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Opinion: Delaney’s Kerry backers should be ashamed

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There was a long-held perception in the Irish soccer community that the FAI were mismanaging their finances and that much-needed funding wasn’t ending up where it should.

Little did we know.

Although the full details are yet to be uncovered, it is now obvious from their pitiful display at the Oireachtas Committee for Sport that the FAI engaged in questionable financial activity – even beyond the outrageous salary and perks afforded to their beloved ex-Chief Executive/Executive Vice President, John Delaney.

As pressure on the association continued to mount, Delaney “stepped aside” on Monday, although the vast majority of us would prefer a bit more closure than that.

However, if the national media is anything to go by, he still has friends - albeit in some very low places.

KERRY FRIENDS

As news broke two weeks ago of Delaney’s €100,000 “bridging loan” to his employers, a story that the embattled head of Irish soccer fought feverishly to injunct, the Secretary of the Kerry District League, John O’Regan, quickly sprang to his defence.

O’Regan, who is a member of the FAI Senior Council and a personal friend of Delaney’s, appeared on national television to support his stricken comrade. He even went so far as to say that Delaney should be “running the country”.

Last week, Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae also professed his admiration for Delaney in a tough-to-watch performance before the Oireachtas Committee, claiming that the former FAI boss would receive “the mother of all welcomes” when he comes to Kerry next month to open Castleisland AFC’s new pitch.

Politicians who appeared at the committee were ostensibly there to grill Delaney. Considering the circumstances, Healy-Rae’s obsequiousness seemed more than a little out of place.

Both O’Regan, supposedly representing the KDL and its members, and Healy-Rae, supposedly representing Kerry and his constituents, claimed that Delaney was a great friend to Kerry soccer. Kerry soccer wouldn’t be where it is today were it not for Delaney, they cried.

I’ll tell you a thing or two about Kerry soccer.

FACILITIES

Around 10 clubs in Kerry have good facilities. Most clubs have poor facilities or no facilities at all. Some clubs still don’t have changing rooms, for example, and too many pitches are borderline dangerous (even in fine weather). The vast majority of “new” clubs (of which there are plenty) have to play all of their home games at the KDL’s own pitch, Mounthawk Park in Tralee.

My own club, Killarney Athletic, struggled for over a decade to get funding for an all-weather pitch, despite our status as a relatively big club with a large membership in a major town. We finally got a training field last year, and it’s great to have it, but when it rains heavily we will struggle to keep our main pitch playable.

The bottom line is that we need more full-size, all-weather surfaces in Kerry, like the one Celtic have here in Killarney.

The way O’Regan, who has been in his current role since 1976, and his friends at the KDL speak about Delaney, you’d swear he was the Robin Hood of Irish football.

It should go without saying but I’ll say it anyway: the money that filters down from the FAI to build pitches in Kerry is specifically meant for that exact purpose. That’s what the FAI is for. Well, that’s what it’s supposed to be for anyway. Another important point to note is that a lot of our funding comes directly from the government, not the FAI.

When it does come from the FAI, John Delaney showing up with an oversized novelty cheque isn’t an act of charity. It’s the CEO of an association doing his job, a job for which he was extremely well compensated over a very long period of time.

Unless, of course, O’Regan and Healy-Rae are suggesting that Delaney, who used to reside in Tralee, channelled money down to Kerry when it should have rightfully gone elsewhere?

PAY-TO-PLAY

And another thing, while I have you. If Delaney has left Kerry soccer in such great shape, and the league’s headquarters have been paid for in full (which I believe they have), how can O’Regan and co. continue to justify charging players admission into their own games at Mounthawk Park?

In 2017, they tried to charge us a fiver a head walking through the gate of a league final in which we were actually playing. Think about that for a second. Hundreds of paying customers heading back to Tralee to watch a final between two Killarney teams (we would have happily played in Celtic Park, by the way) and the league had the cheek to charge the players admission.

In the end, our chairman Mike O’Shea intervened and the club kindly forked over the entrance fee on our behalf.

Imagine if Legion or Crokes were playing in a county final above in the Park and they tried to charge the players at the gate. There would be holy war. But because it’s Kerry soccer, it’s somehow okay?

And where is our admission money going exactly? Paying for the floodlights? I’ll tell you a good one about the floodlights in Mounthawk Park.

Last season we were playing Dingle in a league game back there (Dingle also play some home games in Tralee). The game was on a weekday evening and as kick-off approached, it was already getting dark. It wasn’t too bad as the game started but 20 minutes in, visibility was dangerously low. I approached the ref and asked him what the story was with the lights.

“He’s putting them on at half-time,” he said.

“Can he not put them on now?”

The ref shrugged. He knew as well as we did that it was too dark to play but what could he do? At half-time, we waited for the lights to come on. No sign. Whoever had their finger on the switch was waiting for us to physically walk from the sideline back onto the pitch before turning them on. Jesus, it was sad.

And as soon as the match ended, the lights went off. We had to collect our personal belongings from the side of the pitch* and walk back to the clubhouse in the dark.

*Teams don’t leave their gear in the dressing rooms at Mounthawk Park for security reasons.

