Dr. Pat O'Donoghue, in memory of whom the O'Donoghue cup is named, was born at Killeen in the Clonkeen area of Glenflesk on St. Patrick’s Day 1902.

His mother was a member of the Cooper family that has contributed so much to sport in general and to the GAA in particular in the East Kerry area. His father’s family worked as farmers. They were known as "Carmen" because they had traditionally plied the trade of transporting butter by horse and cart to the Exchange in Cork. When that business ceased with the coming of the railways two of Pat’s uncles opened shops in Cork City centre.

When he had completed his primary schooling in Clonkeen Pat went to live with one of the uncles in order to pursue his second level studies at the Presentation Brothers’ College in the west of the city.
He entered medical school in UCC just as the War of Independence was about to commence. He quickly enlisted in the College Company of the Cork No. 1 Brigade IRA. Here he was joined by many well-known students like Professor Pat Kiely and the famous Cork GAA star Jim Hurley. "He was a great friend of mine," said Prof. Kiely, "I knew him as a great footballer and as a member of the IRA in the War of Independence" (Robert O’Brien in Legion of Memories). As the struggle grew in intensity he was forced to return to the shelter of his native hills where he joined up with the local Volunteers.

When the Troubles were over he returned to College where, in due course, he qualified as a doctor. Having served the usual apprenticeship, he set up a General Practice in Killarney in the late 1920’s.
He was eminently successful. Robert O'Brien quotes Danny O'Sullivan of Drombrick. "Doctor O'Donoghue was famous as a family doctor who was never loath to answer the call of the sick, day or night, in sunshine or in rain. He was so famous that it was said that he delivered more babies in a month than other doctors would in a year." He won a deserved reputation for his generosity towards the less well off at a time when state aid to the Sick was virtually non-existent.

Dr. O'Donoghue was a dedicated family man. He married Kitty Courtney who hailed from the Home Farm in Fossa (her ancestral home was demolished in 1998 to make way for the Laccabane Golf Clubhouse). Together they raised nine children. The three boys divided their loyalties fairly between the two Killarney clubs, with Michael playing for the Legion while Seamus and Father Paddy declared for the Crokes. Fr. Paddy won an All-Ireland medal playing at centre-field for the Kerry Juniors in 1959. Indeed he might have found a place on the Senior panel were it not for the fact that his Ministry called him to far off Alabama where he still serves.

In 1946 Dr. and Mrs O'Donoghue bought the Park Place House. Kitty developed the house into a thriving hotel. Michael and his wife Carmel further expanded this business. They continued to trade until they retired at the end of the century when they sold the hotel. Park Place was a Mecca for GAA fans attending matches in the stadium. For a great many years it catered for Kerry teams as they prepared for All-Ireland glory.

As Dr.O'Donoghue’s arrival in Killarney coincided with the foundation of the Legion it was only natural that he should become involved with that club. He played with the Legion for a number of years and was quickly elected President of the club, a position he held until his death. He was also President of the East Kerry Board (1935 ‘ 1949).

During his years with the Legion he gave outstanding service to the club. He was always willing to give financial support. He often made his car available for transporting players. All this happened at a time when money and cars were very scarce indeed. His service as a doctor was given free to all injured GAA players irrespective of their club affiliation.

"Without doubt his commitment to the GAA at all levels was nothing short of phenomenal. One can say without fear of contradiction that it was the dedication of such men as Dr. O’Donoghue that made the GAA the great organisation that it is today" (Robert O’Brien writing in the club history, Legion of Memories).

In 1948 Dr. O’Donoghue became seriously ill. When he died on January 4th 1949 he was just 47 years of age. His funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Killarney.

Following the death of Dr. O’Donoghue, a broadly based, representative committee was formed under the auspices of the East Kerry Board of the GAA. Its aim was to provide a suitable memorial to the doctor in recognition of his services to the community.

The officers of the committee were:
Chairman: Former TD, Danny J. O'Donoghue, Barraduff.
Vice-Chairman: Danny O'Sullivan, Drombrick, Beaufort. Joint Hon.
Secretaries: Patrick Murphy as well as future TD and Minister, Michael Moynihan.     Treasurer: Pat O’Meara, College Street.


