CLUB SUMMER CAMP: Our annual Summer Camp will commence next Monday in Caherslee at 9.30am. All boys and girls under 12 are welcome. Cost €40 per child and €60 for family.
UNDER 6/8/10: (i) Our Under 6s and Under 8s continue their training (a) on Sunday at 11.00am in Caherslee and (b) on Wednesday at 6pm in the CB primary school field (Cluain na Lobhar). (ii) The Paddy Drummond Cup competition for the Under 10s continues on Thursday night in Caherslee. Babhta a 4 will see Joseph O’Connor’s PEDDLERs, Gearóid Ó Síocháin’s ROUNDYs, Donagh Mac Iomhargáin’s PURTYs and Shane Walsh’s PLUGGYs giving their all to improve their league positions!
PEIL FAOI 12A: (i) Training for The Rock 12A team continues at 6pm on Mondays and on Thursdays in Caherslee. (ii) An fhoireann v Baile Uí Dhonnchú: Cathal O’Reilly; Shane O’Donoghue, Jack Ó Muireagáin, Darren Bastible; Dylan Hennebery, Colin Griffin, Rory Hill; Michael O’Donnell (captaen), Calvin Foley; Philip Quilter, Seán Mac Muiris, Louis Ryle; Kieran Carmody, Seán Dukes, Oisín Mac Gearailt; Fergal Ryan, Keelan Pierce, Jack Murray, Dara Ó Scannláin.
UNDER 12B: (i) Our Under 12B boys went under to an impressive Dr. Croke Club outfit on Sunday evening last. Team: Daniel Ó Tíocháin, Andrew McEllistrim, Anthony Lonergan, Ciarán O’Reilly, Rory Forbes, Michael Linnane, Ian Moynihan, Joseph O’Connor, Seán Tansley, Adam McEllistrim, David Fitzmaurice, Darren Chester, Wallid, Simon Lonergan, Adam Buckley. (ii) B boys training continues at 6pm on Mondays and on Thursdays in Caherslee.
ACADAMH NA gCAILÍNÍ: (i) SUNDAY: The Austin Stack Club girl’s football academy enjoyed sunshine and rain on Sunday morning and plenty of lively football was played by those in attendance. New members continue to join and we are delighted to welcome these players and their families into the club. Thanks to a grant from the Kerry Local Sports’ Partnership plenty of new equipment was in use and a varied programme of activities was enjoyed by all. Next Sunday as usual, a chailíní. (ii) FAOI 12: The U12 team visited Currow on Sunday evening. Due to holidays, injuries and illness a less experienced panel than usual travelled. However a number of the players really impressed when having to adjust to new positions and roles on the pitch. This all led to a very significant learning experience for the players who travelled. Currow won the day and the Austin Stack Club players registered a score of 1-05. We would like to thank Currow for a very sporting game and wish them every success in the coming season. Training for this group of players will continue on Wednesday evenings from 5.30pm to 6.45pm as well as the 11.00am Sunday morning session. (iii) CAMPA SAMHRAIDH: The club’s summer camp will run from 9.30am to 12.30pm each day from July 13th to 17th. Caherslee is the venue. The cost is €40 for an individual child and €60 for a family. We would encourage players and their friends to participate in what is always a fun and active few days. (iv) “PEIL & SPRAOI”: The Austin Stack Club mums and friends were getting fit through “Footie and Fun” again on Tuesday night! Indeed they will be doing so in James Connolly Park from 8.30pm to 9.30pm every Tuesday for the summer months. All are welcome agus fáilte. Due to the unavailability of Liam McDonough, Mary B (the woman with an impressive 78% free taking success rate!) took the troops through their paces. The academy members can rest assured that their mothers are blazing a trail that they can follow in years to come. Go on da sisterhood! Mná na Carraig Abú! (v) CEILIÚRADH: A number of members, mentors and parents of the academy were delighted to join in the celebration of Noreen Power’s contribution to the Ladies’ Club. Noreen stepped down as chairperson after eight years in February and last Friday night she was ‘lured’ to a surprise party in the clubhouse to acknowledge her tireless efforts on behalf of the club. Her work was graciously acknowledged by Ger Reidy (Austin Stack Club Chairman) and Maurice McNamara (Ladies’ Club Chairman). Noreen is contemplating more of a change of portfolio than complete retirement as