Laune Rangers – 1942

 

Mike Joy, Clooncarrig, was Chairman of Laune Rangers Club and Sean Moriarty, School Road, was Secretary. Paddy Foley, Jack O Dwyer and John Joe Falvey were very active members.

 

Co. Senior/Intermediate Football Championship

Eight teams entered for the Co. Senior Football Championship, Shannon Rangers, North Kerry, Castleisland, Killarney, Kerins O Rahillys, John Mitchels, Dingle and Austin Stacks.

Shannon Rangers, captained by Johnny Walsh, beat John Mitchels in the final by 2-4 to 1-3 on Sun. 2nd Aug. at Tralee.

13 teams entered for the Intermediate Championship, North Kerry, Shannon Rovers, Ballymullen Barracks, Ardfert, Laune Rangers, Listry, Castlemaine, Castleisland, Dingle Gaeltacht, Castlegregory, Iveragh Gaeltacht, Iveragh and Kenmare. Due to the shortage of petrol, teams were divided into four groups. The competition was run on a knock-out basis. Listry, Laune Rangers and Castlemaine were in one group.

 

Rd. 1 on Sun. 3rd May at Killorglin: Listry beat Laune Rangers.

In his preview of the game, PF, in the Kerryman, wrote, ‘When Killorglin players were included in East-Kerry teams, there is no doubt the Launeside men shone. On inquiry as to the identity of players who were starring in different sections of the field, one would be invariably told they came from Killorglin. Of late years, Killorglin is not so prominent in Kerry football as it once used to be. That the material is in the area is evident, that Launeside boys have the know-how is apparent to close followers of the game but the development of that material has not so far been successful. What will Killorglin do this year? Their game with Listry, a team that will certainly test their mettle, may supply the answer. It must, moreover, be remembered that defeat in the Intermediate Championship is fatal. The beaten side loses all interest in the championship for a year. That is most unfortunate and is the great argument in favour of the league system, which I have always favoured. But, in present conditions, an Intermediate League is impossible. Therefore, Listry and Killorglin must strain every nerve to win next Sunday’.

 

Castlegregory won the Co. Intermediate Championship by beating Kenmare by 3-8 to 2-2 at Castlegregory on Sun. 27th Sept.

 

Schools’/Colleges’ Football

 

Kerry Senior Colleges Championship

Final on Sun. 22nd Nov. at Fitzgerald Stadium: St. Brendan’s, Killarney 2-6; CBS Tralee 2-4.

Donal Prendiville played at centre-halfback for St. Brendan’s and had to retire injured near the end of the game.

 

Munster/All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

 

Semi-final on Sun. 28th June at Sean Tracy Park, Tipperary Town: Tipperary 1-5; Kerry 3-6.

Murt Kelly, operating at full-forward, scored two points of his side’s total.

 

Final at Tralee: Kerry 3-7; Cork 0-8

Murt Kelly, playing at full-forward, distributed the ball cleverly to his colleagues and succeeded in scoring 1-3. Gerald Teahan played at right halfback. This was Kerry’s seventh Munster Senior Championship in succession. Derry Burke, Abbeylands, played at centre half-forward for Cork and scored a point.

Kerry: Danno Keeffe, Bill Myers, Joe Keohane, Tadhg Healy, Gerald Teahan, Bill Casey, Eddie Walsh, Sean Brosnan, Joe Kennington, Paddy Kennedy, Tom ‘Gega’ O Connor, Johnny Walsh, Paddy Bawn Brosnan, Murt Kelly and Jimmy O Gorman.

 

All-Ireland Semi-final on Sun. 9th Aug. at Croke Park: Galway 1-3; Kerry 0-3.

So evenly matched were Kerry and Galway during that time, that it would take a chance score to decide the issue. So it was in that game. The sides were level with five minutes left to play and a mistake by Joe Keohane allowed the ball through his hands and past the bewildered Danno Keeffe for the winning goal. There was dissention in the camp before the game as the line-out will indicate. All of Kerry’s scores came from frees from the boot of Murt Kelly, who, also, scored a goal but the referee’s whistle had gone for a free to Kerry.