Other people on the committee were Very Rev. J. J. Murphy and Paddy O'Donoghue M.P.S.I. All the local GAA clubs were represented.

A house to house collection was organised throughout the area that the doctor had served. The collection was organised on a street by street basis in the town and along station district lines in the countryside. As the response was magnificent a huge sum of money was raised.
A ten-foot high Celtic cross headstone was erected over Dr. O’Donoghue’s grave in the New Cemetery. This Cross carried the coat of arms of the O’Donoghues as well as the clan motto, Nunquam non Paratus, Never Unprepared.

The inscription on the headstone reads:
Padraig Ó Donnchadha
Muintir na duthaí a thóg mar chomhartha measa
ar a chuid saothair ina measc.

At the front of the grave a small tablet gives the same message in English.
Dr. Patrick O’Donoghue
A Coy. , 2nd. Batt. ,
Cork No. 2 Brigade,
I.R.A.

Erected by the people of the district in appreciation of his service amongst them.
The monument was unveiled in February 1954. A large crowd marched from the town centre to attend the ceremony. Danny J. O’Donoghue presided. Most Rev. Dr. Denis Moynihan, Bishop of Kerry blessed the memorial. Dr. O’Donoghue’s great friend, Professor P. Kiely, then performed the unveiling.

As there was a considerable sum of money still available after the erection of the memorial, two stained glass windows were installed in the Church of Our Lady of the Valley then being built in the Black Valley.
A marble High Altar was also erected in Dr. O’Donoghue’s native church in Glenflesk. The inscription beside the altar reads.

I ndíl chuimhne
An Dr. Pádraig Ó Donnchadha
A rugadh sa pharoíste seo againne.
Go ndeanaidh Dia trocaire ar a anam uasal.

Meanwhile, at the annual Convention of the East Kerry Board on 24/1/54, a motion from St. Joseph’s, Rathmore, "That a perpetual cup be awarded to the winners of the Senior Championship", was referred to the first meeting of the incoming board. At that meeting on 6/2/54 the matter was discussed at length without any decision being taken.

The O'Donoghue Memorial Committee still had money left over after the three projects mentioned above. They now felt that a trophy, as suggested at the EKB meeting, would make a most suitable conclusion to their mission.

Together with the EKB, and in agreement with the O'Donoghue family, they decided to purchase a silver cup. This trophy, to be known as the O'Donoghue Cup, would be presented each year to the winners of the East Kerry Senior Championship. Danny Jim O’Donoghue, on behalf of the Memorial Committee, purchased the silver cup in Cork city and presented it to the East Kerry Board. Appropriately enough, the first winners of the trophy in 1954 were Dr.O'Donoghue’s old club, Killarney Legion.

At the East Kerry Convention on 16/1/55, the chairman, Jack O'Shea, on behalf of the Board, formally thanked the Dr. O’Donoghue Memorial Committee for the presentation of a valuable cup, "for competition among the senior teams".

The championship was played in League format until 1966. At the AGM of the Board on 26/1/67 similar motions from Gneevguilla, Glenflesk and Spa clubs were compressed into the following amendment that was passed unanimously: "That the O'Donoghue Cup be played as a knockout Championship during the months of June, July and August and that the League be started on the first Sunday in March and that no match in the League be postponed to facilitate a team with a player or players on a county team or any other team."

The proposal to play the competition during the summer months has proved to be unworkable but otherwise the knockout format of the O'Donoghue Cup has remained the same ever since.
Until 1971 the competition was confined to clubs from the parishes of Killarney, Glenflesk, Rathmore, Gneevguilla, Kilcummin, Firies, Listry and Fossa. In that year four new clubs, Scartaglin, Currow, Cordal and Ballymacelligot joined the fray. The first three have continued to compete but in 1985 Ballymac returned to the Tralee division.

In 1994 the competition was sponsored for the first time. Appropriately enough another branch of the O’Donoghue tribe, The Gleneagle Hotel, gave it their support. They have continued their generous sponsorship ever since. It is a development of which those two scions of the Glenflesk Clan, "Doctor Pat" and "Paddy the Chemist", would surely have approved.

Scenes from the O'Donoghue Cup    (Click to Enlarge)