Members of the Rathmore / Gneeveguilla Community Games team and supporters’s club at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. Front from left: Jack O’Leary, Noel, Karl and Alex Thompson, Kate Culloty, ÓisIn O’Leary and Michell McCarthy. Back from left: Una Thompson, Aeneas O’Leary, Mike Culloty, Owen O’Leary, Geraldine O’Leary and Mike McCarthy. ©Photograph: John Reidy
David and Adam Healy were the Currow Community Games flag bearers at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Aoibhínn Coffey and Marc O’Sullivan-Rouse carried the Beaufort banner with pride at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Piper, Gary Stephenson with Kerry Community Games County Banner bearers, Patsy O’Connell, Abbeydorney/Kilflynn and Micheál Herlihy, Knocknagoshel leading the parade at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Caoimhe Daly and Jamie O’Regan with the Kenmare banner at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Ellen Moloney and Hollie Spellman proudly carry their team’s flag into the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Games Secretary, Margaret Culloty pictured with Frank Hayes, Director of Corporate Affairs, Kerry Group before the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Frank Hayes, Director of Corporate Affairs, Kerry Group pictured with Community Games volunteer, Sharon Fealey, Abbeydorney / Kilflynn (left) and committee member, Patsy O’Connell, Abbeydorney / Kilflynn before the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Competitors and their families and supporters filing in early on Saturday morning in preparation for the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Maura McCarthy, Gneeveguilla pictured with her daughter, Michelle at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Ruth and Grace Cahill with the Knocknagoshel banner at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Niall Collins and Róisín Rahilly carried the Ballymacelligott banner into the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Over 2,000 young athletes in a variety of age groups arrived in Castleisland on Saturday morning with high hopes of heroics and Gold medals.
Many of those achieved and realised the dream – over the weekend. Some didn’t and will, no doubt, start again for next year – maybe in a higher age bracket or in another sport.
The weather was ideal on Saturday morning as athletes checked in and parents and supporters got on with the setting up of gazebos and deck chairs along the grassy mounds which surround the track.
By late on Sunday afternoon there were many who experienced the sheer joy in walking out through the huge, iron gates of the stadium with a hard earned, Gold medal in their fists or around their necks.
Then there’s the right to go on to represent their county at the Munster finals in UL in Limerick on July 4.
There’s also the ultimate goal of heading to Athlone in August as Kerry and Munster Champion and representing their county in the National finals.
Kerry Community Games was founded in 1972 by the late Bob Casey and Christy Murray.
This was just five years after the national movement was initiated in Dublin and what an inspirational move it has proved to be.
The continued success of the Kerry Games has been due to the determination and hard work by a team of volunteers as well as the commitment and good nature of participants and their parents.
There are now 44 registered Community Games areas in Kerry. These areas are organised by voluntary workers from the local community who decide which activities to run.
Qualifiers from area competitions advance to the county finals where the first four in every competition receives a prize. All areas in Kerry have had the honour of representing the county in a variety of included sports over the years.
The ‘Kerry CG team’ also have the solid backing of the Kerry Group and its corporate affairs, director, Frank Hayes is a constant presence at the games at area level.
The return of many former participants as volunteers at both area and county level is also a welcome boost and assures the smooth running of the huge event. From the beginning, the committee insisted on small areas. Although some have since amalgamated, the levels of participation in sporting and cultural activities, encouraged by the games, plays a vital role in promoting community spirit and helping to ensure that children lead healthy and balanced lives.
At all competitions, the view that there is no such thing as a loser who has tried – is encouraged and practiced.
The results of the weekend’s activities on the track can be accessed with a click here:
http://www.kerrycommunitygames.ie/athletics/live-updates
A young Kenmare athlete spots a supporter in the crowd and responds at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Lillie Foley, Kilcummin sang Amhrán Na bFiann at the opening ceremony of the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The two Ellens, Griffin and Kelliher carrying the Keel / Kiltallagh colours in the parade at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Torch Bearer, Micheál Foley, Ballydonoghue and torch maker, John Bunyan, Listowel getting the Kerry Community Games torch lit at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
And some will be Champions: A pre-games parade of future champions representing every parish, town and village at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics finals at the An Ríocht Athletic Club in Castleisland on Saturday. Photograph: John Reidy
Competitors going hell for leather in one of the opening races of the 2015 Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Lillie Foley, Kilcummin sang Amhrán Na bFiann at the opening ceremony of the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Fossa flag-bearers: Lucy O’Sullivan and Grace O’Meara leading their team into the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
An Ríocht Athletic Club founder member, Joe Walsh catching up on the opening of the 2015 Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Torch Bearer, Micheál Foley, Ballydonoghue completes his lap and is about to light the Kerry Community Games flame at the Denny Kerry Community Games Athletics Finals at An Riocht AC, Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Kerry Community Gameschairman, Seán O’Sullivan, Spa/Muckross (left0 pictured with secretary, Margaret Culloty and Frank Hayes, Director of Corporate Affairs, Kerry Group as Micheál Foley, Ballydonoghue is about to light the 2015 Kerry Community Games Flame at An Ríocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: john Reidy
Kerry Community Games Secretary, Margaret Culloty and Frank Hayes, Director of Corporate Affairs, Kerry Group with Micheál Foley, Ballydonoghue as he lights the 2015 Kerry Community Games Flame at An Ríocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: john Reidy