Kerry: Danno Keeffe, Denis Walsh, Joe Keohane, Bill Myers, Eddie Walsh, Tadhg Healy, Jimmy Pierce, Paddy Kennedy, Mick Raymond, Johnny Walsh (capt.), Tom ‘Gega’ O Connor, Tom Lawlor, Joe Kennington, Murt Kelly and Jimmy O Gorman. Sub: Paddy O Donoghue for J. Walsh.

 

Railway Cup

 

Semi-final on Sun. 22nd Feb. at Wexford: Munster 2-7; Leinster 0-6.

There were 13 Kerry men and two Cork men. Murt Kelly played at full-forward.

 

Final on Tues. 17th March at Croke Park: Ulster 1-10; Munster 1-5

There were 14 Kerry men and Eamonn Young from Cork. Murt Kelly, operating at full-forward, scored three points from frees but he missed a penalty kick. It was a bit much to expect 14 Kerry men to beat a province. That was Ulster’s first title at that grade, since its inception in 1927.

 

Administration/Miscellany

 

Padraig McNamee, Aontroma, was Uachtarán CLG.

 

Seamus Gardner, Tiobraid Árainn, was Chairman of the Munster Council, Sean McCarthy, Ciarraí, was Secretary and Willie Hough, Luimneach, was Treasurer. Due to the ‘emergency’, a directive was issued from Central Council to discontinue the Minor Championships.

 

The Kerry Co. Convention was held in the Ashe Memorial Hall, Tralee on Sun. 1st Feb. 1942. Laune Rangers were represented by Jack O Dwyer. All the outgoing officers were re-elected, as follows: Chairman – Din Joe Baily; Vice-Chairmen – Chairmen of the District Boards, J. J. Landers and Liam McSweeney; Hon. Secretaries – Mícheál Ó Ruairc and Jerry Myles; Treasurers – Con Clifford and John Moran; Delegates to Munster Council – John Joe Sheehy and Con Brosnan; Delegate to Central Council – Din Joe Baily.

 

The Annual Convention of the East-Kerry Board was held on Sun. 25th Jan. in the Central Club, Killarney. ‘It was the most harmonious meeting we have had for a quarter of a century,’ was how an old official of the Board described the meeting. Everyone present agreed. The Convention was short and sweet. No controversial matters were introduced and what business there was, was transacted in record time. Despite the difficult conditions, which prevailed during the year, progress was reported. Pleasant revelation of the Convention was the announcement that the financial bogey had, at last, been laid and, for the first time in a great many years, the Board actually had a balance to credit. The various clubs in the division were to be congratulated for the part, which they played in bringing such a happy position about, but special praise was due to those painstaking officials who, through ceaseless energy and boundless enthusiasm, helped largely to rescue the Board from its financial rut, viz. Dr. Paddy O Driscoll, Glenbeigh, James O Sullivan, Legion, and Sean Moriarty, Laune Rangers.

Dr. O Driscoll presided. Laune Rangers were represented by Jack O Dwyer. (The Secretary’s report is given at the end of 1941). Jack O Dwyer stated that they should congratulate their Secretary for his work during the year. He had certainly played a man’s part and had not spared himself in any way. The Chairman said that they would all endorse those remarks.

Sean Moriarty then gave his report, which showed a credit balance and the report was adopted.

All the outgoing officers were elected unanimously as follows: Chairman – Dr. P. O Driscoll, Glenbeigh; Vice-Chairman – Mike Joy, Laune Rangers, and Con Healy; Hon. Secretaries – James O Sullivan, Legion, and Jack O Shea, Legion; Treasurers and Financial Secretary – Sean Moriarty, Laune Rangers and Paddy Foley, Laune Rangers; Delegates to Co. Board – John Joe Falvey, Laune Rangers and Martin Wade, Legion; Delegate to Annual Congress – Liam McSweeney, Laune Rangers.

A motion from Listry, ‘That a Board of referees be appointed’, was passed. Both John Joe Falvey and Stevie Foley from Laune Rangers were put on the Board of referees.

 

John Joe Falvey refereed the following games, amongst others, for the Co. Board:

Senior Football Championship on Sun. 26th April, at Dingle: Dingle 3-5; Kerins O Rahilly’s 2-8.

Intermediate Football Championship on Sun. 3rd May, at Dingle: Dingle Gaeltacht v Castlegregory.

 

Due to the shortage of petrol, the Munster Junior and Minor Football Championships were abandoned.

