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March 2006

HOPE foundation fund raiser

Two Kilgarvan men Murt o Shea and John Creedan and their wives can take a bow today for their magnificent efforts during the last month in which the undertook
to raise funds for the wonderful Hope Foundation, those people who work for the
street children of Calcutta. And it all came to fruition last Friday night at
the new Spa club house when a table quiz added more finance to that already
raised from the other fund raiser. Pick your own Kerrys best 15 from 1997-2005.

Murt and John had distributed over eight hundred sheets including the names of
sixty Kerry players who had played in the All Ireland finals in their various
positions during the years mentioned. For 3euros you could choose your best 15
and John Kelly the great Spa activist had chosen his best team and just six
entries from a return of 600 corresponded with Johns star side. Prizes were
presented to all the winners.

Then the table quiz last Friday added to the uniqueness of the occasion and
there to lend support were Kerry legends, Seamus Moynihan Mike Frank Russell,
Donie o Sullivan, Donal Daly and Ambrose o Donovan, all doing their bit for
these most worthy charity.
Denis p o Sullivan of Kilgarvan was rightly honored on the night as a Hall of
Fame recipient. Donie o Sullivan recalled his career to all in attendance. Also
present from Kilgarvan were the Rae brothers, Michael and Danny, Denis Geaney
and Cathal Walsh of Ring of Kerry Fame were present and the Spa ladies committee
as usual did a great job in having all in order

The happiest person there on the night however was an exemplary young lady from
Sneem, Sinead Harrington. Sinead if the Kerry reprehensive and full time worker
for HOPE and the work that wonderful young lady undertakes in her quest to help
the two hundred and fifty street children of Calcutta is staggering. Murt o Shea
team selection and now yearly quiz may pass unknown to most in the world of to
day, nevertheless he can lay his head on his pillow at night knowing in his
heart that the €2,000 plus he has raised by traversing the county with his
team sheets has literally saved the live of at least one of those children dying
in the squalor and poverty on the back streets of Calcutta. This in itself must
surly make everything well worth the effort. Well done Murt and John.

And the selected winning star studded Kerry team from 1997 to 2005 resulted as follows.

Declan Ooo' Keeffe, Mike Hassett, Mike McCarthy, Tom O' Sullivan, Seamus
Moynihan, Liam Flaherty, Thomas O' Shea, Dara O' Se, Donal Daly, Mike Frank
Russell, Liam Hassett, Maurice Fitzgerald, Colm Cooper, DaraOo' Cinneide, John
Crowley.

1970 DOWN UNDER WITH KERRY

KERRY IN AUSTRALIA MARCH 1970 CONTINUED-WEESHIE FOGARTY

Understandably I may be accused of being bias when I state that the first half
performance given by the Kerry touring side- in March of 1970 in Adelaide was
one of -the greatest ever given by a side in the green and gold. Bold words
indeed when one reflects on the legendary games played by The Kingdom down
through the decades. However when I point out that it was with an oval shaped
ball and against the mighty Australians in their own back yard it should make
more sense.

In the first half of that game under lights at the Norwood Oval Kerry performed
what seemed like miracles with that strange oval ball against a South Australian
side which included no fewer than nine State players. Now Kerry county board
Chairman Dr. Jim Brosnan had agreed to the oval ball being used for the first
fifteen minutes of the game and many in the party while admiring his courage
doubted his wisdom in giving the home side what appeared would be a head start
on the score board. Nevertheless events were to prove dramatic to say the least
and in hind sight greatly advanced the course of international football between
the two countries in future years.

Kerry were performing brilliantly when referee Pascal Deering, a former Wicklow
and son of former Bective rangers Irish Rugby international, Mark, was about to
introduce the round ball for the oval one after a quarter of an hour when Jim
Brosnan had it announced over the public address that Kerry would continue with
the oval ball up until half time. And so it was when the short whistle went
Kerry were unbelievably level with the star studded host having scored 2-2 to
the home sides 1-5.

The Australian coach Neil Kerle had boasted in the run up to the match that they
would be so far ahead at half time there would be no point in playing the second
half and the spectators, there were 5,000 present would be gone home to their
beds. I was sitting in the dug out that historic night and what I witnessed will
remain forever etched in my memory. We had trained under Jackie Lyne the
previous day with the oval ball and to tell the truth most of us were very
skeptical of taking on the Aussies with their own ball. All our fears were
completely unfounded and on the night the fielding, passing and kicking by our
side was a joy to behold and most proficient with the oval ball, they took to it
like ducks to water, were Mick o Dwyer, Liam Higgins Tom Prendergast, Seamus
Fitzgerald, Donie o Sullivan Mick o Shea and in goal Johnny Culloty. The
Australians were absolutely stunned and the Kerry supporters were thrilled with
the exhibition and how they responded to it all, as the literally raised the
roof as the half time whistle sounded. Great stuff indeed. The round ball as
agreed was introduced at half time and the Australians were simply pulverized as
our boys turned on an exhibition winning 7-13 to 3-5.

At the after match reception Harry Beitzel the man who brought the first
Australian teams to Ireland in 1967 and 1968 was lavish in his praise of Captain
Johnny Culloty and his team. “That performance”, he said, proved beyond all
doubt that you fellows can play and play superbly, and I can see no reason why
we would not have Gaelic Internationals in Ireland and our rules being played
here, this has been an historic evening.” Neil Kerley added, “I was astonished
by the handling and kicking of Kerry but it will still be a long and difficult
fight to overcome the doubters and those in opposition to these games.” Towering
Peter Darby, a star of the defeated side speaking as captain, expressed his
amazement at the display of Kerry and then added some-thing that should be
forever remembered when great Kerry footballers are spoken of. Darley stated,” I
rate Tom Prendergast the greatest small man I have ever seen, his display was
superb.” Tom was of course voted Texao player of the year in 1970 and has a
record equal to anyone. Wing back was his position. He is now living in
Killarney and general secretary of the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. What a
player. And finally Dr Jim the man responsible for all said that he was
surprised by our sides handling and kicking of the oval ball and considered that
the display of Kerry could be the start of something big between Ireland and
Australia. Prophetic words indeed from the good doctor.

That historic winning side: Johnny Culloty, Seamus Murphy, Paud o Donoghue,
Seamus Fitzgerald, Tom Prendergast, Mick Gleeson, Derry Crowley, D J Crowley,
Donie O Sullivan, Brendan Lynch, Pat Griffin, Eamon o Donoghue, Mick Aherne,
Liam Higgins Mick o Dwyer. Subs on, Dom o Donnell, P J Burns, Colm O Callaghan,
Pat Moynihan,

We had arrived in Adelaide on National Flower Day, Victoria Square was a blaze
of color and the festival of Arts was in full flow at which Irish writer Enda o
Brien was a guest speaker and Connor Cruise o Brien’s “King Herod was also
topping the bill, Another great reception here for the travelers. In Adelaide
alone you had about 300 Irish step dancers and we enjoyed a fine exhibition by a
group of girls born in Australia of Irish parents. There I met men like Jim
Stack and Jim Farnan who do tremendous work for the Irish community and every
one went out of their way to help us.

Next stop was one of the highlights of the tour, a trip to the outback town of
Wagga Wagga,(population back then 30,000), and they were celebrating its
centenary and we were well informed of the part the Irish had played in building
this cowboy town. The people had ridden in from all the rural areas to cheer on
the Wagga Tigers at the Weissel Oval and their was a great atmosphere in the
air. We stayed with local families and my host could not do enough to make my
visit memorable, conducting tours to all the surrounding areas, such a
difference from the bustling cities.

