of our GAA teams in Kerry."

Mr Patrick O’Sullivan, Chairman of Kerry GAA, said that the new agreement will be of great benefit to Kerry GAA.

“Having access to the facilities, services and people in the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee for our elite GAA teams is an imperative in the modern game," he said. 

"Quick access to diagnostic testing and scanning plays a critical role in facilitating early diagnosis, rehabilitation and return to play. Having this speedy access to these services and the range of specialist at the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee will ensure that our players receive the best possible care and are back on the pitch as soon as possible. This is hugely important to us and we look forward to developing and expanding our partnership with BSHT over the coming years.”

Ms Rosalie Stack, Physiotherapy Manager, Bon Secours Hospital Tralee said “this is a really exciting opportunity for the Physiotherapy Department in BSHT".

"We look forward to recruiting some additional staff and working collaboratively with Kerry GAA in the months and years ahead.”

Mr Liam Lynch, Vice Chairman, Kerry GAA said “this partnership arrangement with BSHT is the first of its kind for a County Board in Ireland".

"We are excited and delighted that we have been able to make this innovative proposal a reality.”