Athleticism, Beauty, Enthusiasm and Teaspach Rule at Community Games Finals

Crowds gathering before the start of the 2019 Denny Kerry Community Games at An Ríocht AC in Castleisland at the weekend. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Érin Murphy, Killorglin reading the Community Games pledge as Gaeilge with help in its broadcast from Neilus Collins at the Denny Kerry Community Games finals at An Ríocht at the weekend. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Denny Kerry Community Games Torch Bearer, Niamh O’Mahony, St. Brendan’s Oakpark lighting the flame to get the 2019 games under way at An Ríocht AC in Castleisland at the weekend. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Blazes of colour and the perfect setting for the Denny Kerry Community Games finals at An Ríocht in Castleisland at the weekend. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Piper Chris Boome is harnessed and ready to do his bit for the official opening of the Denny Kerry Community Games finals at An Ríocht in Castleisland at the weekend. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Denny Kerry Community Games Torch Bearer, Niamh O’Mahony, St. Brendan’s Oakpark pictured with guest and Abu Dhabi Olympics double medalist, Gary O’Sullivan, Frank Hayes, Kerry Group sponsors and Margaret Culloty, Kerry Community Games secretary. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Attending the opening of the Denny Kerry Community Games finals in Castleisland were: Frank Hayes, Kerry Group sponsors; Abu Dhabi Olympics double medalist, Gary O’Sullivan, Denis Brosnan, president An Ríocht AC and Margaret Culloty, Kerry Community Games secretary. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The Denny Kerry Community Games control room with Secretary Margaret Culloty and her daughter Eileen and son John keeping tabs on schedules and results at the county track and field finals at An Ríocht AC in Castleisland at the weekend. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Mairéad Walsh, Firies, reading the Community Games pledge in English as committee member Neilus Collins makes sure she’s heard at the Denny Kerry Community Games finals at An Ríocht at the weekend. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The colourful parade getting underway in preparation for the Denny Kerry Community Games finals at An Ríocht in Castleisland at the weekend. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Abu Dhabi Olympics double medalist, Gary O’Sullivan was honoured as guest of the Denny Kerry Community Games and An Ríocht Athletic Club at the games finals in Castleisland at the weekend. Included are: Joe Walsh, An Ríocht AC founder member; Margaret Culloty, secretary, Kerry Community Games; Denis Brosnan, president An Ríocht AC making the presentation to Gary; William Dennehy, chairman, An Ríocht AC; Frank Hayes, Kerry Group Games, sponsors and Gerard Walsh, founder member An Ríocht AC. ©Photograph: John Reidy

This year’s Denny Kerry Community Games Finals at An Ríocht Athletic Club opened in glorious sunshine on Saturday morning.

All the traditional ceremonies surrounding the colourful opening and lighting of the flame were bathed in sunlight.

Athleticism, Beauty, Enthusiasm and Teaspach

A palpable, young world atmosphere showered everything in sight with its athleticism, its beauty, its enthusiasm and its unbridled teaspach.

The grass track and the surrounding, two-tone tartan track looked ready and glowing in its magnificence.

Add in the colours of the teams from every parish in the county and what an inspiring sight it made.

There weather over the two days was also two-toned.

Saturday and Sunday Opposites

While Saturday was as good as you could wish for, Sunday was quite the opposite – but the games went on.

The opening involved the parade of the 41 areas with their banners. The flag bearers were Niamh Murphy and Caoilainn Culloo, Blennerville/Ballyard.

Readers, Singer and Torch Bearer

The county banner was carried by Cora O´Mahony Ballybunion and Denis O´Mahony, Milltown.

The pledge readers were: As Gaeilge, Erin Murphy from Killorglin and in English, Mairead Walsh, Firies.

The torch bearer was 2018 National Marathon winner, Niamh O’Mahony, St. Brendans/Oakpark. Amhrán na bhFiann was sung by 2019 National Solo Singing winner, Gearoid Meehan of Boherbee/Cloghers Manor.

Guests of Honour
Guests of honour were: Gary O’Sullivan, Castleisland Gold and Silver medal winner in the Shot Put and Walk at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi earlier this year and Frank Hayes of the Kerry Group – longstanding sponsors of the Kerry Community Games.

Munster Community Games

Munster Community Games Finals will be staged at the IT Tralee campus from 9:30am to 4:30pm on Saturday week, July 6^th.

To get all the results of the Castleisland games just click on the link here: http://www.kerrycommunitygames.ie/results

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