This is what we, as players, are dealing with.

CUTE HOORS

When he came to Kerry to open Mounthawk Park in 2015, John Delaney made reference to the controversial €5 million payment the FAI received from FIFA to abandon their proposed legal action over the Thierry Henry handball affair.

The FAI tried to keep that hush money very hush-hush indeed and when fans found out about it, they were justifiably furious. It appeared as though the FAI had simply been bought off without telling its members what had transpired. But for Delaney, it was just another gas story to tell.

“I got five million off Blatter,” he joked. “If we had sent John O’Regan, we’d have got ten!”

This attitude typifies everything that’s wrong with the FAI and, by extension, Kerry soccer. This “cute hoor” culture prevails and the people in power are more interested propping up their pals than looking out for the people they’re supposed to represent.

Delaney and his cronies in Merrion Square have finally been found out. As far as I’m concerned, all of the Kerrymen who backed him on our behalf should be ashamed.

Pic: Sportsfile.

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Rotary Club’s Wine & Art Night raises €25,000

The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects. President Ciara Irwin Foley […]

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The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects.

President Ciara Irwin Foley expressed the club’s delight with the amount raised, thanking club members and everyone who contributed to this impressive sum. She highlighted that this popular annual event directly supports vital local initiatives such as schools, clubs, and charities in the Killarney area.

Ms. Irwin Foley extended particular thanks to the event’s long-standing key sponsors: Daly’s SuperValu, Killarney Brewing & Distilling Co, and Killarney Credit Union, acknowledging their crucial and consistent support over the years. The team at The Great Southern Killarney was also thanked for ensuring the smooth running of the event. Appreciation was also given to the businesses that sponsored door prizes and competitions, including The Rose Hotel, M.D. O’Shea’s, CRL, and The Lake Hotel, as well as to Mike Neeson for providing entertainment.

The Wine & Art Night provides a valuable platform for local artists and craftspeople, with up to fifty showcasing their work. Some artists have been involved since the event’s inception, making it a wonderful networking opportunity. There is always significant interest from artists to participate in this worthwhile cause, with a percentage of their sales donated on the night. Many also generously donate their artwork for the auction, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to the beneficiary fund.

The beneficiaries themselves play an active role by selling tickets for the event in advance, using this as a key fundraising method for their own projects. The schools, clubs, organisations, and charities involved put in tremendous effort, and it is always inspiring to hear how the funds raised have positively impacted them. For example, the Hospice sells their Christmas cards at the event, and the Irish Pilgrimage Trust sells raffle tickets to help bring local people to Lourdes at Easter.

Organising the Wine & Art Night is a significant undertaking for the Killarney Rotary Club, with extensive preparations happening well in advance. Many individuals contribute their time and effort, with numerous volunteers ensuring everything runs smoothly on the night. It is this collective effort that makes the event such a success.

The €25,000 raised this year has been distributed to the following deserving beneficiaries: Faha N.S., Fossa N.S., Gaelscoil Faithleann, Knockanes N.S., Loreto N.S., Loughquittane N.S., St. Brendan’s (Sem), Hospice, Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Kerry Stars Club, Killarney Athletic, and Killarney Valley AC.
The Killarney Rotary Club is already looking forward to hosting their next Wine & Art Night at the end of November.

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Kerry Jobs Fair to connects job seekers and employers

Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee. Over 30 companies […]

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Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Over 30 companies from the county will be there, offering hundreds of job openings across different sectors.
The free event is organised by NEWKD Local Development Company, in partnership with The Rose Hotel and Tralee Chamber Alliance. Anyone interested can attend by registering on the day.
People looking for work can explore opportunities in areas like office administration, IT, accounting, finance, hospitality, manufacturing, food production, and retail.
The event aims to link job seekers and employers with useful information and support related to employment.
Alongside employer stands, there will be a careers clinic offering help with CV writing, interview skills, and information on training and career development.
There will also be workshops for both employees and employers about employing people who are not Irish citizens.
Robert Carey, NEWKD SICAP Programme Manager, said that bringing together many employers, services, and speakers will give job seekers a great chance to talk directly to potential employers, join workshops on career progression, and learn about employment schemes like Tús, CE, and WPEP. He added that employers will get to meet job seekers face-to-face and get information on employing people from abroad, which is important for business growth.
Efforts are being made to help Ukrainian refugees and those seeking international protection attend the fair, with information provided beforehand and interpreters available on the day. NEWKD, as part of the Kerry Community Response Forum, highlights that employment is key for refugees integrating into the community.
During the event, employers can learn about the specifics of employing migrants, get answers to common questions, and raise any concerns. A workshop for employers will be led by Frank O`Boyle from the Irish Refugee Council.
In addition to the job fair, there will be information sessions for all visitors on topics such as CV preparation (led by Sean Connell, HR at NEWKD), interview skills (presented by Lydia Oboryna from the Open Door Initiative), employment law for migrants, accessing the labour market for those with temporary protection, and entrepreneurship workshops on starting a business and finding funding.
The Newkd Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 is supported by the Rose Hotel and the Tralee Chamber Alliance, with funding from the SICAP programme, which is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).

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