she has expressed an interest in joining the mums and friends in “Fun & Footie”! Come on, Noreen…being a grandmother will make you twice as valuable a participant!UNDER 14A: (i) Summer training for our club Under 14A team takes place in Connolly Park on Mondays and on Wednesdays at 4.30pm. (ii) Our representatives on the Kerry Under 14 Development Squad: Joseph O’Kelly, Barry Walsh, Conor Jordan, Eoghan O’Carroll, Kyle Fitzgibbon, Greg Horan and Tomas Ziga. (iii) Tralee Community Gardaí (Coiste Thrá Lí) Under 14 Football League Division 1. The U14 A team got their Tralee Town League campaign off to a winning start with a hard fought victory away to Listowel Emmets on Monday last. Short a number of regulars due to injuries and holidays, Stacks started well and led at half-time on a scoreline of 3-10 to 2-06. Playing with the wind in the second half, The Rock dominated the exchanges early on and extended their lead. However, through poor finishing and tiredness, they left Emmets back into the game and were relieved to be 3 points clear at the final whistle. An scór: Austin Stacks A: 3-15; Listowel Emmets: 4-09. Team and scorers: Brian Horgan; James O’Connor, Barry Walsh, Tommy Nicholson; Shane Greensmith, Darragh O’Carroll, Adam Barrett (0-02); Greg Horan (0-04), Tomas Ziga (0-01); Ryan Downey, Breandan Duffin (1-00), James Galvin (0-01); Michael Lynch (1-00), Kyle Fitzgibbon (1-04), Breandán Caball (0-03). Sub: Anthony Moynihan for James O’Connor (gortú láimhe). (iv) Other fixtures for 14As as follows: (a) Our next encounter~ v Kerins~O’Rahillys ..away this Friday…change of date; (b) Laune Rangers…home on 27/07/2009; (c) Castle Island Desmonds…home on 10/08/2009; (d) Ardfert…away on 24/08/2009.
FAOI 14B: (i) Training for the B boys will take place in Connolly Park on Wednesdays and on Fridays from 6.45pm to 8pm and a game will be played on Sundays at 7pm. (ii) Tralee Community Gardaí (Coiste Thrá Lí) Under 14 Football League Division 3 fixtures for Austin Stack Club B boys as follows: (a) St Pats…away on 13/07/2009…next Monday; (b) Ballymac…home on 27/07/2009; (c) St Pats…home on 24/08/2009; (d) Ballymac…away on 31/08/2009.
PEIL FAOI 15: Our representatives on the Kerry Under 15 Development Squad: Shane Walsh and Ciarán Ó Conaill…motoring well…go n-éirí go geal leo!
PEIL FAOI 16: (i) The Under 16 lads are back in full training….on Mondays, on Wednesdays and on Fridays at 4pm in Connolly Park. (ii) Our first two games have been postponed and we face Keirns~O’Rahillys in our opening game on Wednesday in Connolly Park. Best of luck to the Joe, to Seánie and to the lads. (iii) County championship: Wednesday 19th August.
IOMÁNAÍOCHT FAOI 16/17/18: (i) On Monday last in Ardfert our hurlers unsuccessfully challenged the local minors. The mentors were satisfied with many performances and with the great effort made by all. They showed improvement on the previous outing…another step has been taken by these enthusiastic players who enjoy their hurling. An fhoireann: Ciarán Ó Conaill (sa chúl); Peadar Ó Loididh, Andrew Foley, Joe Meehan; Lúcás Ó Donnaile, Floyd Ó Beoláin, Greg Ó Dúlaing; Dylan Ó Croidheáin (o-2), Aaron de Barra; Brian Óg Caball (1-1), Fearghal Mac Conmara, Daryl; Eoin Sugrue, Seán de Róiste, Alan. Sub: Brendan Duffin. (iii) Hurling training will take place in Connolly Park at 7.00pm on Wednesday and also at 7.00pm on Friday.
UNDER 8/10/12 HURLING: (i) The VHI Hurling Summer Camp will be held in Austin Stack Park, J.J.Sheehy Road, from 17th August to 21st August. All club players are encouraged to have a go! You can book at the Co. Board Office. (ii) It is expected that the County Board HURLING initiative will recommence on Friday 28th August.
40 YEARS OF SCÓR: To celebrate 40 years of Scór (‘69~’o9) a celebration concert will be held in the Malton Hotel, Cill Airne, on Saturday 15th August. [In that time our club reached 5 All-Irelands: Quiz (Liam Lynch/Peter Walsh/Tadhg Crowley) in ’85, Rince Foirne (John Chambers’ dancers), Aithriseoireacht in ’01 and two Sketches, one of which won (Tomás, Nóra & George Óg de Rís/Sandra Harty/Sinéad Ní Chréan-Loinsigh)].