Johnny Culloty was having knee problems and it had swelled up for no apparent
reason and it was evident that his playing on the tour was at an end so I was
called upon to replace my legendary Legion club mate, trainer Jackie Lyne was
also a member of our Killarney club so it was nice to have The Legion
represented on all those world tour games. The great Spa man Donie o Sullivan
took over the captaincy in Johnny’s absence. It was another easy win, 3-18 to
0-11, however the tactics of some of the opposition was reminiscent of what
happened in the compromise rules last year and some of their play was positively
dangerous and I have vivid memories of some spectators behind my goal seeking to
incite their players. They exhorted their players with such comments as, “drop
him, lay him out mate, kick him back to Ireland”, and so on. Referee Ollie
Courtney was no help to our cause and the former Fermanagh player then resident
in Sydney left everything go from start to finish. It must be added that only a
minority of their players were at these rough house tactics.

Late in the game played in intense heat Pat griffin one of Kerrys most stylish
of all footballers went high for a ball in the middle of the field, came down
heavily on his back on the bone hard pitch and when on the ground received a
violent kick to his back. The great Glenbeigh in my estimation never fully
recovered from that incident and it hastened his retirement from the game. Late
last year I broadcast a two hour Radio Kerry Terrace Talk special from Glenbeigh
on Pat’s life and times and that incident come up for discussion, it certainly
hindered Pat in his later life.

Wagga Wagga is Aboriginal dialect for crow, the place where crows assemble, the
Murumbidgee river runs through the town. It is 322 miles by rail from Sydney and
268 miles from Melbourne and it was first visited by white men in 1829. A visit
to a real life rodeo was special, one day you are in the heart of civilization
the next you can drive for endless miles in boiling conditions through red-dust
country, the car stifling hot, without seeing a single soul except Kangaroos
hopping all over the place. The only link for resident of this bush country with
the rest of the world is often by phone and that is if they can afford the cost
of laying the necessary cable. Fascinating look at the life and times of the
cattle and sheep drover, many we were told opt for this solitary existence and
indeed when we were flying overhead in what appeared to me to be an old
dilapidated twin engine plane the bleak vastness of the out- back stretched as
far as the eye could see. Our next stop would be Sydney, then on to New Zealand,
Hawaii, Fiji, San Francisco, and New York. March 1970 was certainly becoming a
year to remember.

And so this week we conclude our memories of Kerrys World tour of 1970 as we
visited Sydney, another teeming city of millions. We took a stroll down Kings
Cross-the Soho of Sydney, the American soldiers on leave from Vietnam walking
around in groups enjoying the momentary escape from the loneliness of the front.
A boat trip around famous Sydney harbor was a must. The new Opera House was well
under construction at the time, a magnificent looking structure jutting out into
the sea, Brian Sheehy of that great Tralee GAA family was busy with his cine
camera, he must have a superb collection of film from that time 36 years ago. A
sing song began on the harbor ferry, Mick o Dwyer always one to lead gave a
stirring rendering of The Boys of Barr Na Strada, Mick Ahearn continued with the
Australian emigrant song, If We Only had Old Ireland over Here and I chipped in
with How Can You Buy Killarney. (Doing my bit for tourism in Beauties Home.)

We had another easy game in Sydney at the Sports Grounds against a side
comprised of local Irish emigrants, a cake walk as we won 3-23 to 1-10, Pat
Griffin notching up 3-8. Is this a record for a Kerry senior playing with the
county? I believe it could well be. Around 5,000 were in attendance and it made
welcome relief from the torrid match against Wagga Wagga the previous day. Names
on the opposition included, Ollie Courtney, (Fermanagh), Kieran White, (Dublin),
Tony De Courcey, Galway), Phil Guiney, (Kerry), Paul Hannon, (Sligo), Tom
Stewart, (Derry), and Sean Green, (Antrim).

We bid farewell to Australia and headed for New Zeeland and Auckland was our
first stop. St. Patrick’s Day and another easy match against a New Zealand side
which had a good few local born players in their side. In a curtain raiser we
saw the work being done by the local Irish as a under age game was played and I
was very impressed by the talents shown by some of the home grown youngsters.
Dublin born Frank Quinn was the Vice President of Auckland. During the game
played in sweltering conditions I got chatting to one of the umpires at my goal,
when he discovered I was from Killarney his interest grew immediately and it is
indeed a small world as it transpired that he was one Jim Collins brother of the
late Denis who had worked as hall porter in the Killarney Great Southern for
many years. And Jim was born in Woodlawn in Killarney and had grown up with my
brothers-in –law Tommy and Paddy Slattery. So due to the one sided nature of the
contest we had lots of time to reminisce? Brian Sheehy one of our fellow
travelers was certainly doing his bit for tourism back home in Tralee. He flew
specially the 600 miles to Trentham to present a Tara Brooch to Paula Ryan the
New Zealand representative in the 1969 Rose of Tralee festival.

The following day it was sight seeing time, we lazed in the hot springs at
Waiwere and we met the Deputy Lord Mayor, Alfred Glasse who told us that one of
his grandmothers was Irish. We also visited the New Zealand Brewery and our
guide on that tour was the former great All Black wing forward Waka Natham At a
very pleasant function before we departed Dr. Jim presented a pen and pencil set
to Murt Broderick, Ballymalis, Beau fort who had put up the Kerry party free of
charge for four days at his Albion hotel. Murt’s brother Pat was married to
Jackie Lynes sister Rita and Jim Brosnan was presented with a figure of a Kiwi
mounted on a plinth of wood in commemoration of the champions visit to the city
and he was also presented was a mounted silver Australian ball presented by the
Melbourne GAA as a token of their thanks.
And then it was time to bid farewell to Auckland and our very genial hosts and
there was one very nostalgic gathering as everyone assembled to sing that
traditional Maori farewell song. “Now is the hour for me to say Goodbye” I had
often heard this sang in the fifties around Killarney when groups of boyhood
friends would get together to say farewell to each other as one of them would be
taking the emigrant ship to England. Now in New Zealand I really appreciated the
great dept of feelings as our Maori hosts sang for us. And so we headed across
the pacific towards the Fiji islands.

We touched down in Fiji, the jewel of the Pacific at 12.30 am. The sweltering
oppressive heat was the first thing to hit us as we disembarked. At Fiji Airport
to meet us were Father Daniel Ahearn from Moyvane, a cousin of Jim Brosnan,
Father Mick Griffin from Castleisland and Fr. Colm Maguire from Dundalk. Indeed
all along the way on our journey a forceful reminder of the ever present link
with home was the great number of nuns and priests who came out to meet and
greet us as were arrived and departed our various destinations. We swam at 1.30
am on March 20th as we arrived at our destination, the gateway hotel near Nadi,
it was an idyllic few days and the very gentle inhabitants of the Islands went
out of their way to see to our every need. Back in 1643 a Dutch explorer Abel
Tasman discovered the Fiji islands and of course it was then the Mecca for the
rich and famous and became one of the world great tourist attractions. We met
Fr. Martin Dobey Superior of the Columbian fathers in Fiji and he explained that
there were still many smaller and unspoiled islands where you can be light years
away from the hoards of tourists.

