News
A SPA-tacular night of celebration
By Sean Moriarty
The Christmas and New Year period are proving to be extra busy for Spa GAA Club.
Shane Cronin receiving the John Doyle Senior Player of the Year award from John Doyle Snr. Photo: Anne Holland
SAM: Spa's Dan O'Donoghue and Dara Moynihan received a Special Recognition award on the night from Spa Vice-Chairman Conor Gleeson. Photo: Anne Holland
WINNER: Spa Senior Ladies Player of the Year Mairead Bennett receiving her award from Ladies Chairperson Emma Daly. Photo: Anne Holland
COMMITTEE: Spa Awards Committee with the Sam Maguire Cup Andrew Garnett Anne Holland Ivor Flynn Triona Mangan and Adrian O'Sullivan.
FAMILY: Spa Social and Cultural Award winner Mairead Mangan with her family Triona Ger Ann and Shane. Photo: Anne Holland
Ger Cronin presenting the Aidan Cronin Young Player of the Year award to Timmy Moynihan. Photo: Anne Holland
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Shane Cronin receiving the John Doyle Senior Player of the Year award from John Doyle Snr. Photo: Anne Holland
SAM: Spa's Dan O'Donoghue and Dara Moynihan received a Special Recognition award on the night from Spa Vice-Chairman Conor Gleeson. Photo: Anne Holland
WINNER: Spa Senior Ladies Player of the Year Mairead Bennett receiving her award from Ladies Chairperson Emma Daly. Photo: Anne Holland
COMMITTEE: Spa Awards Committee with the Sam Maguire Cup Andrew Garnett Anne Holland Ivor Flynn Triona Mangan and Adrian O'Sullivan.
FAMILY: Spa Social and Cultural Award winner Mairead Mangan with her family Triona Ger Ann and Shane. Photo: Anne Holland
Ger Cronin presenting the Aidan Cronin Young Player of the Year award to Timmy Moynihan. Photo: Anne Holland
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No sooner was their annual awards night completed, members are now looking forward to a visit by GAA President Larry McCarthy.
On Thursday last (December 29), the club held its annual awards ceremony at Hilliard’s on Main St.
Hosted by club legend and former Killarney town Mayor Michael Gleeson, a large crowd turned out to celebrate the achievements of club members in 2022.
Vice-Chairman Conor Gleeson stood in for Chairman Michael Cronin on the night and presented long-serving member Seamus O’Donoghue with the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.
All-Ireland winner Mairead Mangan received the Social/Cultural Award in memory of Neilí and Tadhg O'Sullivan.
Young Player of the Year, the Aidan Cronin Award, went to Timmy Moynihan, while Oliver Cremin Mulrey received the Junior Player of the Year Award named after Pat Corcoran.
Mairead Bennett picked up the Senior Ladies Player of the Year award as chosen by her teammates.
The coveted Senior Player, named after John Doyle, was received by Shane Cronin.
“The Sam Maguire Cup made a special entrance with the help of senior players Dara Moynihan and Dan O’Donoghue,” PRO, Deirdre O’Sullivan D’Arcy, said.
“Entertainment was excellent with a piano bar and followed by Rachel O’Shaughnessy. The staff, food, and venue of Hilliard's was top-class and superb. Thanks to the hard-working committee of Andrew Garnett, Anne Holland, Adrian O'Sullivan, Ivor Flynn and Triona Mangan. A great night was had by all.”
Meanwhile, the club has announced that its Cairde Spa draw will take place at the clubhouse on February 2.
Special guest on the night will be GAA President Larry McCarthy.
The Cairde Spa draw is raising funds for the development and upgrade works at the club grounds, including a new car park, new juvenile and ladies' dressing rooms, dugouts, a skills wall, upgrades to the walking track lighting, perimeter fencing around the pitches and much more.
There are 10 amazing prizes up for grabs: 1st Prize: €15,000 - 2nd Prize: €3,000 - 3rd Prize: €2,000 - 4th Prize: €1,000 - 5th Prize: Two nights Dinner, B&B at the Killarney Park Hotel - 6th Prize: €500 Voucher for Killarney Carpets & Furniture - 7th Prize: €300 Voucher for O’Sullivan’s Cycles - 8th Prize: €250 Voucher for Killarney Oils - 9th Prize: €150 Voucher for Killarney Hardware - 10th Prize: Signed Kerry jersey.
Tickets can be obtained from Andy 087 2236754 or Deirdre 085 1216359, on spagaa.com or any club officers over the coming weeks.
News
Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.
Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.
The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.
Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.
Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.
She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.
“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”
In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.
In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.
last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.
During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.
This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.
News
Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.
Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.
This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.
Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.
“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.
“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”
Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109...
Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
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