 

In a letter to the Kerryman, dated 1st Feb. 1942, Father John Devane wrote, “In the elegantly written, but all too brief biographical sketch of J. P. O Sullivan, the athlete, by ‘Celt’ forwarded to the Kerryman, its author expressed regret that the wholesome influence of O Sullivan’s lofty character is not made more generally known and felt among the youth of Ireland. In this sentiment, we most heartily concur, for J. P. O Sullivan was undoubtedly the most wholesome character we have ever known. ‘It was proper’, writes ‘Celt’, ‘that the memory of such an exponent of manly Irish attributes depending, as it must, upon what he was rather than what he had done, should be commemorated. The name of this great Gaelic captain of the past century is perpetuated in the Challenge Cup, for which the athletes of the Irish University Colleges compete each year. Some of them know little, I fear, of the significance of that trophy. They could learn much from a study of the athletic career it preserves from oblivion, learn much from its success and restraint. Irish athletics would be immeasurably the gainer, if the principles and prowess of J. P. O Sullivan could be blended gain amongst the lads in the hills, and the youths who range the river banks from Laune to Lagan.’

How true, how deservedly true, and how appropriate, to perpetuate the memory of such a name in a Cup to be contended for by athletes. How many a Cup did he not, himself, offer for that purpose? Who can forget the enthusiasm engendered, at a handball tournament in Tralee, among the contestants, contending for a Cup, because that Cup was donated by J. P. O Sullivan? Yes, indeed, by us of the present day, his memory should be perpetuated in a cup, for he himself had engraved his name in the heart-cup, filled to overflowing with the peoples’ affection. More than that, it should be perpetuated in a suitable marble or stone monument erected in the town of Killorglin, made famous already by Bridgie Donoghue and the Killorglin Puck Goat, so that, by the hand of the sculptor, his chiselled, noble, manly features could be made to speak again in spirit to the multitudes that pass. Who was ever more deserving of such an honour from his town and Killorglin would honour itself in honouring him?

What subject more alluring for the artist’s gifts than the majestic figure of our beloved J. P? Let us glimpse at it once more, as presented to us by the gifted pen of ‘Celt’ in describing the Laune Rangers’ bid for the Championship of Ireland at Clonturk Park, Dublin, in 1893, ‘I can see that magnificent form now,’ said he, ‘dominating a field of thirty-four as perfect types of Gaelic footballers as ever responded to shouts of victory or rallied at the presage of defeat. Were I to try to picture any of the Fenian champions of tradition, I should envelop J. P. O Sullivan of Killorglin, as I saw him that day – he is now alas no more – with the glamour that hero-worship gives, and would be satisfied I had done no injustice to the heroes and champions of old.

Unaffected enjoyment of the qualities of body and heart, which Providence had given him, was the keynote of his existence and his lamented death brought genuine sorrow to all, who had had the privilege of his friendship or who had known him on the field of sport.”

 

In the Kerryman of Sat. 2nd May, P. F. wrote, “In recent contributions, Rev. Fr. Devane referred to the Laune Rangers and, particularly, to the personality of their captain, J. P. Sullivan. Father Devane suggested a Memorial Park in Killorglin to keep the name of J. P. evergreen in the hearts of Kerry Gaels. In this connection, I have received the following, ‘Tig Droichead, Leacarua, Neidfhinn, Abrán 20adh, 1942. A Fhir eagair uasail, Father Devane’s letters in the Kerryman are very opportune. May I suggest O Sullivan Memorial Park at Killorglin, with J. P’s bust in front gate. He put Kerry on the map, where it still remains with flying colours. Put me down for £1 as first instalment. Mise le hurraim, Donnchadha Ó Súilleabháin (Ex – N. T.)’ Killorglin Gaels would be in the best position to judge whether the present occasion is opportune for giving effect to such a proposition. That appears to be the governing consideration: would it be better to wait till times are once more normal? That is the question. One thing is certain, when it is decided to provide an O Sullivan Memorial park, the project would receive the unstinted support of all Kerrymen, wherever they are to be found, at home among our native hills or far across the seas.”

 

On Sun. 2nd Aug. Shannon Rangers, captained by Johnny Walsh, won the Co. Senior Football Championship by beating John Mitchels by 2-4 to 1-3.

