25 Years celebrating the sporting life of Páidí Ó Sé
February 11, 2014
Páidí Ó Sé's children Siún and Pádraig Óg with Kerry footballer Marc Ó Sé at Paidi O Se's pub in Ard a Bhothair, Ventry preparing for the PhoneWatch Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé 2014, which sees over 1,000 men's and ladies club players descending on the Dingle Peninsula. Photo: Marian O'Flaherty
Supported by PhoneWatch, Opel Ireland, Lee Strand Milk, Fáilte Ireland, Kerry County Council, and Newstalk 106-108FM, the 'Comórtas' was officially launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. in Dublin today (11th February). The football festival has attracted almost 10,000 club players over 25 years and has grown into a major international GAA event with senior, intermediate and junior clubs travelling from over ten counties as well as Boston, London, Manchester and Brussels this year.
To mark the 25th anniversary, the four original senior men's club teams from the first tournament back in 1989 will once again compete, West Kerry's An Gaeltacht and Dingle clubs, Cork's Ballincollig and Galway's An Cheathrú Rua
The annual photography exhibition will this year feature the work of Ireland's leading photography agency Inpho Photography, who is also celebrating 25 years in business. The exhibit, 'Irish Sports Stars Through The Years' by Billy Stickland and his team, will be launched by GAA legend Mick O'Dwyer at 5pm, Sun, 23rd Feb in Paidi's pub at Ard Bhothair and will remain on display in the pub for two months.
Pádraig Óg. Ó Sé said, 'The Comórtas has grown beyond our Dad's wildest dreams. We are delighted it continues to attract clubs from all over the world. It sends a positive message to young people about the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle. This event, along with Fundúireacht Páidí Ó Sé, a charitable foundation that we set up after his passing to help provide Cardiac related services in Kerry and nationally, are positive legacies he would have been proud of. We are also also flattered that a local committee has been set up to perpetuate his memory in the form of a monument for his contribution to Irish life."
Eoin Dunne, Managing Director of PhoneWatch said; "PhoneWatch are delighted to be the title sponsor of this iconic sporting event which is a fitting tribute to Páidí's sporting life. We look forward to a successful partnership and would like to wish all the participants of the PhoneWatch Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó'Sé tournament the very best of luck. Go n-éirí go geal libh! ".
For a programme of events and a full list of teams visit www.Paidiose.com
For media inquiries contact
Killian Burns, Organising Committee PRO - Tel: 086-7988540
Teams List
SENIOR MENS
Ballincollig GAA, Cork
An Gaeltacht, Kerry
John Mitchell's GAA, Kerry
An Cheathrú Rua, Galway
An Daingean, Kerry
Dromcollogher / Broadford GAA, Limerick
Blessington GAA, Wicklow
Ardfert, Co. Kerry
INTERMEDIATE MENS
St Pat's, Blennerville, Kerry
Na Gaeil, Kerry
Lispole GAA, Kerry
Round Towers GAA, Kildare
Annascaul GAA, Kerry
Killala GAA, Mayo
Castlegregory, Kerry
Shannon Blues, Boston, USA
JUNIOR MENS
St Anthony's GAA, Reading UK
Cromane GAA, Kerry
Templenoe GAA, Kerry
St. Peter's GAA, Manchester, UK
Belgium GAA, Brussels, Belgium
Glenn Rovers GAC, Watford, UK
Cappagh GAA, Kildare
Feenagh/Kilmeedy, Limerick
SENIOR LADIES
Carnacon GAA, Mayo
Na Gaeil, Kerry
Foxrock-Cabinteely GAA, Dublin
Timahoe GAA, Laois
Southern Gaels, Kerry
Scartaglen, Kerry
INTERMEDIATE LADIES
Fr Murphy's, London
Blessington Ladies GAA, Wicklow
St Josephs, Carrigallen, Leitrim
Erins Own Carrigtwohill, East Cork
Corca Dhuibhne, Kerry
Park Ratheniska, Laois
JUNIOR LADIES
Belgium GAA, Brussels, Belgium
St Anthony's GAA, Reading UK
Finuge, Kerry
John Mitchels GAA, Kerry Tweet
