Trice Blessed: Fr. Seán Horgan, Monsignor Dan O’Riordan and Canon Denis O’Mahony giving their blessings at the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Jimmy Deenihan, TD., Minister for the Diaspora speaking at the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Magic moment: Aogán Ó Fearghail, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael cuts the blue and gold tapes in the presence of club members and visiting dignitaries at the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Killorglin and District Pipe Band big-drummer Tommy McGillycuddy preparing for the parade of the Cordal and Firies teams at the re-opening of the Cordal GAA Club Grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph:John Reidy
Killorglin and District Pipe Band members: Dearbhala Brennan, Elaine McGillycuddy and Pat Pigott about to strike up for the parade of the Cordal and Firies teams at the re-opening of the Cordal GAA Club Grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph:John Reidy
Cordal GAA Club officials, Bríd Wrenn, treasurer (left) and Nora Fealey, PRO pictured in club colours at the re-opening of their grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Jimmy Deenihan, TD., Minister for the Diaspora making a point at the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Photographers galore as Aogán Ó Fearghail, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael prepares to perform the re-open ceremony at Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Cordal GAA Club members on their greatest day: Diarmuid ‘Domo’ Ciardubháin, Bríd Wrenn, Charlie Farrelly, Richard O’Donoghue and Tom Wrenn at the re-opening of their club grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Cordal GAA Club assistant secretary, Jimmy Roche making a presentation to Aogán Ó Fearghail, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael and his wife Frances in the presence of: club officers: Richard O’Donoghue, Charlie Farrelly and Diarmuid ‘Domo’ Ó Ciardubháin, Seán Kelly, MEP; Jimmy Deenihan, TD Minister for the Diaspora, and Tom Wrenn, chairman of Cordal GAA Club at the reopening ceremony on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
An outbreak of political ecumenism in Cordal on Sunday as Michael Healy Rae, TD and Cllr. Danny Healy Rae link up with Cllr. Bobby O’Connell with: Paudie Dineen, assistant treasurer Kerry County Board and Cllr. John Joe Culloty, Mayor of Killarney at the re-opening of the Cordal GAA Club grounds. ©Photograph: John Reidy
A proud moment for Cordal GAA Club PRO, Nora Fealey (left) as Charlie Farrelly presents her framed photograph of the re-opened field and facilities to Frances Farrell with her husband, Aogán Ó Fearghail, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael in the presence of: Seán Kelly, MEP and Tom Wrenn, Chairman Cordal GAA Club at the reopening ceremony on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Cordal GAA Club treasurer, Bríd Wrenn delivering her cupla focal in the presence of: Fr. Seán Horgan, Monsignor Dan O’Riordan and Canon Denis O’Mahony at the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon ©Photograph: John Reidy
Seán Kelly, MEP and iar-Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael addressing the gathering at the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The front bench: At the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon were: Frances Farrell, Seán Kelly, MEP and iar-Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael; Aogán Ó Fearghail, Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Jimmy Deenihan, TD., Minister for the Diaspora; Cllr. John Brassil, Mayor of Kerry; Eamonn O’Sullivan, former county board and Munster council PRO and Diarmuid Ó Sé, Kerry County Board vice chairman. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Young Cordal GAA Club stars of the future getting on with their games while the adults do their stuff in the background at the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon. Included are: Danny Murphy, Jamie Nolan, Rachel O’Donoghue, Laura O’Donoghue and Shane O’Connell. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Aogán Ó Fearghail, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael speaking at the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon ©Photograph: John Reidy
Uachtarán Chumann Luachclais Gael; Aogán Ó Fearghail pictured at the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon with the re-opening day match officials. Included are: Referee, Seamus Mulvihill, St. Senan’s GAA Club; Umpires: David O’Brien, Listowel (left); Seán T. O’Connell, Rathea; Linesmen: Eddie Barrett, Knocknagoshel and Eamonn Moran, Ballydonoghue; Enda Murphy, Clounmacon and Mike McKenna, Finuge. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The Cordal senior football team which played Firies in the historic Credit Union County League game at the re-opening of the club’s grounds at Páirc na gCúlach on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The Firies senior football team which played Cordal in the historic Credit Union County League game at the re-opening of the Cordal GAA Club grounds at Páirc na gCúlach on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
A little aural competition from a Ryanair flight as Kerry County Board vice chairman delivers his speech at the re-opening of Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
It was nearly all about weather in Cordal on Sunday and the Cordal Spring of 2013 was mentioned several times – as was the blessed day that was in it . That wet spring of a couple of years ago resulted in the local GAA grounds being branded ‘The Wettest pitch in Ireland.’
Whether that was true or not at the time is irrelevant – it’s a fact now. It even tripped off the tongues of people like: Diaspora Minister, Jimmy Deenihan,TD; Seán Kelly, MEP and former Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and even the present Uachtarán Aogán O’Fearghail had it – chapter and verse.
It was an O’Donoghue production through and true. The Wettest Pitch in Ireland Youtube sensation was filmed by Richard O’Donoghue on a phone belonging to his cousin, James O’Donoghue – just for the record and the royalties.
Sunday was a day of dignitaries in Cordal as the leading lights of the GAA locally and nationally and their political counterparts sat and stood side-by-side on the lovingly rescued sod of the focal point of life in the community. It was all about The Field.
If pride is a sin, then the confessionals in Cordal should be in overdrive for the foreseeable future. However this is a forgivable kind of pride and one that doesn’t boil down to a narrow base of benefit. It’s a community-wide facility and a gift for generations to come. There was pride in Cordal GAA Club on Sunday and it showed.
They were told how determined and good and how amazingly civic and community spirited they were get the place back from the brink of such a disastrous point in 2013.
While the adults spoke and had photographs taken to mark the occasion, children – flocks of children with blue and gold jerseys were kicking balls around the sides of the field.
Their play stopped and they looked up in sheer admiration as their local heroes were led out of the dressing rooms by Big D’s nephew, Daniel O’Connor and Seán Óg Ó Ciardubháin and Philip O’Connor and all the blue and gold brigade. It was a great day in Cordal.
The story of how it got from there to this will be a fascinating one when it’s all told. With the words of encouragement and praise from their distinguished visitors ringing in their ears, Cordal GAA Club members – of all ages and abilities are well entitled to feel proud and to take that bow.
On the weeks of preparation and all the work that went into the day behind-the-scenes, PRO Nora Fealey said that of all the undertakings the club had ever embarked on this was by far the greatest for the club and community.
“It was an unbelievable experience from start to finish and I think the club and the community here in Cordal will be much the better for it.”
“I think we’re lucky in that we were able to strike a chord with the GAA presidents and the politicians. They are all from small clubs like ours and they understand our situation and we’re very thankful to all of them for making the day what it was,” said Nora.
Nora had a particularly pleasing moment in the run-up to Sunday’s official opening as club secretary, Richard O’Donoghue announced that a glass-framed photograph of the restored grounds and facilities – taken by Nora – was to be presented to Frances Farrell the wife of the GAA President Aogán.
For the benefit of the Cordal diaspora there’s a website where you can keep in touch and it’s: www.cordalgaa.com