 

On Sun. 20th Sept. at Croke Park, Dublin won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship by disposing of Galway on the score of 1-10 to 1-8. Jim Joy, of Ballykissane, played at right half-forward for Dublin on that day. On Sun. 6th Dec. in a challenge game, Dublin played and beat the ‘Declared’ players living in Dublin. Hero for Dublin, according to the radio commentator, Seán O Ceallacháin, was Jim Joy. Murt Kelly played with the ‘Declared’ team.

 

Due to the ‘emergency’, the National Leagues, the Minor and Junior Championships were not played.

 

G. Mulholland, Secretary Lancashire County Board GAA, wrote the following letter, dated 20/12/’42, which was printed in the Kerryman, “May I, as a Roscommon man, bring to your notice the great work and activity of a Kerry Gael, who has done more than anyone to bring the football championship of Britain to Lancashire. I believe, were it not for the fact that he was transferred from here to Bristol, he would have accomplished what has been for us impossible. For the first time since the championship started, we beat London this year at Birmingham on the score of 0-6 to 0-5. That was on the 31st May. The final was fixed for 26th July against Warwickshire at Birmingham. But a month before the final, O Reilly was transferred from here to Bristol, with the result that the players hardly practiced. On the day of the final, we arrived in Birmingham with four players short. However, O Reilly travelled overnight and brought three players with him, including Kevin Winston (Roscommon and Connacht). The final score was 1-3 to 0-4 in Warwickshire’s favour. O Reilly captained the Lancashire team and, I believe, if the team trained as he did, we would have brought off the double this year. He also played with the hurling selection that won the championship of Britain this year. I must say, he held his own with the best of them, though he did come from Kerry. Mick Walsh, London GAA, tells me he played against O Reilly at home. He says O Reilly won some Kerry Championship with Laune Rangers, Killorglin. My object in writing is not to give any publicity to O Reilly, but merely to let him and his friends know that we are grateful for the good work he has done for us while in Liverpool.” The player referred to was Eddie O Reilly, St. Mary’ Terrace (former Laune Ranger).

 

There was a large attendance of past-pupils and past-pupils’ parents at the Intermediate School, Killorglin on Sat. 16th May, when a presentation, consisting of a portrait in oils by Sean O Sullivan R.H.A. was made to his Lordship Judge Thomas O Donnell S.C. Welcoming Judge O Donnell to the school, which his Lordship had established, maintained and directed, the Chairman, M.D. O Donoghue, said that the past pupils rejoiced at the opportunity afforded them of showing their appreciation of all that that great man had done for them. No words of his, he said, could adequately express their feeling of gratitude or pay to his Lordship the tribute that was due to him from them. But, he continued, no words of praise were necessary, for was not the school itself and the pupils who had passed through it, with the remarkable successes they had achieved, a monument, which could not be surpassed.

Mr. William A. Crowley, solicitor, said, as one of the past-pupils of the Intermediate School, he wished to associate himself with the words of the Chairman in praise of Judge O Donnell. He (speaker) realised how numerous and difficult were the obstacles his Lordship had to contend with and overcome in establishing the school in Killorglin. To him indeed all praise and gratitude were due for his earnest efforts, in that respect, on their behalf and for their sole advancement. The past students of the school had taken their places in all the professions and vocations and had done so with credit and distinction. He also paid tribute to the teaching staff.

Mr. Jack O Dwyer, then Head Master of the school, thanked Mr. Crowley for his tribute to the teaching staff. There were times, he said, when the school encountered stormy seas but, good pilot that he was, Judge O Donnell always steered them safely to harbour. Since its opening in 1909, over 600 pupils had passed through the school. That they had attained success and happiness in life was a great pleasure to him and to the members of the staff.

Mr. W. M. O Brien congratulated the past-pupils on their timely tribute to Judge O Donnell, the founder of the institution. In what they had done and were doing to express their sense of value and service of the school to them and to the people of the district generally, they had with them the approval of the people. Their action served to remind all, especially those who did not know the history of the school, of the problems, which his Lordship had to deal with over thirty years previously, when he worked for the establishment of the school as a large measure towards its solution.

