Just as Dr Crokes skipper David Naughten did in Austin Stack Park a few days beforehand, Sports Minister Thomas Byrne got his hands on the precious Bishop Moynihan Cup when he paid a visit to a number of sports clubs in Killarney on Wednesday.
The Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, Media and Equality was campaigning with Kerry Fianna Fáil general election candidate, Linda Gordon Kelleher, and they paid a visit to the Dr Crokes clubhouse on Lewis Road where the celebrations were just about starting to die down.
The minister met with Kerry GAA Chairman Patrick O’Sullivan, Dr Crokes Chairman Eoin Brosnan and other members of the club to whom his department recently allocated €89,624 for a facilities upgrade under the Community Sports Facilities Fund.
The new county champions outlined their future plans to the minister who was more than impressed by the foresight and ambition shown which was only matched by their passion on the field of play.
Minister Byrne also visited the Killarney Legion base at Derreen where Chairman David Randles and other officers outlined their plans while, earlier, he took a spin out to Fossa to hear how the club plans to spend the €155,306 received from the Community Sports Facilities Fund to develop dressing rooms, install energy efficiency systems and purchase equipment.
In Fossa to greet him was a delegation including Chairman Pat Sheahan and senior official Dermot Clifford, father of the famous footballing brothers, Paudie and David.
Minister Byrne also called to Celtic Park where Killarney Celtic FC officials showed him plans to spend the grant of €133,923 to upgrade LED lighting and improve the large astro turf surface.
Celtic representatives at the meeting included Chairman Philip O’Callaghan and long-serving officials Paul Sherry and Tim Jones.
Minister Byrne’s final call on a busy day in Killarney was to inspect progress at the new €3 millions ports and leisure centre in Ballydribbeen where he met members of the Legacy Elite Cheerleading Club who will have access to the facility along with the Kerry Stars, St Paul’s Basketball Club and Killarney Judo Club.
ELECTION 24: Reaching thousands of readers every day. To advertise call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