Two days later we were packing our bags again and heading for San Francisco
where more wonders awaited us. Another huge gathering to greet us at the
airport, a girl piper’s band and Andy McKenna president of the Irish societies
was there as was Pat Brosnan President of the local football club. Two police
out-riders accompanied our two coaches to the Hotel Fielding right in the centre
of this magnificent city where we would spend three more memorable days. We
played a game against the locals and once again had an easy win. The Golden Gate
Bridge, the cable car trips to the Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, were all
visited. However I was disappointed not to have got the opportunity to visit
forbidden Alcatraz, the former notorious prison, it was occupied at that time by
local Indians staking their claim to lands they believed should be theirs.
However many years late on another visit to the city by the bay I rectified that
and spend an afternoon on the historic island situated out in the middle of the
famous bay.

Memorable events crowded on memorable events on this magical tour of the world
and of course it’s impossible to include all in these few columns. But, for me I
feel sure that the visit to the Shamrock Motel over 7.000 feet up in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains, a height that dwarf our own magnificent Carrantouhill must
rank as one of the great highlights. This beautiful motel, at which we were
guests, was then owned by the Brosnan brothers Tim, Maurice and John from
Currow, and their brother in law Pat Brosnan from Scartaglin, who is married to
Sheila Brosnan a sister of the three Currow boys.

When I point out that all the four Kerry boys did not leave Ireland until 1948
it is amazing at the success they had achieved. Their property valued at one and
a quarter million dollars, was situated in magnificent surroundings on a giant
plateau about ninety miles by sixty looking down on the towering snowcapped
peaks. A stunning vista. A noted ski resort, Lake Tahoe which takes its name
from the high lakes in the valley, is also a world famous gambling place in
which there are many casinos and countless one armed bandits.

I will never forget the wonderful generosity of those people and Sheila and
husband Pat were the driving force behind the feasting and entertainment laid on
for our party. Words indeed fail me to describe their generosity; they will be
forever etched in our memories.

Chicago and New York completed our itinerary and on Monday 30th march 1970 we
touched down at Shannon Airport our minds spinning with memories following a
footballing odyssey in which we circumnavigated the globe. Every time I hear the
words of that beautiful song, “Those far away places with strange sounding
names, far away over the Sea,” I can’t but recall visions of lands far far away,
and a time thirty six years when captain Johnny Culloty led his All Ireland
champions on that historic first ever world trip touching down at Amsterdam,
Vienna, Bahrain, New Delhi, Bangkok, Singapore, Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide,
Auckland, Fiji, San Francisco, Chicago, New York.

Continuing our reminiscing on Kerrys first ever trip to Australia recalled from
personal memories, old news cuttings and Raymond Smiths “Football Immortals” I
remember well our first ever game down under. We had found our feet following
the long flight, plenty sleep and long glorious days at the beach. Western
Australia were the opponents and proved no match for our side as we romped home
in 80 degrees of heat, 9-5 to 3-16. A crowd of about 5.000 watched the game in
which the home side was permitted to pick the ball straight off the ground and
take frees and fifties from their hands.

It was evident from our arrival that sport is the central theme of live in this
vast country, top sportsmen are national heroes immaterial what sport they are
involved in. Social life centers on the football clubs and following our game in
Fremantle we were entertained at a huge open air barbecue. Of course it must be
added that the climate in that country is much more favorable for this kind of
life and indeed at this particular celebration numerous prizes as is the custom
were distributed. An inscribed tankard for the “fairest and best” player went to
Pat Griffin and awards also went to Tom Prendergast, Mick o Dwyer and D J
Crowley. This was a feature of the tour that of presenting awards to various
players for some achievement or another during all our matches.

Like Ireland Australia is very proud of its past history and preserve many
facets of it with the building of memorials. In Kalgoorlie there is a memorial
to Clare born Paddy Hannon, he was one of those who led the gold rush that saw
the town established and I discovered that a leading Australian beer was called
after him. In Fremantle the name of another Irishman was brought to my
attention, Charles o Connor built the magnificent Fremantle port following a
similar design to that of the North Wall in Dublin and he was also responsible
for running a massive pipeline across thirty miles of arid country from Darling
Range to Kalgoorlie. It’s reputed that when the water didn’t flow that he
committed suicide in despair. Nevertheless it later pumped five million gallons
of water a day and this forgotten Irishman has left a great legacy.

The hospitality shown to us on that memorable trip was unforgettable, every
where you went and every function we attended generosity was showered upon us
and it was particularly pleasing to meet people from Kerry. One man we were
introduced to was Dick Cremin, brother of Kerry footballer Gus. Like his better
known footballing brother Dick was one of the mort likeable people you would
meet in a days march. At that time he ran a very successful news agency and
bookshop in Melbourne’s East Brunswick and had been a member of the Kew Urban
Council for many years and he told us that he hoped to oversee the development
of an Irish Centre in the city. If it came about since that year of 1970 I have
no idea.

Irish nuns and priests have played a huge part in the history of Australia and
we met up with and were entertained by many along the way as we traversed this
vast continent. If you are Irish you can hardly visit Melbourne without visiting
St. Patrick’s cathedral. There the body of Most Rev. Dr. Mannix lies in the
crypt to the left of the High Alter. Everywhere we went his name came up, being
associated of course with Ireland as did the name of Most Rev. Dr. Prenderville,
late Archbishop of the beautiful city of Perth in Western Australia. Dr.Mannix
was born in Clonakilty, Co Cork on March 4th 1864 and was in his nineties when
he died. He had become bishop there in 1917 and exercised a huge influence on
this great city. He was we were informed a wonderful person especially in
helping the poor and when he died it is reputed that he was without a penny to
his name. He was hated by the politicicans and those in high authority however
he was greatly respected by all.

On March 8th 1970 we had landed in Melbourne and a huge crowd of around two
thousand had gathered to greet us. A piper’s band and a group of kilted dancers
were awaiting us on the tarmac and as the pipes struck up many of us stepped in
with the dancers for an impromptu jig and the crowd on the balcony cheered to
the echo. (So this was long before Tadge Kennelly did his jig last year
following his magnificent Australian medal win). Melbourne is a huge sprawling
city with a population back then of over 2,000,000 and it boasts a huge Irish
community. I have vague memories of the legendary John “Kerry” o Donnell being
there and it later transpired that behind the scenes unknown to the majority if
the party trouble was brewing with him and the Kerry officials in relation to
cash promises regarding the tour. Those involved had top level talk later in the
day at the Hotel Commodore, it appears that nothing agreed before hand had been
written down and signed, sealed and delivered, tempers become frayed between
John Kerry and Co Board officials and the end result was that we did not play a
game in Gaelic Park, New York on our way home. This despite the fact that it was
part of the projected budget for the trip

Another problem in Melbourne surfaced when the man then known as “Mr.Australian
Rules Football” Harry Beizel had failed to secure the release of top rules
players for this Melbourne game and it appeared as if there would be no match in
the city. This would be a disaster, it would have been like a team from
Australia coming to Dublin and not playing in Croke Park. However the Irish
Association at the request of Jackie Lyne, Tadge Crowley and Co Board chairman
Jim Brosnan saved the day and managed to muster a team which included the great
Ron Brassie and other players who had come to Ireland in 1967. One must remember
this was the early pioneering days of trips down under and Meath had been the
very first GAA County to make the voyage a few years previously. Kerry and Meath
were in essence the pioneers of compromise rules football that we know to day
and Jim Brosnan and his exemplary county board of the time must be lauded for
taking what was at the time a huge financial risk.

