Killorglin Archive Society’s Decade of Centenaries Committee is hosting a lecture by Dr. Richard McElligott, entitled ‘Sport and Strife: The Civil War and the rise of Kerry’s Greatest Football team’, on Sat. 5th Feb. at 12 noon in the CYMS Hall, Killorglin.
It is well understood that the nature of how the Civil War was fought in Kerry meant the conflict’s legacy was especially raw and bitter. And yet, within months of its end, a Kerry team emerged, made up of men who represented both sides of the Civil War’s ideological divide, whose stunning national successes over the next decade were widely celebrated as an example of sport’s powerful healing and unifying power.
Yet, in reality, their story was much more complex – over to Dr. McElligott, who is from KIlflynn. He was awarded his PhD from UCD for his thesis on the early history of the GAA in Ireland. He is presently Lecturer in Modern and Irish History in Dundalk IT.
Fr. Tom Looney, himself an authority on Kerry GAA, will chair the presentation, and members of the families of some of the players involved at that time will be in attendance to share their stories.
This is a must for GAA, and all sports, enthusiasts, history enthusiasts and all interested in Kerry’s glorious past. The wearing of a mask is advisable.