Mr. Sean T. O Riordan, Secretary, then read the following address: “To his Lordship Judge Thomas O Donnell S.C. In consideration of the invaluable service he rendered to us in particular, and to Killorglin in general, by establishing an Intermediate School in this district, we, the past-pupils of the school, present to his Lordship Judge O Donnell this token of our appreciation and gratefulness. We assure his Lordship that any measure of success, which has come our way, has been due in the main to the school, of which we have reason to be proud, and to the interest, which he, its founder, at all times took in it and in its pupils, individually and collectively. The high standard of education, which the school imparts, with its strong moral and religious bias so necessary in this too materialistic age, is a cause for gratification to all and a matter of which his Lordship, as director, might justly feel proud. The first Secondary School in the country to make Irish an obligatory subject, the part, which it has played in the revival and advancement of our native tongue, is a further matter for congratulations. While we view with pride the past records of our school, we look even to its greater success in the future, under the continued direction of the man whose foresight, energy and eagerness to spread the light of learning, first brought it into being. We take this opportunity to congratulate Judge O Donnell on his recent elevation to judicial honours and to wish his Lordship many years of happiness and success in his noble calling.”

His Lordship Judge O Donnell replied: “I am deeply grateful to the past-pupils for their kindly and generous recognition of my services in establishing and maintaining this school. I shall preserve this portrait as a lasting memento of services joyfully rendered by me, all the more gratifying that you, who taught in this school, and who knew its worth, have so cheerfully and generously shown your appreciation of my work. I am indeed deeply grateful to you. I am proud to know from the report of your worthy and competent Headmaster that so many of you, through the education you received here, have carved honourable careers in various walks of life – good Irishmen and worthy citizens. While on tour in America early in this century, I saw the buildings – libraries, Technical Schools – erected throughout the States by the munificence and national foresight of the late Mr. Carnegie. I was tempted to place the needs of my own country before him. I stated my case. He replied personally, saying that Kerrymen had helped him to fortune and that he would gladly assist in building libraries in the county. Certain conditions were attached – a free site, a minimum of £100 per annum from the rates for the upkeep of each. Those were, by no means, unreasonable, but still, with work so valuable to the rising youth awaiting, it took me six years before I got the first free site. Finally, after many difficulties in complying with the conditions required by Mr. Carnegie, I got four libraries built – Tralee, Dingle, Killorglin and Castleisland – costing about £2,000 each. In this Killorglin building I got, through the assistance of generous friends, a very creditable library. In 1909, without any money, but full of confidence, believing that the people valued, and would support, higher education when they got the chance, I started this Secondary School. My confidence was not misplaced. The school has been, from the start, a wonderful success and a great blessing to this comparatively poor district.”

 

At a meeting of the Killorglin Parish Council, held on Sun. 17th May, Rev. T. D. O Sullivan presided. Sean T. O Riordan was the Secretary. The following resolution was adopted: “That we apply to the Minister for Supplies for such an increase in the quota of flour for the Killorglin district as will have regard to the fact that in pre-war days the rural population here always used from 20% to 25 % of Indian maize meal with their flour at all meals at which bread was used. Since the use of meal to this extent has been confirmed by representatives of our Council from several districts, it is plain that our quota, while equal to those of other districts where such a mixed bread usage had not prevailed, still leaves us short to an extent, which is an unbearable hardship to a hard working people. This district has done good work in turf production ion 1941 and several teams of trained workers are now in the bogs where they work a full day to ensure the nation’s fuel supply. The fishermen, also a numerous body, are working with equal zeal both on river and sea. The workers on those two branches of national industry cannot be expected to produce extra good results without the food supply for which, on their behalf, we appeal.”

 

For the Kerry Co. Council local elections in 1942 there were 13 candidates, for 6 seats, in the Killorglin electoral area. The electorate was 17,704 and 9,753 voted. The successful candidates were D. M. Kennedy (F.F.), Robert Reilly (F.F.), John Duffy (Farmers’ Ass.), Stephen Coffey (Labour), Timothy O Riordan (Farmers’ Ass.) and James O Regan (F. F.).

Thomas Brosnan, Castleisland (Farmers’ Association) was elected Chairman of the Co. Council.

 

On Sat. 21st Nov., the Kerry County Delegate Conference of Old Comrades IRA was held in the Ashbourne Hotel, Tralee. Killorglin delegates Patrick Galvin (St. Mary’s Terrace) and Michael Clifford attended.