The game itself like all those on tour was one sided and Mick o Dwyer had a ball
notching up goals and points at will as did Eamon O Donoghue and Pat griffin.
But what a wonderful memory of the venue it self. The Melbourne Cricket Ground,
a vast arena with dressings rooms so plush that it would take your breath away.
You must remember that this was an era at home here in Kerry when we were still
togging out on the side of ditches, on the road sides and under hedges so the
whole scene was something else. And most memorable of all it was here in 1956
that Ronnie Delaney won his gold medal in the 1500m Olympic final, that day
fifty years ago the twenty one year old stunned the sporting world. It was
Ireland’s greatest ever sporting achievement in athletics.

I had vivid memories of getting up at home in Lower New St. Killarney as a
sixteen year old in the middle of the night to listen on an old Bush radio to
the English commentary of that epic win and in particular the description of
Delaney kneeling down on both knees just past the finishing line, blessing
himself and tanking God for his victory. Now I was here in the very same
stadium, I inquired from one of the grounds men “Where was the finishing line
for the finals of the track events here in 1956”. He showed me and as we were in
the stadium well before the match I sprinted down that very same patch of ground
that my boyhood hero had done all those years ago, knelt on the ground and also
said a silent prayer. Childish you may well say, nevertheless it is for me a
special sporting memory of that year of 1970.

Years later at the launch of one of Paudie o Shea’s football tournaments in
Jury’s Hotel in Dublin I met Ronnie Delaney, interview him and in particular
about that moment in time when his crossed the finishing line to win the Gold
medal. What an exemplary person, surely now fifty years later some one in Kerry
will bring him down to Kerry to celebrate that momentous day in Irish sporting
history? Terrace Talk waits to honour him for two hours.

Wonderful generosity was shown to us by exiles in the various cities. In
Melbourne the Hoare brothers from Kerry Maurice, Paddy, Jimmy, Mick, and
Nicholas were so generous, all five of them were big in the construction world,
as was John Hartnett from Abbyfeale in Sydney, and it was he who treated the
team to their trip to Sydney and looked after the accounts in the seventeen
story high Gazebo hotel. In Auckland we were put up by Beaufort man Murt
Broderick in his hotel, The Albion. Generosity above and beyond the call of duty
and memories of great exiles, men who in my opinion would give the shirt off
their backs to one of their own, without them our odyssey down under would have
been one to forget in many ways. More next week, as Kerry beat the Aussies on
their own soil and with their own oval ball.

Paddy Downey, Kerry’s Handballing Legend.

The National Event Centre of The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney is a magnificent
complex, capable of seating 2000 people who wish to attend the great events
staged there, top class artists from all over the world perform here on a
regular basis. The brainchild of the late Maurice o Donohue the Centre is a
marvellous asset to Killarney and to Kerry and sadly Maurice “Mr. Killarney”
died shortly following it’s completion, however it is certainly a lasting
memorial to a great man.

And so it was in this superb setting on February 16, 2003, that close to 500
people gave a thunderous standing ovation to one of Kerry’s great sporting
sons, Paddy Downey, as he stepped up to receive his Kerry Sport’s Star Hall
Of Fame award, richly deserved, widely acclaimed, and graciously accepted. On
that memorable night as one of the judging panel I had the great honour and
privilege of introducing Paddy to the stage, I had met him in the weeks leading
up to the night and during our interviews and long chats I was left in no doubt
what so ever that here was a man whose achievements on the handball courts of
Ireland would probably never be equalled by any other Kerry man in our life
time. Winner of 17 All Ireland senior medals, 2 All Ireland Junior medals, Paddy
won the staggering total of 34 Munster Senior medals in his glittering career
which lasted over a quarter of a century, this is his story.

Born in the town of Tralee, his father came from Mitchelstown County Cork,
handball dominated the young boys life from a very early age and he joined the
local Fitzgerald Jones Handball Club which was formed in 1948, and it became
largely responsible for the revival of handball in Kerry. However it took a
Tipperary man Joe Hassett to get the club formally involved in competition in
1949 and this was to prove the spring board for Paddy’s brillant career. Hassett
was himself an All Ireland medal winner with his native county before he moved
to Tralee to take up employment and Paddy is in no doubt that only for the Tipp.
Man coming to Tralee handball would not have taken off as it did.

The budding star was obsessed with the sport and spent every available minute
practicing off the gable ends of his house and that of the neighbours, indeed
one of his boyhood pals, Alfie Switzer vividly remembers the young Downey tying
his right hand behind his back at practice with the result that his left hand
became equally proficient at the game.

His first All Ireland title, a Junior Singles came in 1951 when he defeated Des
Dillon (Dublin), at Talbot’s Inch, Kilkenny, by three games to two in one of
the most thrilling finals ever played at the venue. Recalling that day many
years later Paddy was adamant that it was his greatest win of all.” Both of us
served the final ace seven times each and it could have gone any way, and when
it was over both of us were so exhausted that we threw ourselves on the ground,
unable to speak for a long time.” That same day his mentor Joe Hassett was
beaten in the Senior Final by Austin Clarke (Dublin). The Soft Ball Doubles
title was added when he teamed up with Tom Commane and a Kerry legend was born.

He was now into senior ranks and it was abundantly clear that he had the
potential, craft and wonderful ability so necessary to become a great champion.
And so it was in 1953 that Paddy lined out with his tutor and club mate Joe
Hassett , in senior competition and they marched off with the Senior Hardball
Doubles title. This was the beginning of a golden era for the Tralee man, a
glorious decade in which he demonstrated his equal proficiency at both
disciplines, softball and hardball, and he won titles with great regularity.
With his great friend and club-mate Jimmy o Brien they swept all before and
after them, winning the astonishing total of 10 double titles. When asked about
their uncanny understanding on the court, Paddy replied, “I can’t explain why
we were so good together, it just happened, and we never had to call or talk to
each other when playing, it was instinctive, and remember, long after both of
us had retired we came together again in 1972 to win the Masters (over 40) All
Ireland championship in the Willwood Tailteann Games at Croke Park, it was
magic.”

Memories came flooding back to Paddy of great duals and great wins. Like the
Munster Final at Horse and Jockey in 1960, when he and Jimmy were matched with
Mick Shanahon and Tom Doheny of Tipperary. The premier county were in great form
that day and their every shot bore the stamp of inspiration, before the Kerrymen
knew what hit them they were three games down and in serious trouble and it
seemed that the title they had won the previous year was about to change hands.

But then the seemingly impossible began to happen, the Kerrymen found their
touch and began to reduce the deficit, playing some of their greatest handball,
they overhauled their opponents and recorded one of their most memorable
victories, going on to retain their All Ireland crown by defeating Kildare’s
Tony Daly and Pat Winders in the final, a match in which they also had to stage
another remarkable comeback, because at one stage they were trailing after
losing the first two games.

Another fascinating story Paddy recalled for me when he was my guest on my Radio
Kerry programme Terrace Talk in January 03 is well worth special mention. It was
October 2, 1960 and Downey was fixed to play the legendary Joey Maher in the All
Ireland Singles Final, the game was originally fixed for Ceanannus Mor but due
to inclement weather had to be transferred to the covered court at
Ballymore-Eustace. That afternoon the fans who packed into the Kildare court
witnessed one of the greatest marathons in the history of handball and it is
safe to say that we will never see it’s like again as the two experts matched
each other stroke for stroke and indeed so closely were they matched at one
stage it seemed that an end was not possible.

