CLUB HISTORY
Farranfore Athetic Club was founded in 1932. It continued until the late 1980’s when it amalgamated with Maine Valley. It caters for athletes of all ages within a catchment area stretching from Farranfore to Dingle. Events include: Sprints, Middle Distance, Walks, Jumps and Throws. Among its Annual Club Promotions are: The District School Sports, Club Open Sports and The Annual St. Stephens Day Road Race which has run every year since 1961.
George Walsh Memorial Cup.
Kerryman Article 2009: "George Walsh was born at Springmount, Farranfore on July 28, 1899 and in his short career achieved success that others could only have dreamed of. Throughout the course of his athletics career he represented his country, could claim to have been a European champion and also defeated an Olympic champion not once, but twice.
Farranfore Athetic Club was founded in 1932. It continued until the late 1980’s when it amalgamated with Maine Valley. It caters for athletes of all ages within a catchment area stretching from Farranfore to Dingle. Events include: Sprints, Middle Distance, Walks, Jumps and Throws. Among its Annual Club Promotions are: The District School Sports, Club Open Sports and The Annual St. Stephens Day Road Race which has run every year since 1961.
George Walsh Memorial Cup.
Kerryman Article 2009: "George Walsh was born at Springmount, Farranfore on July 28, 1899 and in his short career achieved success that others could only have dreamed of. Throughout the course of his athletics career he represented his country, could claim to have been a European champion and also defeated an Olympic champion not once, but twice.
Walsh was a gifted athlete by nature, competing in many different sports but it was in athletics, and in particular field events, that the Farranfore man excelled. George and his brother Ned were prominent figures in the local athletics scene having been trained by the legendary Jack Collins from Currans. In 1923 Walsh joined the Garda Siochana and was based in Coachford, Co. Cork which would mark the next stage in his athletics career as he won three Munster Championships in-a-row from 1924-6 in both the 16lb shot and 56lb distance events.
It was in 1928, however, that George really began to show his talent when at that year's Garda Championships he won the 16lb shot putt event defeating Ireland's first Olympic gold medallist Dr Pat O'Callaghan in the process.
He also competed in that year's Tailteann Games (an event dubbed the 'Irish Olympics') and finished third in his favoured 16lb shot and 56lb distance events. 1929 would be a phenomenal year for George as well, a year in which he won the Munster Discus Championship along with an amazing 16 gold and 12 silver medals in various shot and hammer championships.
It was at this stage that George started to get some recognition for his efforts on the national stage when in August 1931 he was chosen to represent his country in an international meeting with France where he again managed to get the better of O'Callaghan.
What was more impressive was the fact Walsh got the better of him in two events, beating him in the discus and hammer, with O'Callaghan at the peak of his career having set a world record in the discus shortly before the event.
Walsh also won individual meetings in both Glasgow and Manchester. He continued to impress the following year when he took part in the A.A.A. championships in London. The event was the equivalent of the European Athletics Championships and attracted athletes from all over the continent. For all intents and purposes, Walsh could claim to be a European Champion as with no official continental championships at the time he won the 16lb hammer and also finished third in the discus at the event. He also represented Ireland again that year in an international meeting with Scotland claiming gold in three events; the hammer, shot and 56lb distance. That year's Tailteann Games saw Walsh pick up a gold medal in the hammer as well as silver and bronze in the shot and discus events.
Walsh was now entering the twilight of his career and was awarded the Garda Athletic Award for his achievements in 1933 and in his final event in 1934 in the D.M.G. Championships at the Phoenix Park he won gold in the hammer and silver in the discus event. George retired from both athletics and the Gardai and married Catherine Burke from Coachford and fathered two children, Tom and Mary, before his untimely death in 1938 at the age of 38. Walsh is buried at his family's plot in Dysart near Castleisland and there is a permanent display in his memory in Breathnach's Bar, Coachford with many of his near 140 medals on show.
The magnitude of Walsh's achievements are quite remarkable and it is quite unfortunate that the Farranfore man never got the opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics considering the same opportunities on offer now just weren't available in Walsh's time. Defeating an Olympic champion twice and excelling in international competitions would be ample reason for inclusion in an Olympic squad in modern times. Walsh's achievements also underlines how someone could rise from humble beginnings and with grit and determination compete with the very best his sport had to offer."
