Direction set: Piper John Costello from Killorglin sets off on the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. he is followed by Seán Kelly, MEP and Tom Keane, Kerry Coiste Na nÓg chairman and the leading banner bearers. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Killorglin Piper John Costello waiting for the start of the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: john Reidy
Former GAA National President, Seán Kelly, MEP addressing the gathering at the start of the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: john Reidy
The Ballymacelligott boys being kept on track at the outset at the start of the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Representatives of the local GAA clubs waiting for the nod to go on the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Aisling Barrett and her boys, Ronan and Jay and her dad, Mike Geaney watching the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Brosna GAA Club’s lively representatives stepping it out at Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Andrew Kelly, Kellie Keane, Stephen Hill and Mikey Bawn Conway at Market Cross as the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade sets out in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Refusal with a smile: Even the breeze found it hard to get past steward James O’Leary as he guarded the library car park gathering point for the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Former GAA National President, Seán Kelly, MEP with representatives of Austin Stacks GAA Club at the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Mikey Bawn Conway, Stephen Hill, Kellie Keane and Andrew Kelly at their vantage point at Market Cross as the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade sets out in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Rebecca, Aisling and Jessica O’Brien watching the parade from the flags on Main Street with dad James (right) in the background with Laurence Curtin. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Applause from the flags and appreciation from the street at the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Brosna boys, Joel Smith and Josh Lane hoist their colours at the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: john Reidy
Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club banner bearers leading their club and supporters in the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
All out to watch the passing parade at Tom McCarthy’s Bar as the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade approached in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The Knocknagoshel GAA Club representatives at the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Batt and Kate Cotter and Lisa Cox waiting for the Brosna bunch during the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Frank Coffey and Den Jones leading an enthusiastic bunch from Currow GAA Club in the Coiste Na nÓg 50th anniversary parade in Castleisland on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The Castleisland parade to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Bord na nÓg in Kerry proved a colourful spectacle of excitement and the kind of exuberance that only children are capable of creating on days like this.
While the parade was a celebration of the past – the very distant past – for most of those taking part, the effort and the turnout bodes well for the future of Gaelic games in the areas of the county represented here today.
Nine Clubs from the Area
Nine clubs from the general area took part and regional chairman and organioser, Richard Cotter from Knocknagoshel GAA Club was delighted with the turnout.
“All the Castleisland district clubs took part and they were joined by representatives of Tralee clubs, Austin Stacks and Na Gaeil,” said Richard.
“We were delighted with the turnout when you consider that we had only a little over a week to organise the area. This parade was supposed to be in Tralee but with works going on the streets there, it was decided to hold it in Castleisland.
A Great Honour
“It was a great honour for us to see former Uachtaráin Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Seán Kelly MEP in attendance and Coiste Na nÓg chairman, Tom Keane also took part.
“We’d like to thank all those who helped and facilitated us with the parade today. Gardaí and a team of local stewards did a great job in making sure that everything went off well as the parade went through the town led by Killorglin Piper, John Costello,” said Mr. Cotter.
It was a fitting tribute to the foresight of the people who set up its own wing for the juvenile side of the GAA in Kerry in 1967.
Dr. Jim Brosnan
The setting up of Bórd Na nÓg all those years ago was at the instigation of the then County Board Chairman, Dr. Jim Brosnan.
“He saw the need for a dedicated competition for underage footballers, outside of school competition. It was to lay down a solid foundation for future generations of underage footballers in the barony,” according to an article on the history of South Kerry GAA some years ago by Kathleen O’Sullivan.
Dr. Brosnan and his contemporaries would have been pleased to see the turnout and the levels of appreciation from ‘the flags’ or footpaths along the route in Castleisland today.
The future looks bright – if this is any indicator.
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Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467. Please Note: A click on any of our adverts will reveal all you need to know about what our advertisers need to tell you. 