As darkness fell the two of them matched each other ace for ace, but, anxious to
finish this epic they packed their bags again and accompanied by their fans they
set out for Clogh, County Kilkenny were the lights were switched on and they
continued their struggle until eventually the greater staying power and fitness
told and Paddy became champion. It is well worth recalling the static’s of this
great battle won by the Tralee man that day and night; 21-17, 21-18, 9-21,
21-17, 7-21, 10-21, 21-11. Fitness was a huge part of Downey’s success story
and he himself was adamant about this. “I trained like a professional six days a
week”, he told me, “running on the beach, up and down the sand hills gave me
fierce stamina, early to bed, and practicing in the court every day, at times
playing against two men. I was never injured, and my work in the shoe factory in
Tralee helped toughen my wrists and hands, I would soak my hands in pickle to
harden the palms, I never believed in weight training, and I never once
underestimated an opponent, no matter how strong a favourite I was to win.”

While his great skill and fitness carried him through in many a grimly
contested encounter all over Ireland Paddy Downey was a sports man to his finger
tips, that wonderful Kerryman newspaper reporter himself an All Ireland
champion, Eamon Horan recalls. “It was never so much winning that mattered
uppermost to Paddy, competing counted most of all, and competing in a manner
that upheld the principles of good sportsmanship and fair play to your
opponent(s) no matter what the occasion was. In this respect Paddy was a
shining example to friend and foe alike, one remembers championship matches
against men of the calibre of the late Joe Bergin in which the younger Tralee
man was frequently to be seen going out of his way to collect the ball when out
of play and hand it to his opponent. Rarely will one see this happen ,
especially in a championship match, in this aspect of sport Paddy stood head and
shoulders above most, and lets not forget that he was equally great at both
softball and hardball, an aspect of the game at which very few men excelled.”

While the name Paddy Downey is spoken of in awe and great respect whenever
handball is discussed he himself always recalls the names of two other great
Tralee men who dominated the game long before his time , and left a wonderful
legacy to Paddy and others of his and later generations. The handball club in
Tralee in named in honour of two of the finest exponents the game has ever seen,
The Fitzgerald Jones Handball Club. Indeed Fr. Tom Jones is acknowledge as the
greatest exponent the game has ever known. He was Irish professional champion
for many years and were it not for retiring to follow his priestly duties would
automatically have aspired to the world championship.

On retiring he conferred his title upon fellow Tralee man Jim Fitzgerald,
saying, “ he was the only player in Ireland capable of extending me.” In fact
Fitzgerald went on to win the world title in 1897.

Paddy Downey retired from active competition in 1964, and he continued to
devote most of his energies to re-organising the game in the county. He became
one of the key men in the drive which resulted in two 40x20 alleys going up in
the sports complex in Tralee. Thousands of words have been written about this
exemplary ambassador of Kerry sport, many honours have been bestowed on him in
the intervening years, however behind the fame, the glory, the 19 All Irelands
titles and the host of other awards is one of the most humble, unassuming and
kind of men. Affable and gentle as an individual, skilful, sporting and
ambidextrous as a handballed, the name Paddy Downey will forever rank high on
the list of The Kingdoms greatest sporting sons.

It was a privilege to have known him.

DEATH OF A KERY FOOTBALLER CON CLIFFORD
BY WEESHIE FOGARTY FEB 06

Returning from a foreign holiday last Sunday week as we nosed our car out of the
Shannon Airport car park my mobile hummed into life. It had been switched off
and out of work for the preceding two weeks so news from home had not filtered
through. One of our daughters was on the line, the usual chit chat. Welcome
home, where are you now, and what time will you be in Killarney,etc. Then the
bolt from the blue, the devastating news. Con Clifford had died suddenly while
ye were away. I stopped the car, “what Con Clifford are you talking about”,
surly I thought not our Con Clifford, not my great life long friend. Not Con
Clifford the sports mad Dr. Crokes man, one of the fittest men for his age that
I was privileged to know. “Yes” said Carol Ann “Con Clifford is dead”.

His face flashed before me, that smiling soft happy face with the twinkling eyes
and the head of graying hair. Quite spoken, gentle, compassionate, careing,
happy and never one to seek the lime light. We had been close friends since our
boyhood days in old Killarney of the fifties and sixties and despite being on
opposite sides of the track, Con Dr. Crokes and I The Legion never once did it
interfere with our relationship. We had opposed each other in East Kerry minor
and senior finals on many occasions. We had played county championship football
together in the very early sixties when there was one Killarney football team.
We had played with and against each other in the now demolished Old Town Hall in
the halycon days of Killarney basketball. Con with the Crusaders and the
Battleships and I with the Panaslippers,The Rockets, and The Busbybabes and
other teams with exquisite names unheard of in to-days world of sponsorship and
near professionalism.

Before he died so suddenly he was one of the youngest 67 years old I knew and
while he was just a couple of years older than me he was in many was a role
model to me as we grew up around the streets of Killarney. Sport was always his
life and I have vivid memories of Con working in his fathers shop, The Reeks, in
College St as a young boy. We would congregate there in the late evenings
following a basketball match, unorganized training or just to while away the
time. Cons father Dicko was a legendary GAA figure and had played junior and
senior football for Kerry and later became a first class referee as well as
serving his club in many capacities. So Cons great interests in sport was
inevitable. His mother Ann was a lovely quiet lady and generally as far as I can
recall worked behind the scenes.

Bags of chips were a great delicacy in those long off days and The Reeks served
the best available, a bag of chips, laced with vinegar and salt washed down with
a glass of milk served by Con his dad or first cousin Con o Mara, RIP was the
big treat. Sport would be discussed at one of the tables in the shop and it was
the gathering place for one and all. Con was the first person I knew who became
passionate about English soccer and at that time The Busbybabes, that great
Manchester Unite team many of whom would later perish in the terrible Munich air
crash were dominant. Saturday was a special day and if you dropped into The
Reeks one of the Con’s would have tuned in to the BBC Sports Report, 5-6 pm. All
the days’ results were available here. No Sky, no TV just Radio. Duncan Edwards
was Cons hero, the legendary Manchester United player was built like a tank, as
was Con and during the week as I chatted to Cons exemplary brother Richard he
fully confirmed to me that his brother adored Edwards. The only soccer magazine
on sale in Kerry at that time was, “Charles Buchams Football Monthly” and you
could always rely on Con to have the latest edition.

It was the ere of the notorious ban. If you were caught playing that dangerous
degrading foreign game soccer, you were suspended from the GAA. and branded a
traitor to you country Nevertheless I have vivid memories of Con organizing
soccer games every Sunday in the market field opposite the Friary, or in the
Fitzgerald Stadium. Seanie Doolan and his brother Dermie provided the ball and
lads like Lui Nolan and Mick o Sullivan and others were the pioneers of soccer
in Killarney during the fifties. The soccer match in the Stadium would become a
GAA match in the twinkle of an eye when the rattle of the entrance gate heralded
the approaching caretaker the late Tom Brosnan.