It was in 1928, however, that George really began to show his talent when at that year's Garda Championships he won the 16lb shot putt event defeating Ireland's first Olympic gold medallist Dr Pat O'Callaghan in the process.
He also competed in that year's Tailteann Games (an event dubbed the 'Irish Olympics') and finished third in his favoured 16lb shot and 56lb distance events. 1929 would be a phenomenal year for George as well, a year in which he won the Munster Discus Championship along with an amazing 16 gold and 12 silver medals in various shot and hammer championships.
It was at this stage that George started to get some recognition for his efforts on the national stage when in August 1931 he was chosen to represent his country in an international meeting with France where he again managed to get the better of O'Callaghan.
What was more impressive was the fact Walsh got the better of him in two events, beating him in the discus and hammer, with O'Callaghan at the peak of his career having set a world record in the discus shortly before the event.
Walsh also won individual meetings in both Glasgow and Manchester. He continued to impress the following year when he took part in the A.A.A. championships in London. The event was the equivalent of the European Athletics Championships and attracted athletes from all over the continent. For all intents and purposes, Walsh could claim to be a European Champion as with no official continental championships at the time he won the 16lb hammer and also finished third in the discus at the event. He also represented Ireland again that year in an international meeting with Scotland claiming gold in three events; the hammer, shot and 56lb distance. That year's Tailteann Games saw Walsh pick up a gold medal in the hammer as well as silver and bronze in the shot and discus events.
Walsh was now entering the twilight of his career and was awarded the Garda Athletic Award for his achievements in 1933 and in his final event in 1934 in the D.M.G. Championships at the Phoenix Park he won gold in the hammer and silver in the discus event. George retired from both athletics and the Gardai and married Catherine Burke from Coachford and fathered two children, Tom and Mary, before his untimely death in 1938 at the age of 38. Walsh is buried at his family's plot in Dysart near Castleisland and there is a permanent display in his memory in Breathnach's Bar, Coachford with many of his near 140 medals on show.
The magnitude of Walsh's achievements are quite remarkable and it is quite unfortunate that the Farranfore man never got the opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics considering the same opportunities on offer now just weren't available in Walsh's time. Defeating an Olympic champion twice and excelling in international competitions would be ample reason for inclusion in an Olympic squad in modern times. Walsh's achievements also underlines how someone could rise from humble beginnings and with grit and determination compete with the very best his sport had to offer."
Daughter Mary Lynch and her husband, Jim, presented a Perpetual Cup to the club in memory of her father, "The George Walsh Memorial Cup". The cup is presented to the outstanding young thrower in the club each year.
QUILL CUP
The Club won The Quill Cup for the first time in 1962. Among the athletes involved were Tom Walsh, Jerome Crowley, Jim O’Shea, Johnny Piggott, Michael Foley, Denis McSweeney and Mick Fleming.
The Club again won the cup in 1974 with John Murphy, Brendan Murphy, Dermot McCarthy, Eddie Mulcahy & Bob Ferris being new additions to the club.
It was not until 2009 when the club won the cup.The team consisted of James P Nagle, Arthur Fitzgerald, Daniel Clifford, Niall Prendiville, Ian Crowley , Shane Hand, Seanie O’ Shea and Eamonn O’ Mahony.
The Quill Cup came back to the club in 2013 where most of the team were from the 2009 squad. The team was made up of: Ian Crowley, Daniel Clifford, Sean O'Shea, Niall Prendiville, Arthur Fitzgerald and George McCarthy. See link: HERE
Jim O' Shea awarded THE KERRY SPORTING HALL OF FAME 2012
(extract from Tralee Outlook Magazine)
QUILL CUP
The Club again won the cup in 1974 with John Murphy, Brendan Murphy, Dermot McCarthy, Eddie Mulcahy & Bob Ferris being new additions to the club.
It was not until 2009 when the club won the cup.The team consisted of James P Nagle, Arthur Fitzgerald, Daniel Clifford, Niall Prendiville, Ian Crowley , Shane Hand, Seanie O’ Shea and Eamonn O’ Mahony.
