Kerry football legend meets with Tipperary school Harty Cup squad

The CBS Thurles Harty Cup panel left the school to travel to fellow ERST school, Tralee CBS, The Green on Monday.

On the journey the boys stopped into UL to the Arena where they met past pupil Jack Hickey who is doing a PHD in UL.

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Jack gave the boys a tour of the Arena showing them where Munster Rugby train and the boys saw international athletes Sarah Lavin and Sharlene Mawdsley training.

Marcus Horan, former Irish and Munster Rugby player met the boys for a chat also.

In Tralee we played a match with Tralee CBS before going back to the school to use their wonderful facilities.

In the school the boys met local historian, Dr Tim Horgan who spoke about local history in Tralee, especially the influence Gaelic Football had in healing Civil War hostilities during the 1920s.

Both sides came together and went on to win four All-Irelands in a row.

He showed the boys two bullets from 1916 when Roger Casement brought weapons and ammunition to Banna Beach.

Dr Horgan is a surgeon but is also one of Kerry’s best known historians.

The boys were well fed and looked after by Benners Hotel in Tralee on Monday and Tuesday.

Thanks to Alan O’Sullivan for his hospitality. Alan trained the Kerry footballers to a number of All-Irelands with Jack O’Connor and is involved in coaching in Tralee CBS.

Mr Mark Ryall of Tralee CBS took incredible care of the boys, planning and coordinating the trip for the school.

Mark is a selector with the Kerry Senior hurlers and is doing massive work with hurling in the school as they continue to go from strength to strength.

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Mr Marc Ó Sé from An Gaeltacht met the boys on Tuesday morning and spoke about performing at top level sport and dealing with setbacks and challenges as a player.

Marc was footballer of the year, winner of three all-stars and five All-Ireland medals with Kerry.

He is currently Kerry Minor manager and coaching the Corn Uí Mhuirí senior football team in the school.

Thanks to principal Mr Robert Flaherty for the lovely welcome and hosting us in the school.

Ms Ger O’Dwyer nee Dwan from Freshford chatted with the Kilkenny boys.

Ms English from Lattin Cullen came along to see the boys also at our match.

It was lovely to see the boys mixing with other CBS boys from very similar backgrounds and enjoying the hospitality of the hosts.

The boys travelled out to Banna Beach for a jog and swim before a recovery session in the Banna Leisure Centre where they used their ice baths, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and beautiful pool.

Before leaving, the boys went back to Benners Hotel for dinner.

Thanks to everyone in Kerry that took such wonderful care of us and to all the people that helped sponsor or pay for the trip for the boys.