Con Clifford was an outstanding footballer and indeed even he himself often
remarked to me that if he had that extra little bit of cutting he would have
become a great footballer. His first appeared on to the scene around 1955
helping the local Technical school to win the county championship. Two years
later I was in goal for The Legion as inspired by Con at mid field The Crokes
beat us in the East Kerry minor final, 2-4 to 1-3. Brian Moroney and Timmy
Looney goaled for the winners that day and Mike Neeson, John McCarthy and
Michael Greaney were also to the fore. But Con was the dominant elegant player
on view. The late Paul o Sullivan was the referee that day.

He was quickly spotted by the Kerry minor selectors and starring at centre back
in 1957 he played a major part as Kerry advanced to the All Ireland semi final
where they faced Armagh.. In torrential rain the cruelest of luck prevented
Kerry winning and two very dubious free near the end with the scores level saw
Armagh through, 3-7 to 3-5. Some of Cons team mates that day included Lui Nolan,
Mick o Sullivan and Austin McMahon from the Killarney clubs together with, Ollie
Kerins, Dave Geaney, Pat Dowling, Pa Kerins, Bernie o Callaghan and Jimmy
Hegarty who were best. Eamon Moules of Wicklow was the referee. One match report
recorded. “Also outstanding for Kerry was the stylist Con Clifford at centre
back whose outstanding fielding and blocking halted many an Armagh attack”.

Con added a Munster Junior medal in 1961 to his minor award lining out in his
favorite position at centre back. Once again defeat was his lot as Louth proved
too good in the Semi-final, 2-7 to 1-8. Kerry names with Con that day forty five
years ago included, John Dalton, Freddie Lynch. Tony Guerin, Tim Sheehan, Teddy
Dowd, Con o Riordan, John Heaphy and Brian Sheehy. He spent a number of years in
the Garda Siochanna stationed in Cork City and Mallow and due to his brilliance
displays with the Garda in the county championship he was called into the Cork
senior panel playing one game against Kildare. The Kerry selectors were quick to
add him to the county panel as they feared losing him to Cork. He played league
and tournament for the Kingdom and I have vivid memories of him kicking around
as a sub. in a Munster senior final in the old Athletic Grounds in Cork. His
heart however I believe was not in the county scene as it was with his beloved
Dr. Crokes and what a career he had with them.

As a sixteen year old he went straight into the Croke senior team and went on to
win an astonishing ten O Donoghue Cup medals. Mid field was his position in most
of these finals and again as I was in opposition to him in seven of these finals
I can see still see him in the minds eye displaying his wonderful physique,
spectacular fielding and long kicking. As always and this I remember most of all
his diligent attention to fitness ensured he could withstand the demanding role
of a midfielder in the vast Fitzgerald Stadiom right up to the end of his
career. He also opposed and matched the best in the county as his club pursued
the county championship. The Sneem seven-a-side football tournaments were the
huge attraction in the early sixties and Con loved these, once again we opposed
each other there and he, always immaculately togged out would prove a great
attraction as he ranged the field from end to end. He was a credit to Kerry and
served the Green and Gold with dignity and great distinction. He may not have
won a host of All Ireland medals and did not grace Croke Park on All Ireland
Final day but Con Clifford has left his own wonderful legacy to his county.

He loved the fitness centre of the Gleneagle Hotel and it was there that I would
meet him on a regular basis. Always a joy to chat with as we togged off, I
following a leisurely swim and Con after his daily work out. Only one topic
would be discussed, the big wide world of sport. He had become a squash
enththusiast and encouraged the late great Maurice o Donoghue to form the
Gleneagle Squash Club. He became its first chairman. He had spent thirty years
as an ambulance driver attached to Killarney Community Hospital. He retired in
January 2005. His gentleness, diligence, caring attitude and easy going nature
made him the ideal person in dealing with his patients and as his wife Eileen
told me, “he was so happy in his job, he loved it”.

Retirement was suiting him down to the ground. Working in the garden at home,
then off to the Gleneagle, then home to his first love, his family, where a bit
of Spanish soccer on the box would be watched. The stylish Spanish players were
his favorite as his exemplary son Richard remarked to me. Con was to me one of
the very first great stylist I had seen he was in that respect well ahead of his
time. Paddy Culligan, footballer and basketballer was another, both grew up in
the Killarney of the fifties.

He had recently moved to live in Fossa and had joined the Dunloe Golf Club and
was looking forward so much to this great game having recently joined the Dr.
Crokes Golf Society.

As we move through life if we are fortunate we might meet and befriend a person
or persons who enrich our lives by simply being a friend. Someone who you are
happy to meet and who you leave feeling in the better. For me Con Clifford was
one of these people, I had known and admired him since those glorious young
carefree sporting days of our youth. Not being present at his funeral hurt. He
was simply a nice person.

To his heartbroken wife Eileen, Brother Richard, sons Richard and young Con,
daughters Annett and Lynda, sons and daughter in law and his beloved eight
grandchildren we extend our deepest sympathy. May the sod of beautiful Aghadoe
rest lightly on you Con.

Note:
Next Wednesday 6-7 pm on my" In Conversation with " programme on Radio Kerry I talk to Mary Hand of Dingle

. An extrardinary young lady 23 year old Mary is awaiting a call to Newcastle hospital in England for a double lung transplant operation. She suffers from cystic fibrosis and her story is one of courage determination and hope.

Remember her in your prayers,
we all should be willing to give a "Life" to those who need it by carrying a "DONOR CARD".. It would be nice to live on and give a part of ourselves to someone who deserves a fair chance of a life that most of us take for granted, when out time is through.

Stadium stewards sent back to school to earn their bibs


The GAA now requires its Croke Park stewards to be certified before receiving their luminous bibs.

Ever looked at a steward's luminous jacket, thought about how they get to watch big matches for free and figured 'I could do that! Just give me a bib'? Well, from now on a bib will not be enough.

Only those who have passed a certified 'stadium steward's' course will be able to man the barricades at Croke Park in future as the increasingly professional GAA takes 'maor-ing' to new levels.

The GAA has joined forces with the IRFU and the FAI to produce a formal course to certify all volunteers who wear the stewards' bibs on big match days.

The course for 'sports stadium stewards' is being run by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) in Killester College, Dublin and also covers race-course officials.

The first block of 26 graduates - 70% from the GAA - will receive their historic certs from no less than the Taoiseach in Croke Park next Monday.

Many of them have been stewarding for years and all existing Croke Park 'maors' will have to complete the course, which Connacht Council is also keen to start.

Croke Park's Match Day Event Controller Seamus Ó Mídheach said it is not because of insurance or increased safety worries.

"Our stewarding needs have just changed radically in recent years," he said. "We now have matches on Saturdays and Sunday, much bigger attendances and new facilities, all of which make more demands on numbers and our customer care."

The certificate involves two days of lectures, a written exam and subsequent assessment at three separate matches before you get the bib. Fire safety, crowd behaviour and customer service are the major areas studied.

Ó Mídheach said Croke Park does not only take volunteers from Dublin clubs but also uses stewards from Laois and a group of 35 from Ulster once their championship is over.

Croke Park also employs a professional security company but uses up to 400 voluntary stewards on big match days And in this new hi-tech age, smart cards and mobile phones are a vital part of their equipment.

They get a text on the Tuesday before a match asking them to confirm their availability and once this is established their personalised smart-cards are activated to allow them entry for that specific date, clocking in at 10.30am for a 2.30pm game. Ó Mídheach stresses that, contrary to the accepted myth, voluntary stewards are not paid.

"They do not get a penny. All they get is a cup of tea and a sandwich and only in the last year have they been given a match programme," he said. "Actually the most common question I am asked is 'why would you want to do it?'"