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| 2013: Sean O'Shea, Daniel Clifford, Jerome crowley (Chairman), George McCarthy, Niall Prendiville |
Jim O' Shea awarded THE KERRY SPORTING HALL OF FAME 2012
(extract from Tralee Outlook Magazine)
One of the most accomplished athletes in Kerry over the past five decades was acknowledged for his service to the sport at the Kerry AAI Awards night which took place in Tralee at the weekend Listry native Jim O' Shea of Farranfore/MaineValley Athletic Club was awarded the Hall of Fame at the Kerry Athletics Awards Night in the Manor West Hotel on Friday night. Jim joined Farranfore Athletic Club in 1960 and was a key member of the club team that won the Quill Cup at the Kerry Track and Field Championships in 1962 and 1974. He was also a member of many successful club teams at novice, intermediate and senior level in both cross - country and road in the years from 1960 to 1972. He was team manager to numerous Kerry Cross Country teams and was also a dedicated Kerry County Board and Club official. “Jim worked in Liebherr, where he qualified as a fitter - welder. Later he became an instructor with A.N.C.O. the industrial training organisation in Galway and Tralee. FAS took over functions of A.N.C.O and Jim was appointed one the managerial posts in the Killarney office where he was responsible for a lot of voluntary and community group work in South Kerry in the 80's and 90's. These organisational skills were transferred to his hobby and great passion - athletics. He became a club officer the year he joined and has held same position ever since.. He has also being chairman, secretary and treasurer of the County Board at various times,” said Jerome Crowley from Farranfore Athletic Club. “Jim has competed as a veteran / master since 1982 mainly in the high and long jump and sprints. He has maintained a good level of fitness all his life and this has reaped rewards at county, provincial, national and even international level. He has competed regularly at the British Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field championships with much success. Only a couple of weeks ago, he returned from the Lee Valley Indoor Arena in London with a gold medal ( high jump ) and a silver medal ( long jump ). He is also very much involved in his parish community in Listry and has a good sense of humour - a man for all seasons.”
He attended Tralee C.B.S. and in 1962, with colleagues Ted Fitzgerald, Henry McKenney and Brian O’Neill won the Munster Schools 4x100 yards relay. They went on the win bronze medals at the All Ireland Schools in that year.
In 1961, he won the County Senior Long Jump Title and placed second in the Triple Jump. In 1962 and 1963 he won medals in both Long & Triple Jumps at the Munster Schools Championships. Jerome was part of the club team who won the coveted Quill Cup for the first time in 1962. Like his late father, John Crowley, he has given sterling service to Farranfore Maine Valley Athletic Club and to Kerry County Athletics Board
Michael O'Connor awarded THE KERRY SPORTING HALL OF FAME 2018
Michael (Mike) O’Connor made his athletics debut at Ballyhar Sports in 1966, when as a tall lanky youngster, he entered and won the 880 yards under 18 run. He was awarded for his efforts with a prize of a cake stand. He was then hooked on the sport!!
Joining Farranfore Athletic Club, on the invitation of John Crowley, he trained regularly and made great strides (pardon the pun).
In 1967, he competed in The Kerry Junior Road championships over two miles and won the individual title from Listowel’s jerry Kiernan in the runner-up position.
Other highlights of his career:
1968 – Won the Kerry Novice Cross Country Championship
1972 – Won the National Novice Road Walking Race Title at Kilkenny and also in this year he won the Kerry Senior Cross Country Title held in Ballymacelligott.
During the 70’s and 80’s, he was a regular member of Kerry Cross Country teams and won Munster and National team medals. Also, as a member of FCA, he won the Defence Forces Cross Country title.
As a veteran / Master athlete, he has won numerous county, Munster and national Titles in both middle distance and Race walking events.
Mike has competed for Ireland in three European Masters race walking Championships. (Madrid, AnCona and Seville). He also competed in the Dublin City Marathon completing the distance in a time of 2hrs 57mins.
Mike has been a very regular and loyal club member for well over fifty years and still retains his love for the sport in athletics. He is still a regular competitor with no intentions on stopping. He is our resident public speaker at our club sports day and Farranfore Road Race.
Mike’s favourite read each week is “Athletics weekly” magazine to which he has been a subscriber for many years. He can be found on several week mornings doing Race walking training in Killarney National park and along the Fossa way.
INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS:
2003:
Gillian O’Sullivan won a Silver Medal at The World Athletic Champs in Paris in the 20km Walk.
