Desmonds to Drive on with New Strip from Divanes

At the Divanes Castleisland presentation of the new strip to Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club were front from left: Paul Langston and Stan Divane, Divanes Castleisland; Pa White, Stephen Bartlett, Tadhg Walsh, Ciarán Breen, Willie Dom O'Connor, Castleisland Desmonds and Gerard Murphy, Vincent Murphy Sports. Back row from left: Colm Kirwan, Babs and Donal Kelliher, Castleisland Desmonds; Denis Divane, MD Divanes Castleisland; Eamonn Fitzmaurice, Kerry senior football team manager; Jimmy O'Connell, club chairman Angela Ring-O'Donoghue and Seán McCarthy, Castleisland Desmonds and John Vahey, Divanes Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy — At the Divanes Castleisland presentation of the new strip to Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club were, front from left: Paul Langston and Stan Divane, Divanes Castleisland; Pa White, Stephen Bartlett, Tadhg Walsh, Ciarán Breen, Willie Dom O’Connor, Castleisland Desmonds and Gerard Murphy, Vincent Murphy Sports. Back row from left: Colm Kirwan, Babs and Donal Kelliher, Castleisland Desmonds; Denis Divane, MD Divanes Castleisland; Eamonn Fitzmaurice, Kerry senior football team manager; Jimmy O’Connell, club chairman Angela Ring-O’Donoghue and Seán McCarthy, Castleisland Desmonds and John Vahey, Divanes Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Less than a week after they kitted St. Kieran’s GAA Club for its annual Cycle Tour of the Parishes, Divanes Castleisland stepped to front-of-house again to enact a similar association with Castleisland Desmond’s GAA Club.

Club members are delighted to have secured this sponsorship arrangement with Divanes VW. The partnership agreement was officially announced on Friday as Denis Divane and staff – with Kerry manager, Eamonn Fitmaurice – presented a new set of jerseys to club Chairman, Jimmy O’ Connell.

Commitment and Generosity

Mr. O’Connell thanked Divanes for their commitment and generosity and in light of the fact that sports clubs are finding it increasingly difficult to get sponsorship in the current financial climate.

“Business people, particularly in medium sized towns like Castleisland, have struggled in recent years. Income has diminished but costs have increased. Without the support of the local business the community voluntary, sporting clubs like Desmonds could not serve the parish as it would like to do,” said Chairman O’Connell.

Foremost Clubs

At the Divanes Castleisland presentation of the new strip to Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club were from left: Stan Divane, Divanes Castleisland; Denis Divane, MD Divanes Castleisland; Eamonn Fitzmaurice, Kerry senior football team manager; Pa White, Castleisland Desmonds; Jimmy O'Connell, club chairman and Stephen Bartlett, Castleisland Desmonds. ©Photograph: John Reidy — At the Divanes Castleisland presentation of the new strip to Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club were from left: Stan Divane, Divanes Castleisland; Denis Divane, MD Divanes Castleisland; Eamonn Fitzmaurice, Kerry senior football team manager; Pa White, Castleisland Desmonds; Jimmy O’Connell, club chairman and Stephen Bartlett, Castleisland Desmonds. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Denis Divane said that Divanes Castleisland was proud to be associated with one of Castleisland’s foremost clubs.

Divanes have a long and proud tradition of serving the community since their business and their links with VW were established in1954.

“We are now the longest established VW dealer in Ireland. We have always been extremely grateful to the Castleisland community and we recognise the importance of supporting, in a real and tangible way, the contribution of clubs like Desmonds,” said Mr. Divane.

Huge Pressure

For more information on Divanes Castleisland please Click on the image here.

It may not be widely known but there was huge pressure on Divanes to leave Castleisland at the time the Stanley Divane Pavilion was being planned.

Tralee or Killarney were the preferred options for the powers that be. However, with loyalty to tradition and an admirable, stubborn streak, Denis and John stuck to their guns and their native town prevailed.

So, the loyalty shown to local clubs in recent years and days is far more than skin deep – it goes right to the heart of the matter.

May Desmonds and Divanes remember the day they teamed up with pride and a piece of silverware in the not too distant future.