INSIDE THE HEART OF THE GAA: “The Gaelic Athletic Association 1884-2009” (Irish Academic Press) ~ a series of essays…a book to read:“”Strange, but after a turbulent 125 years at the centre of Irish life, the GAA is no closer really to being fully understood and appreciated as a cultural phenomenon than it was at its founding. As Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh (UCG) states in the closing essay of this fine collection: “In general histories of modern Ireland, the social importance of the GAA remains curiously understated.” In the United States, baseball is still happily nurtured, not just as a pastime but also as a metaphor for that nation’s personality. Jacques Barzun’s observation to the effect that whoever wants to know the heart and mind of the US had better learn baseball is still quoted as being irrefutable. And in Canada there is only one game in the nation’s heart: ice hockey. The GAA, however, we take for granted! The vehicle which its games offer for expression of our national temperament is often belittled as lacking the dubious but craved-for external validation of international competition. The Association gets dragged into almost every bunfight when not staging bunfights itself. The GAA’s immense energy, its network of volunteerism, its remarkable physical infrastructure and its status as an amateur sporting body are celebrated less than they should be and almost always with the caveat that to celebrate, praise or defend the GAA isn’t to belittle other sports. Perhaps the omnipresent nature of its existence, not just in rural life but across suburbia and exurbia, makes it hard to get the distance required for perspective. In a world shaped by homogeneity and franchised order, however, perhaps the GAA is the last and most vibrant expression of our unique selves that we have.Yet, as Diarmuid Ferriter (Dublin historian) points out in his wise introduction to this collection of explorations into the caverns of the GAA’s personality, until 1984 and the publication of Breandán Ó hEithir’s seminal “Over The Bar”, no serious attempt had been made to fully understand or contextualise the GAA’s role in Irish society or culture. Ó hEithir’s masterpiece was the first inkling that Barzun’s words about baseball and the heart and mind of the United States might be applicable to the GAA and Ireland.Things have improved since Ó hEithir nourished us with his words but still there is a tendency in coverage of the GAA and in even the GAA’s approach to itself to be imitative of the slicker packaging which big-time professional games receive. When discussing the GAA, the invisible two-thirds of the iceberg is dismissed easily with the word grassroots, while the visible tip of the Association, the players who become household names, absorbs almost all coverage and consideration. All of which misses the point of the GAA and betrays its history and intent.This collection, born out of collaboration between the GAA’s Oral History Project and Sports’ History Ireland, lifts the canon of GAA literature out of the swamp of vibey self-congratulation and into a field where fissures and failures can be examined along with the Association’s achievements and views of itself.Michael Cusack, for instance, has long been a curiosity for many of us who wondered about the perfunctory nod given to him in the naming of a ground in Clare and a stand in Croke Park but little else. Paul Rouse gives the old boy’s reputation a vigorous dusting down.The image of this impetuous, full-bearded man playing in goal every week for the Metropolitan Hurling Club in the Phoenix Park has always been appealing, but Rouse’s insights into Cusack’s rambunctious (turbulent) personality and his splendid mastery of the abusive one-liner….“I received your letter this morning, and burned it”….does much to explain how he came to be ushered gently from the stage when the GAA began to develop a sense of itself.His wonderful invective (abusive speech or writing)….often directed at the GAA which had moved on without him….is sufficient surely to earn him a recall to central prominence in any understanding of the Association. His brilliant tongue and sharp penmanship and the poignance of his later life make him worthy of still more study.Any collection of essays on the modern GAA should be bracing and challenging and should occasionally take the GAA by the lapels and fling it against the wall.Brian Ó Conchubhair’s (Brian wore the black’n’amber as an underage hurler and is therefore one of our own!) examination of the GAA’s sometimes tokenistic but occasionally jealous efforts at assisting in or effecting a revival of the Irish language frames that entire debate within the difficulties we have as a nation in redefining ourselves, in encompassing new cultures and influences and yet retaining fidelity to the past and our own cultural aspirations.There are many who rely on the GAA to be more than a mere sporting organisation. There are others who will engage with the GAA only if that is all it is.Richard Holt’s discussion of Ireland and the Birth of Modern Sport places the GAA as somewhat fortunate to be founded when it was, at a time when sports were being codified and organised and evolving from village recreations to being the new opiate of the masses.The Irish contribution to nascent (starting to develop) sporting organisations across the globe, especially in Britain and North America, prompts you to wonder how the nation’s personality would have been changed had the GAA never been dreamed of or if it had failed in its infancy.The GAA, in this, a significant anniversary year, has outgrown at last the need to pay maudlin (foolishly sentimental) tribute to itself and has acquired the ability to examine itself in the context of a modern and changing Ireland. In that respect, the GAA has grown more in the last 25 years than it did in the first century of it’s existence.Croke Park will be neither annoyed nor frightened at such a rigorous academic examination of its credentials, and that confidence is perhaps the theme of the modern GAA, a big clamorous, complex and eternally relevant sporting body which needs to be more than that or just that depending on your view.The Association is unfathomable, but here, at the very least, is another way into its labyrinthine (weblike) heart.“”……………….says Tom Humphries. An leabhar a cheannach, is dócha!COISTE NA nÓG: www.kerrycoistenanog.comSINN FÉIN: www.austinstacks.ie