2012:
Emma Prendiville finished 4th at the International EAA Race Walking Championships in Lugano, Switzerland in the U20 10KM Race Walk. more here
Emma Prendiville represented Ireland in the IAAF World Junior 10K race walk championships in Saransk, Russia. Emma finished in 46th place.Link
Emma Prendiville represented Ireland in the IAAF World Junior Championships 2012 10K race walk in Barcelona. Emma finished in 31st place with at PB time of 52.41.51Link
Maria McCarthy represented Ireland in the British & Irish Masters Cross Country Championships held in Belfast. Maria was part of the team to take silver in the O35 category, just missing out on the gold from the British. Maria finished in 11th place overall. Link
2013:
Jim O'Shea competed in the British Masters Indoors T&F where he picked up a Gold in the High Jump 1.30m and a Silver in the Long Jump 4.01m in the M70 category
Jim O'Shea also competed in the British Master Outdoor T&F where he won Silver in the High Jump (1.30m) and Silver in the Long Jump (4.04m) in the M70 category
2014:
Jim O'Shea competed in the British Masters Indoors T&F where he picked up a Gold in the High Jump 1.31m and a Silver in the Long Jump 3.97m in the M70 category
2015:
Maria McCarthy competed in the World Masters Track & field Championships in Lyon, France on August 2015. Maria won silver in the 5000m & finished in 6th place in the 1500m.
2016:
2017:
2018:
Shauna McCarthy was part of the Junior Girls Irish Team to compete in the SIAB Schools Cross Country, Nottingham, where she was a part of the team to win Bronze.
Jim O’Shea European Masters Indoors, Madrid, where he was first in the M75 Long Jump at a distance of 4 meters.
2019:
Jim O’Shea (M75) was outstanding winning individual Bronze in the High Jump with a jump of 1.25m. He was 4th in the Long Jump of 4.04m, just 8cm off the bronze medal position. Jerome Foley & Sean O'Shea also competed.
CLUB AWARDS
Club Awards 2012: Awards-2012
Club Awards 2013: Awards-2013
Club Awards 2014: Awards-2014
CLUB ROAD RACE St. Stephens Day
Race Results 2011: results 2011
Race Results 2012: results 2012
Race Results 2013: results 2013
Race Results 2014: results 2014
CLUB ROAD RACE Mile Dash Challenge
Race Results 2014: Mile Dash results 2014
KERRY AAI AWARDS
Kerry AAI Awards 2009:County Awards_2009
Kerry AAI Awards 2010:County Awards_2010
Kerry AAI Awards 2011: County Awards_2011
Kerry AAI Awards 2012: County Awards_2012
Kerry AAI Awards 2014: County Awards_2014
Kerry AAI Awards 2018:
Jerome Crowley awarded THE KERRY SPORTING HALL OF FAME 2015
Jerome Crowley was awarded the Hall of Fame for his dedication and commitment to athletics throughout his whole life. Jerome commenced his athletic career in the mid 1950’s when he competed very successfully as a juvenile in a sports meeting at Firies, Ballyhar and Currow. In fact he was unbeatable in the one hundred yards sprint U12 and U14. It must be remembered that there was no organised juvenile championships in those days and young people were lucky to get one or two juvenile events in meetings almost solely for senior athletes.He attended Tralee C.B.S. and in 1962, with colleagues Ted Fitzgerald, Henry McKenney and Brian O’Neill won the Munster Schools 4x100 yards relay. They went on the win bronze medals at the All Ireland Schools in that year.
In 1961, he won the County Senior Long Jump Title and placed second in the Triple Jump. In 1962 and 1963 he won medals in both Long & Triple Jumps at the Munster Schools Championships. Jerome was part of the club team who won the coveted Quill Cup for the first time in 1962. Like his late father, John Crowley, he has given sterling service to Farranfore Maine Valley Athletic Club and to Kerry County Athletics Board
Michael O'Connor awarded THE KERRY SPORTING HALL OF FAME 2018
Michael (Mike) O’Connor made his athletics debut at Ballyhar Sports in 1966, when as a tall lanky youngster, he entered and won the 880 yards under 18 run. He was awarded for his efforts with a prize of a cake stand. He was then hooked on the sport!!
Joining Farranfore Athletic Club, on the invitation of John Crowley, he trained regularly and made great strides (pardon the pun).
In 1967, he competed in The Kerry Junior Road championships over two miles and won the individual title from Listowel’s jerry Kiernan in the runner-up position.
