by Eamonn Fitzgerald

Dr Crokes will be reeling back 100 years in their clubhouse this evening (Friday) at 7.30pm as they celebrate a very unusual occasion.

The Bermingham family of Terry, Paul, Mossie and Liz are travelling from Dublin to link up with the club their grandfather Jimmy Bermingham played for in 1923. They will present Dr Crokes with a magnificent Jimmy Bermingham Memorial Cup.

Dr Crokes will also honour Mary O’Shea, Tricia O’Connor, and Geraldine Fitzgerald, the first Dr Crokes players to win LGFA Munster medals in 1976, two years after the LGFA was founded.

The event is open to anyone including non-members who may be interested in seeing what international caps in soccer look like.

The Berminghams will bring their grandfather’s Munster medal which he didn’t receive from the Munster Council until 2023, a century after winning it in the Munster final, a match that was played in a downpour in Tralee on October 14, 1923. Kerry won 0-6 to 0-3. They are also bringing Jimmy’s three international soccer caps, photographs of his first international against England in Cliftonville, and other memorabilia including newspaper reports of their famous grandfather who was never far from controversy.

When the Kerry v Dublin rivalry took off in 1975, the Berminghams were all part of Heffo’s Army, true Blues supporting the Dubs. Their grandfather Jimmy Bermingham said: “Kerry is my team and I’m supporting them. I won a Munster medal with Kerry in my young days”.

They wondered if he was doting, if this Kerry idea was some far-fetched fantasy. The Military Archives of the Irish Defence Forces backed up the story. The record showed that Jimmy Bermingham (of the Dublin Guard, Free Staters) was based in Killarney, Killorglin and Collins Barracks, Cork in 1923.

Also, the Defence Forces publication An t-Óglach had a short report of a Kerry win over Waterford in the football game (2-8 to 0-3). “Larkin and Birmingham were the pick of the Kerry fifteen,” the report read.

His medical history shows that he was declared fit by Overseer C O’Connell at Killarney, Kerry Company. Health was very good when examined in Killarney aged 20.

When he returned to Dublin, Bermingham switched to soccer, his first love, joining Bohemians where he won every available honour including the Free State League and Cup before later captaining the club. He also won three caps for Ireland.

The outside right won his first Free State cap against Belgium in 1929 before all hell broke loose on November 10, 1930.

There was a shock when four Bohs players – Bermingham, Fred Horlacher, Johnny McMahon and Alexander Morton – were selected by the IFA (Northern Ireland) to play in an amateur international against England in Cliftonville.

While professionals in England could still play for both sides, until then Free State club players had never been picked by the IFA. Four days later, the FA – now the FAI - suspended them from football for the “direct challenge to the recognised football authority in the Irish Free State”.

The Free State FA was furious and forbade them to play. They ignored the edict. It led to a very acrimonious High Court case.

Dr Crokes are looking forward to welcoming the Bermingham family to Killarney to hear all about Jimmy’s fascinating life.