Allianz NFL Division 1A previews

Dublin meet Offaly on Saturday evening, while the three other matches in the NFL Division 1A take place on Sunday. Patrick Kennedy previews each match here.

Allianz NFL Division 1A

Dublin v Offaly, Parnell Park, Saturday, 7.45pm.

Offaly need a win at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon to give themselves a chance of making it to the knockout stages of the competition.

Unfortunately for them they face a Dublin side that has been left reeling in the aftermath of the incidents at Omagh and the surprise defeat at the hands of Monaghan two weeks ago.

Offaly need to win the midfield battle to give themselves any chance of victory but it is doubtful that they will be able for a determined side from the capital.

Conal Keaney returns to the Dublin line-up and should make up for the absence of Alan Brogan in the Dublin forward line. Likewise Darren Magee should alleviate the loss of Ciarán Whelan in their engine room. Dublin should run out winners by four or five points.

Verdict: Dublin

Monaghan v Mayo, Clontibret, Sunday, 2.30pm.

Mayo have been the most impressive side in the early exchanges of this year's NHL. Mickey Moran seems to have transformed them into a very impressive unit, with less of an emphasis on individual flair.

Monaghan have had a mixed start to their campaign. They lost the first day, in a game they should have won, against Fermanagh before demolishing Dublin in Parnell Park.

If the men from the north can prevent Mayo from halting the influence of Tomas Freeman they should hold out for a vital win in Clontibret.

Verdict: Monaghan

Kerry v Fermanagh, Killarney, Sunday, 2.30pm.

Jack O'Connor has named a side that looks good enough to start an All-Ireland final, rather than take on Fermanagh at the start of March. Despite an opening day loss to Mayo his side are lying in third place in Division 1A

Fermanagh can look to the games against other sides if they hope to maintain their status in the top flight.

It's very unlikely that the Ernesiders will get much change from the Kingdom and they may well have to engage in damage limitation before the end of the first half.

Verdict: Kerry

Kerry Team:

Kieran Cremin (Dr. Crokes) ; Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Michael McCarthy (Kilcummin), Tom O'Sullivan (Rathmore) ; Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Aidan O'Mahony (Rathmore), Mossie Lyons (Castleisland Desmonds) ;
Darragh Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks) ;
Paddy Kelly (Ballylongford), Eamonn Fitzmaurice (Finuge), Eoin Brosnan (Dr. Crokes) ; Colm Cooper (Dr. Crokes), Declan O'Sullivan (Capt) (Dromid Pearses),
Mike Frank Russell (Laune Rangers)

Subs:
Diarmuid Murphy (Dingle), Ronan O'Connor (St. Michaels/Foilmore),
Adrian O'Connell (St. Michael's/Foilmore), Tommy Griffin (Dingle), Sean O'Sullivan (Cromane), Aodán Mac Gearailt (An Ghaeltacht), Brian Hickey (Skellig Rangers), Adrian O'Connor (Glenbeigh/Glencar), Seamie Foley (Laune Rangers), Ronan Hussey (Sneem)

MUNSTER COACHING CONFERENCE

A coaching conference aimed at coaches of juvenile teams will be held at Cork Institute of Technology on Saturday March 11th form 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. The theme of the conference is “Putting Best Practice to Use.” The cost is €50 per person including lunch and Coaching Pack. Application forms are available at the County Board Office, Austin Stack Park, Tralee.

This conference will give coaches, managers, mentors, teachers and volunteers the opportunity to see and hear at first hand the best practice methods. A host of relevant and varied topics on the development of Gaelic Games into the future will be dealt with. Among the topics will be the physical demands on young people and getting the balance right, advanced football and hurling drills, development of individual and team defensive and attacking play in both football and hurling, club development, understanding the underage player.

The conference provides an ideal opportunity for the GAA to showcase the work that is currently being undertaken in the areas of Coaching and Games Development. More importantly it will enable coaches and mentors to network and at the same time, meet a number of outstanding coaches.

Young people demand coaches to challenge them to reach heir full potential. Player development now requires the understanding and recognition of the physical and psychology demands on young people as well as the ability to improve the technical skills and tactical awareness of players.

Kerry snowman springs to life

By: Kieran McCarthy courtesy of "The Kingdom".

WHEN Kerry’s first ever Winter Olympian, Thos Foley finished in 31st position in the men’s Alpine giant slalom in Turin, it froze his name into the county’s sporting history. KIERAN McCARTHY spoke to the 26-year-old Kenmare native about his great adventure and his hopes and ambitions for the future.

AFTER 17 days of mesmerising action, the Winter Olympics in Turin reached a thrilling crescendo last Sunday with a dramatic the closing ceremony.

Amidst a fanfare of colour, noise and fireworks the 20th Winter Olympics shut its doors, packed its bags and headed west across the Atlantic where it will set up camp in Vancouver for the next instalment in four years’ time.

But last Sunday’s fanfare in the picturesque northern Italian resort was a bittersweet moment for Kenmare’s Thos Foley. Bitter because it brought an end to his first Olympic voyage and sweet because Foley skied his name into the annals of sporting history as the first Kerry man to compete in the Winter Olympics.

And if that wasn’t reason enough to celebrate the 26-year-old surpassed all expectations - including his own - as he finished 31st in the men’s Alpine giant slalom competition in a field of 82 competitors spanning 47 countries across the globe.

Considering that Kerry is a county far more renowned for its footballers than its skiers, Foley’s achievements are all the more incredible.

Besides a light sprinkling of white dust on mountain peaks during the chilly depths of winter or the odd white Christmas, snow is alien to the county. The mere mention of even the slight-est possibility of snow sees adults reach for the gloves and woolly hats while kids argue over a carrot or stone nose would be best suited to the expectant snow-man. But despite all the obvious barriers - like the profound lack of snow - it still hasn’t stop Foley cutting the mustard with the Benjamin Raichs of the world as the latter won the gold piazza-shaped medal in the giant slalom.

And while some may scoff at the thought of an Irish team competing in the Winter Olympics, the country can indulge in a moment of romancing over past conquests with the snow and the ice.

Little do people realise but an Irish man has won gold at the Winter Olympics and that was 42 years ago in the Austrian town of Innsbruck but bobsleigher Robin Dixon was competing for Great Britain not Ireland. But at least it shows that it can be done.

While only four years ago in Salt Lake City, Galway’s Lord Clifton Wrottesley finished in an incredible fourth place in the skeleton competition, just hundreths of a second away from the country’s first ever medal at the games.

And though the first outright Irish medal is still proving illusive, the four-person Irish team that competed in Turin all travelled in hope with realistic expectations.

With a quality not quantity mantra now adopted by the Irish Olympic Council in both the summer and winter Olympics, Thos Foley along with Wicklow’s Davis Connolly, Kirsty McGarry from Dublin and Cork’s Rory Morrish made up the Irish quartet.

And it was another amazing chapter in Foley’s skiing career that saw him fall in love with the snow 16 years ago when he was on a family holiday in Saalbach, Austria.

Bitten by the skiing bug Foley, then a teenager, made his way to Chatel in France where he was coached by Ian and Jane McGarry in their ski school and as his school years were coming to an end, decision time was looming for the Kenmare native.

Foley had toyed with football as he had played GAA from under-15 to minor level while he also indulged in rugby while in Castleknock College in Dublin but the snow always appealed to him.