Other highlights of his career:
1968 – Won the Kerry Novice Cross Country Championship
1972 – Won the National Novice Road Walking Race Title at Kilkenny and also in this year he won the Kerry Senior Cross Country Title held in Ballymacelligott.
During the 70’s and 80’s, he was a regular member of Kerry Cross Country teams and won Munster and National team medals. Also, as a member of FCA, he won the Defence Forces Cross Country title.
As a veteran / Master athlete, he has won numerous county, Munster and national Titles in both middle distance and Race walking events.
Mike has competed for Ireland in three European Masters race walking Championships. (Madrid, AnCona and Seville). He also competed in the Dublin City Marathon completing the distance in a time of 2hrs 57mins.
Mike has been a very regular and loyal club member for well over fifty years and still retains his love for the sport in athletics. He is still a regular competitor with no intentions on stopping. He is our resident public speaker at our club sports day and Farranfore Road Race.
Mike’s favourite read each week is “Athletics weekly” magazine to which he has been a subscriber for many years. He can be found on several week mornings doing Race walking training in Killarney National park and along the Fossa way.
INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS:
2003:
Gillian O’Sullivan won a Silver Medal at The World Athletic Champs in Paris in the 20km Walk.
2011:
Emma Prendiville was Kerry's only athlete to qualify for a major championship when she competed in the European Junior championships in Estonia in the 10k race walk where she finished in 15th position.
Jonathan Foley took part in the Celtic Games International where he competed in the U17 pole vault and cleared 3.80m for 10th place.
Emma Prendiville was Kerry's only athlete to qualify for a major championship when she competed in the European Junior championships in Estonia in the 10k race walk where she finished in 15th position.
Jonathan Foley took part in the Celtic Games International where he competed in the U17 pole vault and cleared 3.80m for 10th place.
2012:
Emma Prendiville finished 4th at the International EAA Race Walking Championships in Lugano, Switzerland in the U20 10KM Race Walk. more here
Emma Prendiville represented Ireland in the IAAF World Junior 10K race walk championships in Saransk, Russia. Emma finished in 46th place.Link
Emma Prendiville represented Ireland in the IAAF World Junior Championships 2012 10K race walk in Barcelona. Emma finished in 31st place with at PB time of 52.41.51Link
Maria McCarthy represented Ireland in the British & Irish Masters Cross Country Championships held in Belfast. Maria was part of the team to take silver in the O35 category, just missing out on the gold from the British. Maria finished in 11th place overall. Link
2013:
Jim O'Shea competed in the British Masters Indoors T&F where he picked up a Gold in the High Jump 1.30m and a Silver in the Long Jump 4.01m in the M70 category
Jim O'Shea also competed in the British Master Outdoor T&F where he won Silver in the High Jump (1.30m) and Silver in the Long Jump (4.04m) in the M70 category
2014:
Jim O'Shea competed in the British Masters Indoors T&F where he picked up a Gold in the High Jump 1.31m and a Silver in the Long Jump 3.97m in the M70 category
2015:
2016:
2017:
2018:
Shauna McCarthy was part of the Junior Girls Irish Team to compete in the SIAB Schools Cross Country, Nottingham, where she was a part of the team to win Bronze.
Jim O’Shea European Masters Indoors, Madrid, where he was first in the M75 Long Jump at a distance of 4 meters.
2019:
Jim O’Shea (M75) was outstanding winning individual Bronze in the High Jump with a jump of 1.25m. He was 4th in the Long Jump of 4.04m, just 8cm off the bronze medal position. Jerome Foley & Sean O'Shea also competed.
CLUB AWARDS
Club Awards 2012: Awards-2012
Club Awards 2013: Awards-2013
Club Awards 2014: Awards-2014
CLUB ROAD RACE St. Stephens Day
Race Results 2011: results 2011
Race Results 2012: results 2012
Race Results 2013: results 2013
Race Results 2014: results 2014
CLUB ROAD RACE Mile Dash Challenge
Race Results 2014: Mile Dash results 2014
KERRY AAI AWARDS
Kerry AAI Awards 2009:County Awards_2009
Kerry AAI Awards 2010:County Awards_2010
Kerry AAI Awards 2011: County Awards_2011
Kerry AAI Awards 2012: County Awards_2012
Kerry AAI Awards 2014: County Awards_2014
Kerry AAI Awards 2018: