Connect with us

News

Crokes return to The Cricket Field to mark Street League centenary

Published

on

0281771_gooch_and_tony.jpg

Dr Crokes will be reeling back the years when the club celebrates the Centenary of the Killarney Street League.

The Street League was played for the first time in 1924 at the Cricket Field, Muckross Road when four teams, one each representing College Street, Main Street, New Street, and High Street took part.
The 2024 first-round games get underway at 6.30 pm on Friday at the Lewis Rd playing pitches and will continue each Friday.

SCHEDULE

Round 1 August 9, Lewis Rd.
Round 2 August 16, Lewis Rd. pitches, 6.30 pm
Round 3 August 23, The Cricket Field, 6.30 pm (Muckross Rd, on the banks of the Flesk River) and at the Fitzgerald Stadium 7.30 pm.
Round 4 (final) August 30 at Lewis Rd.

The 100-year-old very valuable Silver Street Cup dating back to 1924 will be presented on the evening of the final by club president Jackie Looney followed by the annual Summer Barbeque - the club’s social highlight of the summer.

“We are making an extra effort with this year’s Street League to mark the centenary of this wonderful project linking our juveniles and adult members in Dr Crokes' summer celebration”, said David Byrne, Crokes Juvenile Secretary and leader of the project assisted by a great backup team from the Saturday morning Academy coaching sessions.

Former Dr Crokes and Kerry Stars will coach each team. Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper is in charge of College Street, the High St manager is Johnny Buckley, former Kerry Ladies star Amanda Brosnan is the New Street coach and Kieran O’Leary is in charge of the Main Stree team.

Will sharpshooter ‘Gooch’ the holder of five All-Ireland medals repeat the College Street win of the inaugural 1924 final against New Street on the score of 4-4 to 2-1, refereed by Small Jer O’Leary, or will Brosnan, the former Crokes star with Kerry LGFA surprise everyone. New St were known locally as ‘The Boys below the Bridge.
All-Ireland winner Buckley has mustered a fine High Street team but O’Leary his former Kerry and Croke colleague will be encouraging Main Street to spring a surprise.
“Even though Dr Crokes was founded in 1886, and we had won the Kerry Senior Football Championship in 1901,1912,1913,1914, there was little or no football in Kerry during the War of Independence and the Civil War.

Young people longed for games and the Kerryman newspaper of October 18, 1924, reported that at a meeting of Dr Crokes Killarney, it was decided to form an Inter-Street League for the winter months and to present the winners with a silver Cup,” said Eoin Brosnan, the former All-Ireland winner and current chairman of Dr Crokes.

“I wish to express my appreciation to David Byrne our Juvenile Secretary and all of his helpers organising this historic Centenary project and for their thorough preparations for the next four Friday evenings followed by the annual summer Barbeque for all of our members.”

The Tralee and Killarney rivalry kicked in immediately after College Street won the inaugural Street League.
Rock Street (later Austin Stacks) winners of the Tralee Town League challenged the Killarney winners.

Paul Russell was only 18 years' old when he played at right corner back on the College Street team which won the 1924 Killarney Street League title. He impressed the Kerry selectors so much in the Street League that he went straight into the Kerry senior football team.

Still, a student at St Brendan’s College his first time wearing the green and gold was in the delayed 1923 All-Ireland final (played in September 1924), narrowly beaten by Dublin.

He was the automatic choice for right half-back and went on to win six All-Ireland medals by the age of 26, still the only Killarney man to do so.

In 1924 it was boys only who were catered for. The LGFA wasn’t formed until 1974 and it's fitting that the 2024 Street League caters for boys and girls. The latter are very prominent at the Saturday Academies.

Senior club player Kayleigh Cronin, All-Star and now All-Ireland LGFA winner as well as TG4’s Laoch na hImeartha in Kerry’s spectacular win at Croke Park on Sunday last will will be attending the games encouraging young girls to dream that one-day success can be theirs at Croke Park.

Advertisement

News

Gleneagle Concert Band’s annual charity concert

A brilliant big band sound will fill Killarney on Sunday, May 17 at 4.00pm as the Gleneagle Concert Band presents its eagerly awaited annual charity concert at Gleneagle. This year’s […]

Published

on

A brilliant big band sound will fill Killarney on Sunday, May 17 at 4.00pm as the Gleneagle Concert Band presents its eagerly awaited annual charity concert at Gleneagle.