And after his final year in secondary school Foley headed south to Wanaka in New Zealand where he skied for the summer. It was that three months in the southern-hemisphere that made Foley decide that skiing was his first love.

Soon after, the Kerry man was granted his Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) licence at a Ski Club of Ireland training camp and he competed in his first downhill race at the British Championships in France in 1999. He has been competing with the best in the world ever since.

Foley upped base and moved to Verbier in Switzerland shortly after and he has lived there ever since, while travelling to competitions worldwide.

Unlike the land of fairytales, life has had its ups and downs as Foley struggled to make an impact in the world of giant slalom. But driven by such disappointments like missing out on Salt Lake City in 2004, nothing man-made or otherwise was going to stop him from representing Ireland in Turin’s Winter Olympics.

The Irish Olympic team was officially announced in late January and Thos Foley’s name was there. He was about to engage in his boyhood dream and compete in the Winter Olympics.

And the enormity of the self proclaimed biggest who in the world dawned on Foley when he arrived in the Olympic Stadium in Turin where two billion people tune in for the game’s opening ceremony on Friday, February 10'th.

Based in the Sestriera Olympic village, 100 km away from Turin where his event, the giant slalom, took place on Mount Sises, Foley enjoyed VIP treatment from the moment he arrived in Italy.

“Arriving in the Olympic village was an amazing moment for me and it set the tone for my stay in the resort in Sestriera really,” he told The Kingdom. “Where we were was around an hour and a half from the main resort in Turin where the opening ceremony was held and we travelled to that with a police escort a few hours before it was due to begin.

“When we arrived in Turin we were brought to one of the main hockey rings where the ceremony was to take place and it that’s where I met all the other athletes from all the other countries. It was a pretty surreal moment,” the 26-year-old said, “And I think that’s where it hit me really. When we were paraded in front of the cheering crowds I just realised that I was an Olympic athlete and how important that was - it was just amazing,” “For those few moments the whole world is gazing at you and it’s a quite an incredible feeling,” he added.

When the razzmatazz of the opening ceremony subsided, Foley headed to Austria where he continued his preparation for the games along with three other skiers.
Aided by an Austrian coach, Foley was able to tweak and perfect his technique in an effort to gain every possible advantage when competition day finally arrived.

Days before the event the Kerry man along with his long-term travelling friend, Angus Morrison, returned to Sestriera where Foley was getting into event mode and his concentration levels were heightening.

“After the opening ceremony in headed back to Austria where I kept training with three other guys. It was a very professional set-up we had and it really set me up for the games,” Foley said. “Each day we got in hours of solid training. We did timed runs and had video analysis so we were able to chart our progress and see what part we were doing well in and what parts were letting us down.

“I came back to the Olympic Village with my good friend Angus Morrison a few days before my event and he was a massive help to me.

“Being the Olympics, there was a lot more involved than just another race meet and Angus looked after the security checks and all things like that so I could just concentrate on skiing,” Kerry’s first ever Winter Olympian added.

Apart from competing one of the main highlights for athletes is staying in an Olympic village. With a litany of contrasting cultures many friendships are born in such resorts and Foley loved every minute of his two-week stay in Sestriera.
“Life in the Olympic Village was very casual and it was just really cool to meet athletes from all other winter sports that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
“I met the other Irish athletes there and it’s great to have met guys like David (Connolly) and Rory (Morrish). Like I said my sport wouldn’t have brought me in contact with them before.

“All the Alpine skiers were staying in Sestriera like the bob-sleighers, the cross country skiers, everyone like that. The village itself was perfect,” Foley added. Once Foley had settled into life in the village, his thoughts turned towards the event.

Even though he was content with his preparations the natural butterflies-in the-stomach syndrome duly arrived but once the giant slalom competitors got a free ski down the actual event piste in Mount Sises, Foley’s fear diminished somewhat.

“I was pretty nervous in the days leading up to the event but it was more of an anxious feeling when you’re not sure what’s going to happen.

“But after all the weeks of training that I had in Austria I felt that I was prepared and the day before the event - Sunday, February 19 - we got a free ski down the piste where the grand slalom was on so that helped ease the butterflies a bit.
“I got a feel for the piste and the one thing that hit me was how steep and icy it was but at least I knew what I was facing,” he said.

And so to the day of the event - Sunday, February 20 - and a lifetime’s work coming down to just 90 seconds between a man, his skis and a snow-covered mountain. Bearing the number 70, Foley waited his turn as he stared down the huge steep incline of Mount Sises before the first of his two runs. Conditions were favourable on the day but he still suffered from a bout of the nerves.

Cheered on by travelling supporters in the large crowd, including his girlfriend and son and his parents who has travelled over from Ken-mare, Foley knew that it was a case of now or never.

But once his skis and the snow made contact everything else blurred towards the background and Foley sped down the challenging and steep course to finish in a time of 1 minute 28.28 seconds. Good enough for 35th place but there was still a second run to come And while his time may have been slightly slower, 1 minute 29.14 seconds, Foley jumped four places to finish in 31st place, just 22 seconds adrift of Austrian winner Benjamin Raich.

“On the actually day of the event I felt a different type of nervousness before my first run but once you get up there and get mentally prepared for what’s ahead everything else just disappears,” Foley said, “and once you start skiing you just forget about everything - all you care about is the next 90 seconds and you just try and do you best.

“For the second run then I was a lot more relaxed but it was such a challenging course you always have to be fully focused. And thankfully everything went well on both runs and I am delighted with how I performed”.

Speaking from his base in Italy, Foley was delighted with his performance as he surpassed all expectations.n“Before the Olympics I had people asking me how did I think I would do and I really thought that I would have been in between the top 40 and 50 bracket. I never thought that I would finish 31st in the Olympics,” he said. “It just shows that anything can happen and I am pretty happy with my finish considering some of the big name guys who were expected to do well finished just ahead of me.

“And when you consider my background compared to others it just shows how well I’ve done. Most of the other skiers have a background in skiing but I never had that so that puts my result into perspective,” he added.

Now that the Olympics have closed their doors for the next four years, Foley will return to everyday life and top of his agenda will be spending more time with his girlfriend Sophie and their 18-month-old son, Liam, as preparation for the Olympics have kept them apart.

And after that Foley will hope to be the beneficiary of some welcome funding that may help him realise his ambition of becoming the best in the world.

“For the next few weeks I am just going to spend some time with Sophie and Liam because I haven’t seen them too much in the build-up to the Olympics. We have been apart a lot so it will be nice to spend time together as a family,” he said.

“While on the skiing front I have to wait and see what happens because money is low and I do need funding to do well in the future. “I hope I will receive some funding now because I believe that I have given people a glimpse of my potential and I feel that I can get better. If I keep progressing like I am now then it will be interesting to see what the future has in store for me,” he added.

Winter Olympics Facts and Figures

84 gold medals were given over a period of 17 days.

2,600 athletes and 2,500 officials from over 80 national Olympic committees were housed in three Olympic Villages - Torino, Bardonecchia and Sestriere.

Athletes competed in seven sports:
biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice-hockey, luge, skating and skiing.

There were eight competition sites: Bardonecchia, Pinerolo, Pragelato, Cesana-Pariol, Cesana-San Sicario, Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere, Torino, joined by two training centres at Claviere and Torre Pellice.

650 judges and referees participated in the Games, and 10,000 journalists and media opera-tors covered the Games.