Sam Laps it up on Lap of Honour

The importance of the Sam Maguire Cup to the culture and history of their county is not lost on these pupils of Gael Scoil Aogáin as Charlie Nelligan brings the famous trophy to the Castleisland School on Wednesday. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Gaelscoil Aogáin Rang 3 le Sam agus Cathal Ó Niallagáin i rith cúirt an corn cáilíul go dtí an scoil ar maidin Dé Céadaoin. ©Griangraf: Seán Ó Riada

College Road resident, Kathleen Myers was on her way home with her morning’s shopping when she bumped into the Sam Maguire Cup during the Castleisland tour on Wednesday: ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sam on Tour: Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club Chairman, Jimmy O’Connell and former Kerry goalkeeper, Charlie Nelligan heading for Gaelscoil Aogáin during the visit of the Sam Maguire Cup to Castleisland on Wednesday. ©Photograph: John Reidy

On tour with Sam Maguire at Gaelscoil Aogáin in Castleisland on Ash Wednesday were from left: Michael Burke, Charlie Nelligan, jimmy O’Connell, James Lyons and Steve Curtin. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Yound Pádraig Curtin shows his appreciation for the visit of the Sam Maguire Cup to Gaelscoil Aogáin in Castleisland on Wednesday. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Guests, management and staff pictured at Castleisland Day Care Centre during the visit of the Sam Maguire Cup on Wednesday. Included are, seated: Donal Nelligan, Marie Cronin, Monsignor Dan O’Riordan, Marcelle Finn, nurse/manager; Monica Prendiville and Charlie Nelligan. back row from left: Helen Greensmyth, Mag Lenihan, Sheila McGuire, Rita McCarthy, Mary O’Sullivan, Eileen Cronin, Noreen O’Sullivan, Eileen Murphy and Noreen Geaney. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Former Kerry goalkeeper Charlie Nelligan and the Sam Maguire Cup are mobbed by fans at Gaelscoil Aogáin in Castleisland on Wednesday. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Castleisland Day Care Centre staff member, Rita McCarthy (left) pictured with Eileen and Tim O’Callaghan, Firies and Marcella Finn, nurse/manager during the visit of the Sam Maguire Cup on Wednesday. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Castleisland Day Care Centre staff members and clients pictured during the visit of the Sam Maguire Cup on Wednesday. Included are: Michael Lenihan, Michael McAuliffe, Eileen Daly and Marie Cronin. Back from left: Helen Greensmyth, Noreen O’Sullivan, Mag Lenihan, Barry O’Mahony, Mary O’Sullivan, Eileen Cronin and Eileen Murphy. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Waiting for Sam: Castleisland Day Care Centre staff members pictured during the visit of the Sam Maguire Cup on Wednesday. Included are from left: Marie Cronin, Helen Greensmyth, Mary O’Sullivan, Eileen Cronin, Mag Lenihan and Eileen Murphy. ©Photograph: John Reidy

It was Castleisland’s turn on Wednesday to applaud and welcome the Sam Maguire Cup on its lap of honour throughout the county and Kerry associations in various parts of the world.

Desmonds GAA Club members accompanied the famous trophy and members of the all conquering ladies club brought their considerable haul of silverware along.

Club official, Colm Kirwan was on the tour and he sent the following account of Sam’s encounters along the way:

When Jimmy O Connell, chairman of Desmonds GAA Club entered the hall in Scoil Ide Curranes on Tuesday, holding the Sam Maguire cup aloft, there was a spontaneous eruption of cheering and clapping. The sense of celebration and joy was greatly increased by the presence of five of the Desmonds Ladies team which had such a hugely successful season in 2014. They brought with them the All Ireland, Munster and county Intermediate championship cups as well as those of the Kerry Senior championship and league. The excitement wasn’t confined to the young scholars as staff and parents joined in the spirit of the occasion and it was lovely to see Terence McQuinn, a Desmonds star in his day and a former principal of the school in attendance.

The reception in Scoil Mhuire gan Smal was no less enthuastic where the visiting party and the cups were given a rousing reception.  Eager young hands reached out to touch or hold the cups and to have the mandatory photo taken with Stephanie and Andrea Murphy, Rachael Cronin, Eilish Lynch and Kayla O Connor who represented the ladies team. .  Desmonds appreciate the effort made by the staff in all the schools for organising the event in such a professional manner.

The Ladies then travelled to Kilmurry NS and Sam went to the Castleisland Day Care Centre.  It made all the effort so worthwhile to see such a large,  vibrant, youthful group of our senior citizens in such good form.  James Lyons senior was a proud man to see his grandson James hold the cup aloft.  It was wonderful to see the centre so richly and tastefully decorated for the occasion.  Everyone was given the opportunity to hold and be photographed with Sam  and they look forward to giving the Ladies team an equally warm reception in the future.

The day concluded in Scoil Aogain.  Charlie Nelligan, who had accompanied the group during the morning, received a special welcome as he brought in the cup. One wag remarked that Charlie was treated like a ‘pop star’ as he autographed Kerry and club jerseys.  The girls, some of them former pupils, received a special warm welcome from the staff and it was obvious from the warmth of the greeting from the pupils of today that they had found new heroes.

Sam and the ladies will return with a few week to visit the schools that were closed for the mid term break.