Tá lúchair orm a bheith ar ais arís chun deireadh seachtaine Pháidí Uí Shé a sheoladh. Is é Corcha Dhuibhne ceann de na háiteanna is áille in Éirinn. Tá féile den scoth i ndán dóibh siúd a bhaileoidh ann an tseachtain seo chugainn. Ní féidir linn faic a dhéanamh faoin aimsir – ach is féidir dearmad a dhéanamh ar na spéartha gruama agus na séideáin fuar le Féile Pháidí. Is é an leaghas is fearr– ag an am seo den bhliain!
I am delighted to be back in the Burlington Hotel to launch Paidí’s exciting football tournament. It is now in its 15th year and has become a permanent and unmissable fixture in the football calendar. Once again this year, the people of Ventry and West Kerry will be treated to a festival of ceol agus craic, live entertainment, music and plenty of football.
There can be no doubt about Páidí’s incredible playing career, one that delivered multiple All Ireland medals with the greatest Gaelic Football team of all time, and even being a Dub, I do not begrudge it to them!! Páidí’s natural progression into management began with the Kingdom. In hindsight that was the start of a long mission that continues today.
He is outwardly and rightly proud of his roots and willing in whatever way he can to enhance the community through sports and great craic. And I can describe it as a mission because having delivered two All Irelands and restoring the Kingdom to its former greatness, he departed the Kerry Hot Seat for what now can only be described as his “evangelical” tour!
We have seen what Kerrymen – or more precisely Kerry footballers - have achieved once outside the Kingdom boundaries! We saw what he did himself with Westmeath – a county that had never previously won a Leinster Championship. That needs no elaboration with their celebration of their first ever Leinster Crown.
Paidí may have thought he had done enough but we can never get enough of someone who evokes such glorious moments – especially when we consider their impact on the annals of Westmeath football. And we are so glad that his tour continues this year. True to his form, Páidí has answered the call of the banner county. Indeed his return to inter-county management must have surprised few who know him. If anything, it testifies to his abiding love for - and near obsession - with Gaelic football!
As was the case with Westmeath, Páidí takes on the Clare role at a time when the county is at a low ebb. However, their early league form and particularly an impressive away win over Carlow on the first day of the league, suggests that his magic may once again be worked to great effect. His enthusiasm, technical knowledge and that great love of the game are truly infectious and few will be surprised if he once again works the oracle on the West coast this summer!
And back to this year’s tournament! The teams participating hail from Derry, Kildare, Offaly, Cork, Kerry of course and Malaga. And yes, - I said Malaga - not an Irish county - in the traditional sense but they have adopted gaelic games with gusto!! Malaga is a favourite haunt for many Irish people - some of whom have emigrated bringing the best of our culture with them. Our sport has thankfully taken root. Now they can have the best of both worlds - sun, sand and GAA - all year around! No compromise! Indeed, what some might regard as heaven itself!!
This is their first year to participate and I hope it will be the first of many. It is also worth noting that the current trainer of the Celbridge team is former Dublin player, Barney Rock. Barney's unforgettable magic of the 80s is sure to rub off once again - potentially giving the opposing teams a run for their money in true Dublin style! Of course, the ladies will also feature with teams from Dublin, Tipperary, Limerick and Kerry participating.
A beautiful photographic exhibition, which will be launched by my colleague, John O’Donoghue, T.D., will also be on display during the festival featuring work by Tina Fröhlich. Some may already be familiar with her work from a previous exhibition there a number of years ago.
I commend Ballymore Properties and MD Donnelly who have taken up sponsorship of the event this year. These tournaments would not be able to continue were it not for their generosity and the contribution it makes to tourism in the south west is a very welcome bonus at this time of the year.
The Government too are committed to supporting tourism. The recent National Development Plan includes a Tourism Programme of investment totaling €800 million for the industry over the next seven years. This money and other programmes within the NDP will greatly benefit the tourism industry going forward.
Conclúid
Tá ré nua oscailte anois ní amháin i saol Phaidí ach i stair na peile i gContae an Cláir.
Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat, a Phaidí, leis an ról tábhachtach atá agat. San idirlinn, táim cinnte go mbeidh deireadh seachtaine iontach ag cách.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
CRÍOCH.