AN informative new book on the 90-year history of the North Kerry Hurling Board has been launched by GAA President, Aogán Ó Fearghaíl, in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel, Tralee.
North Kerry – a hurling history gives an administrative record of lists of all the organisation and lists all North Kerry officers since 1925 as well as each of the recorded competition winners.
The book is written by Tommy O’Connor who is the current development officer of the North Kerry Hurling Board and a member of the St Brendan’s Hurling Club.
The main sources consulted include the remaining minutes books of the North Kerry Board and the Kerry newspapers from 1925 onwards. The earliest surviving minutes book dates from 1931 to 1937.
In attendance at launch were Munster Council Chairman Robert Frost, Minister Jimmy Deenihan, MEP Seán Kelly and Kerry County Board vice chairman Diarmuid Ó Sé.
President Ó Fearghaíl told the gathering that in years to come, a Deenihan may represent Kerry in hurling as the minister’s club first established hurling some seven years before football was played in Finuge and Jimmy Deenihan’s father was involved in the club’s founding.
“If there was no Jimmy Deenihan on the Kerry football team in the golden era, things may have been different,” he quipped.
President Ó Fearghaíl announced that a hurling development officer is to be introduced from Croke Park to enhance the game’s development and keep the passion for the small ball alive in any county that needs the help to do so.
* Pictures: Paddy White. Click on individual images to enlarge and for information
