2013 Gala Night and East Kerry Awards Ceremony
The 2013 Gala night and All Star Awards ceremony was held on Friday 17th January 2013 in the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney. MC for the night was County Committee PRO, John O’Leary. Guests included the Nominees for Awards, Guest Speaker Mick Galwey (Currow C.L.G., Munster & Ireland Rugby), Sponsors Patrick O’Donoghue, Managing Director, Gleneagle Hotel and John Feerick, Managing Director, The Kerryman
2013 All Star Award Nominees
The 24 nominated players were
Goalkeeper Brian Kelly (Legion) and David Moloney (Dr Crokes)
Defenders Eoin Brosnan, David O’Leary, John Payne and Kieran Ward (Dr Crokes) Jonathon Lyne and Padraig O’ Connor (Legion); John Foley and Anthony Sweeney (Listry); Timmy O’Leary (Currow).
Midfield Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes), Jimmy O’Leary (Listry), Alan O’Sullivan (Dr Crokes), Seamus Scanlon (Currow)
Forwards Daithí Casey, Colm Cooper, Brian Looney and Kieran O’Leary (Dr Crokes); James O’Donoghue and David O’Sullivan (Legion); John Buckley (Currow); D.J. O’Connor (Gneeveguilla); Mark Reen (Rathmore).
2013 East Kerry All Star Team
GOAL KEEPER: David Moloney (Dr Crokes)
DEFENDERS
Full Back Line: Kieran Ward (Dr Crokes), Padraig O’Connor (Legion), Timmy O’Leary (Currow)
Half Back Line: Jonathon Lyne (Legion), Eoin Brosnan (Dr Crokes), David O’Leary (Dr Crokes)
MID FIELD: Seamus Scanlon (Currow), Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
FORWARDS
Half Forward Line: Daithí Casey (Dr Crokes), James O’Donoghue (Legion), Brian Looney (Dr Crokes)
Full Forward Line: Kieran O’Leary (Dr Crokes), John Buckley (Currow), David O’Sullivan (Legion).
2013 YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR(Under 21): David O’Sullivan (Legion)
2013 SENIOR LAYER OF THE YEAR: John Buckley (Currow)
2013 Inaugural Fr Galvin All Star Award Nominees
Daniel Murphy (Scartaglen)
Philip Griffin (Cordal)
Gary O’Sullivan (Listry)
2013 Inaugural Fr Galvin All Star
Gary O’Sullivan (Listry)
2013 East Kerry Person of the Year Award
The 2013 East Kerry Person of the year award was presented to MICHELLE COOPER GALVIN (Fossa). Film, both the positive and the negative and involvement in the GAA, has been part and parcel of Michelle Cooper Galvins life since the day she was born. She comes from a long line of eminent pioneers in the world of moving and still pictures (Grandfather Thomas G Cooper made The Dawn film and opened Killarneys first cinema) and her late father Thomas E Cooper, was Kerry goalkeeper. Michelle played camogie with great success and won all Ireland schools junior medals as goalkeeper with Cork in 1968 and 1970, playing with her school, Drishane Convent, Millstreet and won 2 All Ireland medals with Cork in the 1970s. Michelle for many years was closely involved with Fossa GAA club, amongst other things, serving as club PRO and her nephew is the current club chairman. It is this rich heritage that she injects into the everyday work as a press and public relations photographer in Kerry. Michelle is dedicated to her profession, and is generous and helpful to all clubs in East Kerry and to the East Kerry Board. A request for photographs is met with extraordinary efficiency and top quality photographs. Through the decades, Michelle has covered games and other GAA events throughout East Kerry and generously provided photographs for innumerable productions and events, including every year, the Programme for the O’ Donoghue Cup (East Kerry Senior Championship) Final and the slide show for the Gala night of the East Kerry All Star Awards. A most generous professional photographer, GAA member and follower, Michelle is a very popular and worthy recipient.
2013 East Kerry Hall of Fame Recipient
The 2013 Hall of Fame Award was presented to Spa’s JOHN KELLY. Johns involvement in matters GAA in East Kerry has been tremendous for decades and he has been involved in sport for involvement in sport over the past 40 years.
A highlight of his football career, was winning an O Donoghue Cup title, with Spa, in 1966. He served as chairman of Spa and was Spa PRO since 1972.
Johns involvement with the East Kerry Board commenced in 1984 as PRO, a position he held with distinction for 5 years before moving on to Chairman from 1989 to 1996. John then spent a further five years as a selector with the highly successful East Kerry team which won three County Championships (1997-1999) on the trot under the guidance of Sean Counihan and Tommy “Bracker” Regan and various selection committees. In one of those years, 1997, East Kerry made a clean sweep, winning the senior, U21 and minor championships.
John was physiotherapist to Spa, East Kerry and Kerry teams and was asked by Paidi O Se and Seamus Mac Gearalit to join the Kerry set up from 1997 to 2004.
John served as PRO of Spa GAA club for 40 years, stepping down in 2013. He was always helpful to the East Kerry Board and could be relied on to cover games and write match reports for the Board. Widely known and highly regarded, John’s induction into the east Kerry Hall of Fame is well deserved and most popular.
2013 SPECIAL AWARD
In 2013 a Special Award was presented to the Runai of the East Kerry Coiste na nOg, TADHGIE FLEMING (Dr Crokes), in recognition of outstanding and long service to the Board. Tadhgie has a long and distinguished career in C.L.G. both on the field of play and in administration. He won Minor and Junior East Kerry League medals and 7 O’Donoghue Cup (East Kerry Senior Championship) medals 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1968. Tadhgie was team captain on the Dr Crokes winning side in 1965.
Tadhgie was a versatile sportsman and won a Kerry Senior Hurling Championship with his club medal in 1969 and he was a member of the Kerry panel that won the National Hurling League (home) final in 1970.
Tadhgies commitment also extends to coaching and he coached many Dr Crokes teams down through the years. Most notably, Tadhgie was a selector when Dr Crokes won the All Ireland Club Championship in 1992 and the County Championship in 1991.
In 2013 Tadhgie was a selector on the Dr Crokes Junior team that won all four competitions, unbeaten all year – League and Championships in East Kerry and County.
Tadhgie has served as Runai of the East Kerry Coiste na nOg since 1973. A truly remarkable commitment, where his extensive knowledge of GAA rules and abilities with the complexities of fixtures and competitions come to the fore.
Tadhgie has many other sporting achievements, most notable of which includes winning a minor All Ireland Basketball title in 1959 and a County Championship with the famous “Busby Babes” team in 1970.
Also known far and wide as the sacristan in St Marys Cathedral, Killarney, Tadhgie was also honoured with a Bene Merenti Medal from the Pope for all his work within the Church.
It was most fitting to mark the 40th anniversary of Tadhgie becoming the Runai of the East Kerry Coiste na nOg. A remarkable record, which is increasing as Tadhgie continues to serve as Runai of East Kerry Coiste na nOg and their delegate/liaison officer to the East Kerry Senior Board.