On Sunday August the 7th 2011 Listry U-8/U-10 boys and girls
travelled to Cahirciveen.In glorious sunshine we played two fantastic
games of football against the famous St.Mary’s GAA club in Con Keating
park.Both U-8 and U-10 teams played really well,they passed the ball,
defended brilliantly,took some great scores and wore the green and
white with pride.The most pleasing thing of all was the enthusiasm of
the large number of parents.Every kick and score was applauded loudly
and the players really responded to it,thank you.
After the games,thirty eight parents and children travelled to
the marina and boarded the ‘Boat with Wheels’.This is a purpose built
boat that can travel on land or water.Still buzzing after playing such
great football we headed for ‘Beginish’ island,wearing our Listry
jerseys and waving our green and white flag.On our way to the island we
could see Ballycarbery castle,once home to McCarthy Mor,one of the last
Irish Chieftains.Then we passed Church island with its monastic
settlement before we finally,like the vikings before us,invaded
Beginish island.What a beautiful island,two beaches,a viking settlement,
ancestoral home of the great Kerry footballer Mick O’Connell and
fantastic scenery.
Back on the boat again and heading for Valentia,skipper Tom spun
the boat 360 degrees several times to roars of approval from all on
board.More excitement followed later when our guide Aine spotted some
seals.
Next stop was Valentia island,where we had some refreshments,
watched the All-Ireland hurling semi-final and strolled along the
harbour in Knightstown.On arriving back to the boat we noticed skipper
Tom had mounted the Listry flag and with the green and white flying
high we headed back to the marina in Cahirciveen.
On the way back to the marina Aine our guide showed some
pictures of wildlife to the kids and asked them to name what they had
seen on the day.The younger kids got to colour a picture of the boat.
Finally we were back at the marina,tired,but glad to have spent a few
hours together as a club in a beautiful harbour.
Thank you to;
*Barry O’Shea,St.Mary’s GAA club
*Football trainers Pa Murphy,Jamie
Clifford and Jerome Kennedy
*Peter and Siobhan Keane ‘SuperValu’ for
the ‘Goodie bags’
*Sean Walsh, referee.
*The fantastic U-8 andU-10 Listry
footballers
*The wonderful parents
*Tom and Aine O’Connell ‘Valentia Harbour
Tours’

Hope you all had a great day. Up Listry,

Murt Broderick.