This year’s concert will raise funds for Recovery Haven Kerry Cancer Support House, Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club, Fossa/Killorglin Scout Groups, and the Gleneagle Concert Band Music Education Programme instrument loan scheme.

Special guest performers on the night will be the choir of St. Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School.

The programme promises to cater for all musical tastes, featuring military marches, classical selections, jazz numbers, film scores, choral works and popular vocal hits, ensuring an evening of high-quality entertainment for all ages.

Gleneagle Concert Band Music Development Officer Vincent Condon said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with local charities and hope the public will come out in great numbers again this year to support this worthwhile fundraising venture. Recovery Haven Kerry Cancer Support House delivers caring and therapeutic services to those who have experienced cancer, their families and carers, and we are honoured to support their work.”

The Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club provides athletes with special needs the opportunity to be productive and respected members of society through participation in an all-year-round sports and competition programme.

“They do amazing work and deserve every support,” he added. 

Like the Gleneagle Concert Band, the Fossa/Killorglin Scout Groups have provided a fantastic outlet for young people over the years to develop life skills, forge friendships and contribute to their community. A large audience on the night will help raise much-needed funds to support these wonderful organisations.”

The Gleneagle Concert Band has performed with distinction for former President Mary McAleese and President Michael D. Higgins during their visits to Kerry. over the past 45 years the band has also represented Kerry and Ireland abroad on tours to Germany, Holland, Sweden, Austria, Portugal, Paris, Lisbon, Monaco and Cannes. Most recently, the band embarked on a successful joint concert tour to Seville and Gibraltar in 2025 with the Midleton Concert Band.

Band Manager Ciaran Lynch said: “This annual concert is always one of the highlights of our year. It not only showcases the dedication and talent of our musicians and choir, but also reflects the strong community spirit that exists throughout Kerry. We are extremely grateful for the continued support of the public, local businesses and community leaders, and we look forward to welcoming a large audience for what promises to be a fantastic evening of music and fundraising.”

Tickets are priced at €18. They are available at the door on the night, from Gleneagle Concert Band members, by calling 087 2229513, from the St. Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School office, via Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club (087 236 5664 or kerrystars63@gmail.com), Recovery Haven Kerry (066 7192122), and from Fossa/Killorglin Scout Group members or phone 0831394992

Anyone interested in joining the Gleneagle Concert Band, including past members and adults, or enrolling in lessons with the Gleneagle School of Music, is encouraged to contact the band on 087 2229513.

Continue Reading

News

Keith McMahon wins Denis Coffey Memorial at Waterville

The Dr Crokes GAA Club Golf Society travelled to the coastal links of Waterville Golf Club for their latest outing, held in memory of the late Denis Coffey. Denis was […]

Published

on

The Dr Crokes GAA Club Golf Society travelled to the coastal links of Waterville Golf Club for their latest outing, held in memory of the late Denis Coffey.

Denis was a highly regarded former player, member, and club officer, and the memorial event drew a strong turnout from society members and guests. The competition was sponsored by Brosnan & Co. Solicitors.
In a closely contested outing, Keith McMahon claimed the overall victory, finishing on 35 points to edge out John O’Leary on a countback. The scoring remained tight throughout the field, with John Lynch and David Byrne also featuring prominently on the leader board.
The prizegiving took place later that evening at The Speakeasy Bar in Killarney, where members of the Coffey family were present to hand over the trophies to the successful golfers.

Dr Crokes Golf Society Results
PositionWinnerScore1stKeith McMahon (10)35 pts
2ndJohn O’Leary (21)35 pts
3rdJohn Lynch (12)35 pts
4thDavid Byrne (21)34 pts
5thShane O’Driscoll (27)34 pts
6thSean Brosnan (6)33 pts
Cat 1Frank Shaw (5)31 pts
Cat 2Timmy O’Donoghue (14)33 pts
Cat 3Finian Moran (19)33 pts
Front 9James Jones (7)18 pts
Back 9Joey Sheehan (6)17 pts
Guest 1stTadhg Hickey (23)40 pts
Guest 2ndJohn Griffin (12)37 pts

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport