Laune Rangers – 1951
The ‘Track’ was purchased for £2,000 and named the J.P. O Sullivan Park.
The first Co. Senior Football Championship game was played in the J.P. O Sullivan Park on Sun. 6th May – Shannon Rangers beat Mid-Kerry.
Killorglin Technical School lost the Listowel Technical School in the final of the Kerry Technical Schools’ League.
Kerry beat Cork in the final of the Munster Minor Football Championship but lost to Armagh in the All-Ireland Semi-final after a replay. Sean Gill played at right half-forward.
The Mid-Kerry Senior Football Championship was unfinished.
* * * * * *
Co. Senior Football Championship
16 teams entered for the Co. Senior Football Championship – Dick Fitzgerald’s, Listowel, John Mitchels, Kenmare, Shannon Rangers, St. Mary’s, Killarney, Mid-Kerry, Dingle, Iveragh, Castlegregory, Austin Stacks, St. Brendan’s, Kerins O Rahillys, Castleisland and Rathmore. The teams were divided into four groups of four. Group B consisted of Mid-Kerry, Killarney, St. Mary’s and Shannon Rangers.
Rd. 1 on Sun. 8th April at Fitzgerald Stadium: Killarney 5-10; Mid-Kerry 2-2.
If the few hundred spectators, who came to the stadium in the teeth of a razor-edge freezing gale, were there to see high-class football, they were sorely disappointed. There were two Co. Championship games on view. In the first game, Killarney had a runaway win over Mid-Kerry. The game started late, to the discomfiture of the spectators, and the football was bad, without finish and below par. One got tired of counting the scores and as many more were missed. Backbone of the Killarney team was the Lynes – Jackie, Teddy and Denny. Teddy struck unusually high form and his marksmanship was superb. Another outstanding player was Paddy O Connor, who played his divisional football with Deenagh Rangers. Mid-Kerry never seemed to settle down and could not repel the onslaughts of the Killarney boys, which seemed to be continuous. They made a gallant effort but seemed to be crystallized by the superior play of their opponents.
Scorers for Mid-Kerry were Jerry Griffin, Brendan Ladden and Sean O Sullivan.
Rd. 2 on Sun. 6th May at Killorglin (New Ground): Shannon Rangers beat Mid-Kerry.
Shannon Rangers’ narrow win by four points over the locals left little to enthuse about as a game. Individual football appeared to be the order of the day, though perhaps the strong wind might have been responsible for the lack of teamwork on both sides. That traditional fault of non-punctuality, which had become associated with local league matches, was once again in evidence. Spectators on the grounds at the advertised time had to wait an hour and a quarter for the commencement of the game. That game was the first Co. Championship game in the new J. P. O Sullivan Park and general opinion afterwards was that, when ultimately completed, it would be second to none in Munster. Even as it was, it could compare favourably with the best. Paddy Mike Foley scored a goal for the home side but the visitors won by four points.
Mid-Kerry and St. Mary’s, having been beaten twice, were out of the championship.
Final on 30th Sept. in Tralee: Dick Fitzgerald’s 1-7; Dingle 0-3.
Teddy O Connor, formerly of Laune Rangers, captained the side that also included Donal Prendiville and Gerald Teahan. Teahan must have had some kind of a record, having won Co. Senior Championships with Kerins O Rahilly’s (1939), Dingle (1943 &1944) and Dick Fitzgerald’s (1951).
Challenge/Tournament Games
Sun. 15th April at Killorglin: Laune Rangers 0-0; Beaufort 0-3.
A start towards football revival was made with that game in the new sports-field. Laune Rangers, showing evident signs of long inactivity, were easily beaten by the visitors. Nevertheless, the defeat was not taken to heart but it was obvious that much hard work lay ahead if the young players hoped to reach the standard of play or prowess of those who had gone before them in Killorglin.
Co. Minor Hurling Championship.
Sun. 13th May in Fitzgerald Stadium: Killarney defeated South Kerry.
Sean Gill and Michael Forde played with Killarney.
Co. Minor Football Championship
Rd. 1 on Sun. 17th June at Killorglin: Mid-Kerry 0-2; Iveragh 0-1.
Sean Gill scored a point from a penalty and Batty Foley got the only score from play. Mikey Joe Foley (Castleconway) played at fullback. Bobby Miles, Sunhill, played at centre halfback, on the team that also contained Maurice Breen (Langford St.), Sean Horan (Castlemaine) and Jim Foley (Keel). South Kerry had been fancied for the Championship, so it was a delighted Mid-Kerry team that left the field.
Rd. 2 on Sun. 22nd July at Castlemaine; Mid-Kerry 0-8; Dingle 3-2.
Dingle had struggled in their first game and perhaps Mid-Kerry was a little over-confident going into the game. Tim Hastings, in defence, and F. Sheehy were prominent for Dingle while Sean Gill and K. Keating played well for Mid-Kerry. Batty Foley scored two points and made a brave, unsuccessful effort to get a goal that would have drawn the game. The pitch in Castlemaine was across the road from the present Garda Station. Ref: T. Kelliher.
Mid-Kerry: L. O Brien, K. Keating, John Cremin (Beaufort), Mikey Joe Foley (Laune Rangers), Morgan O Brien (Keel), Sean Gill (Laune Rangers), Jimmy O Connor (Firies), John Teahan (Laune Rangers), D. Quirke (Firies), D. O Connell, Batty Foley, P. Teahan, Sean Horan, R. McClery, J. O Brien.
Schools/Colleges Football
Co. Technical Schools’ League:
Rd. 1at Killarney: Killorglin defeated Killarney.
Semi-final on Wed. 16th May at Killorglin (New Ground): Killorglin 1-8; Waterville 1-2.
The game was played in the J.P. O Sullivan Park. The final score left no doubt as to the superiority of the local youths. A large crowd, in which youth predominated, watched the game. Mick O Dwyer played for Waterville. On one occasion, having been endowed with good football control, he raceded towards Pat Heffernan, centre halfback, showed him the ball and when Heffernan went to grab it he pulled it back and raced round the defender. On the next occasion when he tried the same play, Pat Heffernan kept advancing and brought the ball and the diminutive O Dwyer out before him.
Final at Killorglin: Listowel beat Killorglin by 2 points.
The appointed referee did not show and Paddy Drummond, principal of Listowel, prevailed upon the bus conductor, of the bus that transported the Listowel boys, to referee the game. He did not seem to know much about the game as is evidenced by one particular incident. The Listowel corner-back was coming out with the ball along the end-line, Gene Mangan shouldered him out over the end-line for, as everybody expected, a fifty but the referee awarded a kick-out as, he deemed, it was Gene who had shouldered him out! Late in the game, during a stoppage in the play, Batty Foley and Donal Kerins had agreed to take the ball on a passing movement up the field if they gained possession from the throw-in. Batty won the thrown-in and they went the length of the field towards the road-goals, passing the ball to each other and a shot for the top corner of the net, by Batty, skimmed the crossbar for a point. Also on the team were Denny O Neill (Sunhill), Sean O Riordan (Ballykissane), Tom O Reilly (Langford St.) at fullback, Michael Forde (Langford St.), Seanie Carey (Milltown), Tony O Donoghue, Pat Heffernan (centre halfback), Den Foley (Corbally), Dodo O Mahony (Glenbeigh) and Paddy Foley (Mill Road) in goals. On the day before the game, the Technical School went on an outing to Glengarriff and returned home close to midnight. Patsy Begley, old Laune Ranger, attended the game.
Munster/All-Ireland Minor Football
Semi-Final on Sun. 1st July at Waterford: Kerry 2-12; Waterford 1-2.
John Teahan was left halfback and Sean Gill played at right half-forward.
Final on Sun. 15th July at Killarney: Kerry 0-7; Cork 1-3.
Kerry: T. Grogan (Listowel), Paul O Donoghue (Iveragh), Kevin Barry (Austin Stacks), John Collins (St. Brendan’s), P. Ryan (Castleisland), Tommy Murphy (Camp), Paddy Lynch (John Mitchels), Colm Kennelly (Ballylongford), Paddy O Donnell (Austin Stacks), Sean Gill (Laune Rangers), Con O Riordan (Dick Fitzgerald’s), Tadhg Baily (Ballymac), J. Switzer (Kerins O Rahillys), Dan McAuliffe (Duagh), D. Quirke (Firies).
That was Kerry’s seventh provincial minor title in a row.
All-Ireland semi-final on Sun. 26th Aug. in Armagh: Armagh 1-8; Kerry 1-8.
Sean Gill played at right half-forward and scored a much needed point near the end.
Replay in Croke Park on Sun. 23rd Sept: Armagh 2-3; Kerry 0-7.
Kerry: T. Grogan, J.J. Ryan (Ballylongford), P. Ryan, John Collins, Tomás Murphy, Kevin Barry, M. Ashe (Austin Stack’s), Con O Riordan, Colm Kennelly, Sean Gill, Dan McAuliffe, Tadhg Baily, Tom Collins (St. Brendan’s), Paddy Lynch, D. Quirke.
Sean Gill scored one point.
Administration/Miscellany
Michael Kehoe, Loch Gorman, was Uachtarán CLG.
Vincent O Donoghue, Port Láirge, was Chairman of the Munster Council, Sean McCarthy, Ciarraí, was Secretary and Willie Hough, Luimneach, was Treasurer. Cork and Kerry informed the Council that they had agreed to play their football championship games in Cork and Killarney on alternate years.
The Annual Convention of the Kerry Co. Board was held on Sun. 28th January 1951 in the CBS, Dingle. 132 delegates attended. The following officers were elected: President – Canon T.J. Lyne, Dingle; Chairman – Denis J. Bailey; Vice-Chairman – Frank Sheehy (Listowel). That was the first time that a vice-chairman was chosen. After an election, the results were Frank Sheehy (49 votes), Johnny Walsh (46 votes) and Murt Kelly (27 votes). Hon. Secretaries – Jerry McCarthy and M. Ring; Hon. Treasurers – Paddy Bawn Brosnan and T. Cooper; Delegates to Munster Council – John Joe Sheehy and Con Brosnan; Delegate to Central Council – Mícheál Ó Ruairc. Mid-Kerry had a motion before the Convention ‘That the Mid-Kerry Board be given exclusive rights over players in the areas subject to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Parish Priests of Firies and Milltown, with the exception of Listry.’ This motion was passed by 55 votes to 18 but with the proviso that Ballyhar and Listry would be excluded. There were motions to reduce the numbers on the Senior Football Selection Committee. Father O Doherty, Mid-Kerry, withdrew his motion that the status quo should be retained and the number was reduced to 10 – one from each District Board.
Killorglin Greyhound Track – now JP O’Sullivan Park
It was announced very early in the year that, ‘the long-felt want for a playing pitch for the district has at last been remedied. The recently re-organised committee has taken a stride in the right direction by purchasing some few acres of ground from Timmy McLoughlin. The new grounds will be but a stone’s throw from the former football pitch at Ballymacprior. Considerable reclamation and development will be required on the new site but, undoubtedly, the parishioners on the whole will throw their full weight behind the project.’ A non-refundable deposit of £350 was paid to the vendor.
Some weeks later, the following announcement was made, ‘As recently reported, an energetic committee had arranged purchase of grounds at Ballymacprior from Timmy McLoughlin. At a general meeting of those interested, the possibility of acquiring, even at this eleventh hour, the Greyhound Track was discussed. The meeting decided to appoint a sub-committee to interview John A. Foley, proprietor of the Greyhound Track. Father Jeremiah Murphy C.C., Chairman of the meeting, headed the deputation. Others included Murt Kelly N. T., Paddy Foley, Todd Mulvihill, Bobby Doyle, Paddy Crowley, Mossy Roche B.A., Ted Mangan and Liam Foley N. T. The deputation, accompanied by John A. Foley, inspected the grounds (on Fri. 9th March) and it is understood that ‘mutually acceptable terms were arrived at.’ The figure agreed was £2,000. In the Trail Blazers, by Pat O Shea, Liam Foley, in an article, outlined his part in the purchase of the Greyhound Track as follows, “John A. Foley, Iveragh Road, asked me to put it to the Committee that he would be prepared to sell the track grounds. I knew the Committee was considering various options. The Ballykissane area, of course, figured prominently in their minds, but so, also, did George Evans’ field adjacent to Dromavalla graveyard. However, the greyhound track was the ideal site. I put it to the Committee to send a delegation to try and make a deal with John A. They decided to do so. Shortly afterwards, John A’s brother, Gerard, approached me and said that apparently negotiations were void and that the club had lodged a purchase deposit on the undeveloped farmland of Timothy McLoughlin, adjacent to the Ballykissane Road. A meeting of the club members, under the Chairmanship of Father J. Murphy C.C., was due that night to consider ways of raising substantial funds for the conversion of the Ballykissane grounds. The raising of such funds would become an on-going inhibition on club members for years to come. Much of the organising work would devolve upon the schools of the parish and already six teachers, including myself, were on the Club Committee. I discovered that the deputation, which had attended on John A., had asked his price. When he said £4,000, they silently withdrew. They were, of course, forgetful that John A., coming from farming background, would naturally quote a price, which would be open to bargaining deliberation. I decided to appeal that night to the Committee and members to again send a deputation to John A. and try to make a deal even though this would mean sacrificing the £350 deposit on the Ballykissane pitch. I requested my friend and Committee member, Mossy Roche, Headmaster of the Technical School, to second my proposal and to point out to the members that there would immediately be available to the club an annual financial contribution from the County V.E.C. History shows that the appeal was successful, that John A. accepted the £2,000 price and that he also agreed to secure the club in the bank for financial purposes.”
On the following week it was announced that, ‘the J. P. O Sullivan Memorial Park at Killorglin is at last a reality. Acting upon approval given by a general meeting, the Committee has purchased the magnificent Greyhound Track for their purpose. Much organisational work will have to be done before opening day. The very large debt involved would, no doubt, deter a more timid group but it is anticipated, however, that the public will subscribe generously.’
Two meetings of the Committee in charge of the new playing pitch were held shortly afterwards. At the first, Dr. Eamonn O Sullivan was in attendance. Son of ‘The Champion’, in whose memory the Park would be named, the activities of the Committee naturally were of special interest to him. Dr. Eamonn inspected the pitch and, from the knowledge he had gained in the laying out of the Fitzgerald Memorial Park, Killarney, he was able to direct the Committee in several important matters. On the organisational side, he strongly advised the splitting up of the one general committee into several smaller groups, each with its own responsibilities of finance, publicity, grounds, etc.
The Finance Committee was established, met on Mon. 9th April and a discussion was held on the existing financial position. The Hon. Treasurer said that to date four unsolicited local subscriptions of £25 each had been handed in, while two others of £50 each had been promised. Circulars were ready and a general appeal would be launched immediately. It was decided that Friday evening would be a suitable evening to accept subscriptions from the business people and residents in general and if remaining subscriptions from the town were in keeping with the few already given, then a really fine headline would be set for the subscription lists of outside sympathisers.
On the following week, it was announced that, ‘The local subscription list for the O Sullivan Memorial Park has opened very satisfactorily and the committee is very pleased with and grateful to the residents of the town for the manner in which they opened the list. The improvement of the playing pitch is eminent and there is a fine opportunity of re-soiling the ground if the waste from the new housing sites in upper town is used.’
P.F, the great GAA scribe, wrote in the Kerryman of Sat. 7th April as follows, “The former Greyhound Racing Course at Killorglin has been purchased by a local committee. It will be turned into a Gaelic sports-field, to be known as the J. P. O Sullivan Memorial Park, in commemoration of the captain of the famous Laune Rangers of honoured memory. Purchase price of the magnificent playing pitch was £2,000. The committee has issued an appeal for funds towards paying the cost of the park and its further equipment. Kerry men all over Ireland, in England and America will be asked to subscribe towards this worthy purpose. J.P. and the Laune Rangers have become a Kerry legend. There is no doubt in my mind that it was the Rangers, who failed in the All-Ireland, more than any other teams, which succeeded, that shaped the destiny of Kerry’s Gaelic prowess. Father Devans’s writings in this paper some years ago made the modern generation familiar with the days and doings of the Rangers and their captain. It is but fitting that a park should be provided, in this cradle of Kerry football, to their memory. Kerry has built up the greatest record in Ireland in Gaelic football. The men who blazed the trail were Killorglin’s Laune Rangers, led by J.P. O Sullivan. All sons of the Kingdom, at home or in exile, will be expected to contribute to Killorglin’s new sports-field and make it a worthy monument to the gallant band who blazed the trail to Kerry’s football glory. The local committee, which has undertaken the task, a stupendous one for a small town, is deserving of every possible support. To their appeal I would respectfully add my own, especially to Kerry men overseas, to send their subscriptions to the J.P. O Sullivan Park. I have no doubt help will be generously forthcoming and a fully equipped park will be provided, a fitting tribute to the man who showed Kerry men the way and of the high esteem he holds in the hearts of all his county men. Incidentally, Killorglin is the last of the chief towns of Kerry to secure a sports-field. It was Father Devane’s suggestion that the new sports-field should be known as the J.P. O Sullivan Memorial Park. Father Devane and the older generation of Gaels will be delighted to hear of the purchase of the field. On its sward, young Killorglin men can learn the tricks of the code and so follow in the footsteps of the Rangers.”
In the Kerry Champion of Sat. 21st April, the following note appeared; ‘The collection for the new J. P. O Sullivan Memorial Park has already exceeded the most sanguine expectations. The generous subscriptions, which are pouring in, give an indication of the popularity of the new venture and the wisdom of the initiators. They are also a pointer to the fact that the Gaelic spirit, though somewhat latent for a while, is still strong and that only a little encouragement and opportunity are required to put Killorglin once again back into that proud place it formerly held in the Gaelic world. The ultimate financial success of the undertaking is now almost assured but there is yet a very long road to be travelled before the ambitious aims of the committee can be accomplished and so it is hoped that this initial success will not give way to relaxation until we have a field and footballers worthy of the town that is always regarded as the spring and fountain of the Gaelic code.’
In the Kerryman of 12th May, it was reported that the first subscription to arrive from overseas in answer to the local Committee’s appeal was one of $43 from Very Rev. J. P. Devane, Nebraska, USA. Father Devane, a native of Dingle, expressed his pleasure at having an opportunity to contribute financially to a game, in which all his life, he had been interested.
In Sept., John Kerry O Donnell, on a visit from New York, handed over to the J.P. O Sullivan Park Committee a very substantial subscription. The money was a present from a group of local Killorglin residents in New York.
In Oct., in a drive for funds, the club initiated a draw on the Cambridgeshire and the racing appeal made it popular.
The following is the written appeal for funds as circulated by the committee:
Páirc Chuimhneacháin Uí Shúilleabháin,
Cill Orglan, Co. Chiarraí
(J.P. O Sullivan Memorial Park)
—————————————————-
President – Rev. Fr. Finucane, P.P.
Vice-Presidents – Rev. Fr. Stack, C.C., Dr. E.N.M. O Sullivan
Chairman – Rev. Fr. Murphy, C.C.
Vice-Chairman – Mr. Patrick Foley.
Hon. Treasurers – Mr. T. Mulvihill, M.P.S.I., Mr. P. Crowley.
A CHÁIRDE,
The Committee of the above has purchased a field for two thousand pounds. It is estimated that a further two thousand will be needed to enclose and equip the ground, and they hereby appeal to all Gaels, particularly to those of Killorglin both at home and in exile, for their support in making the O Sullivan Park a fitting memorial to one who is regarded as the pioneer of Gaelic football and athletics in Kerry.
J.P., or as he was more popularly known, ‘The Champion,’ needs no introduction to followers of our games in Kerry at least. But lest time should have clouded the records of his prowess, we shall give a very brief resume of them.
His most notable achievement in Athletics was the capture of the All-Round Championship of Ireland in 1891. But for years prior to that date and subsequently he was a familiar and dominating figure at every Sports meeting in Munster, and indeed in every event at each meeting.
Running, Jumping, Hurdling and Weight-throwing, J.P. took them all in his stride, and had he lived in these days of one-event-specialists, he would undoubtedly have achieved world prominence.
His GAA career commenced when he organized the Laune Rangers football team in 1887. He captained them until 1893, and during that period, except in 1891, J.P. and his stalwarts reigned supreme in Kerry. In ’92 they annexed the Championship of Munster, and hopes were high as they traveled to Dublin in 1893 to contest the All-Ireland Final.
But the dreams and hopes of the Rangers were buried in Clonturk Park in a game that ended prematurely and before spectators whose conduct evoked the sternest condemnation of the Press of the day.
The Rangers, disheartened and embittered, hung up their boots. But, though they didn’t realize it then, their defeat was to prove the Easter Week of Kerry football.
The glorious failure of the men from the Laune and the magnetic personality of their famous captain captured the imagination of young Kerry, and were to be the inspiration pf legions of Kerry footballers as yet unborn.
The Committee’s sole assets are the enthusiasm, belief in the worthiness of their object, and implicit trust in the proverbial generosity of the Gael.
Help us to honour the man and the men who blazed the trail.
Beir bua agus beannacht.
Is sinne, thar ceann an Choiste,
Roibeárd Ó Dubhghaill,
Murt Ó Ceallaigh,
Rún. Oin.
Some of the people who contributed towards the above were:
Miss Teresa O Doherty, Killorglin Girls’ N.S. – £1; Mrs. Lambe, Killorglin Boys’ N.S. – £1;
Mrs. Eleanor Kelly, Killorglin Girls’ N.S. – £1; M. O Reilly – £5; Dr. Joe Prendiville – £5;
Ms. Sheila O Neill, Upper Bridge St. – £10; John Johnston, Langford St. – 5/-;
John Sheehy, Anglont – £1.
The headed paper used by the O Sullivan Park Committee carried the names of the following officers and committee:
President – Rev, D.J. Finucane, P.P.
Vice Presidents – Rev. M. Stack C.C., Dr. E.N.M O Sullivan, Dr. D. J. O Callaghan.
Chairman – Rev, Jeremiah Murphy, C.C.
Vice-Chairman – Paddy Foley.
Treasurers – Paddy Crowley and Todd Mulvihill.
Secs. – Murt Kelly N.T. and Tadhg O Connor N.T.
Committee – John A. Foley, Liam Foley N.T., Mossy Roche B.A., Ted Mangan, Johnny Mangan N.T., Sean O Riordan, John Joe Falvey, Mícheál O Donoghue N.T., Bobby Doyle, William Crowley.
Kerry won the Munster Senior Football Championship by beating Cork in Killarney on the score of 1-6 to 0-4. Mayo beat Kerry, after a replay, in the All-Ireland semi-final on the score of 2-4 to 1-5.
Kerry: Liam Fitzgerald, Jas Murphy, Paddy Bawn Brosnan, Donie Murphy, Sean Murphy, Jackie Lyne, Micksie Palmer, John Joe Sheehan, Dermot Hannifin, Paudie Sheehy, Eddie Dowling (1-1), Jim Brosnan, Pat Godley, Gerald O Sullivan (0-1), Tom Ashe (0-1). Subs: John Dowling for D. Hannifin, Tim Healy for J. Murphy, Sean O Connor for J. Dowling, Willie O Donnell for P. Godley.
On 20th Oct., Jack O Dwyer died in hospital in Dublin. He had been headmaster of the Intermediate School. He had been an officer of the East-Kerry Board and of the Co. Board in the thirties.
There was a General Election in May. The electorate of South-Kerry numbered 33,680 and there was a valid poll of 25,185. The three sitting T. D’s were returned to office namely, P. W. Palmer (FG), Jack Flynn (Ind. Rep.) and Mrs. Honor Mary Crowley (FF). Eamonn de Valera was elected Taoiseach.
After a somewhat threatening morning, the weather cleared up beautifully on Sun. 8th July to add warmth to a very enjoyable day in the O Sullivan Memorial Park. Youth had its fling when all events in the day’s athletic programme were keenly contested. Probably the event that drew most attention was the road cycle race. Four competitors came under starter’s orders at Beaufort Bridge and it was an indication of the very fine performance put up that when Gene Mangan was crossing the finishing line in front of the O Sullivan Park in 25 minutes from the start, two other contestants were also well in their last lap of the field. These three entered the Laune Bridge with nothing between them and it was only in a spurt up Cnocán na gCeap in the town, that Gene Mangan secured the lead, which he held to the finishing line. The final placings were: 1st Gene Mangan, 2nd Dan Ahern and 3rd J. Flynn. Other results of the meeting, which produced some very close finishes, were: 3-legged race – P. and J. O Shea; Long Puck – Aeneus Foley; Long Kick – Con Lynch, Caragh Lake; 80 yards (boys) – D. O Neill; 80 yards (girls) – 1st M. Foley, 2nd M. Teahan; 100 yards (open) – 1st T. Houlihan, 2nd Sean Gill; 100 yards (boys) – 1st S. Sullivan, 2nd J. Murphy, Callanfersy; 220 yards (boys) – 1st J. Woods, Milltown, 2nd J. Hurley, do; 220 yards (open) – 1st Sean Gill, 2nd T. Houlihan; 100 yards (girls) – 1st Gillian Mangan, 2nd M. Foley; 880 yards (open) – 1st Sean Gill, 2nd J. Murphy, Callanfersy; Balloon Race – 1st N. McCarthy, 2nd John Purcell; Relay Race – Patrick O Sullivan, Noel Foley, Myles Coffey and Mossy O Sullivan.
Michael O Riordan, who had left Killorglin in 1907, had retired from the post of Assistant Attorney General of the state of California but, in 1951, he accepted the appointment as Chief of the Home Protection Forces in San Francisco on a non-salaried basis.
In February, the writer of the Killorglin notes in the Kerry Champion complained that, whereas there was much agitation in Milltown for rural electrification, no such action was being taken in Killorglin. He called for mobilization on the matter.
At the end of Feb. a huge attendance thronged the Oisín Ballroom for the farewell performance of Butty Sugrue prior to his leaving to take up his new appointment with John Duffy’s circus.