FROM ORANGE COUNTY TO THE ORCHARD COUNTY FOR 31ST COMÓRTAS
GAA clubs from Orange County in California, Edinburgh, London and 14 counties across the four provinces of Ireland will take part in the 31st edition of the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé 2020, with 36 adult men’s and ladies club teams descending on the rugged Dingle Peninsula from 21st to 23rd February.
The football festival, which is supported by Lidl Ireland, McKeever Sports, EJ Menswear, Kerry County Council Tourism Unit and Lee Strand Milk, was officially launched at Ballyboden St. Enda’s GFC, Dublin on 22nd Janury by Kerry’s ace forward Tommy Walsh and which was also attended by 10 time All-Ireland football winner Cork’s Valerie Mulcahy, current manager of Ballyboden Ladies, legendary broadcaster Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, former Galway All-Ireland winning manager John O’Mahony and representatives of all the participating clubs.
Some management pedigree will be on show this year with former Cavan star Larry O’Reilly managing Knockbride in the senior men’s competition, Cork footballing legend Valerie Mulcahy who is managing Ballyboden St. Enda’s ladies’ senior team while former Offaly senior football manager Stephen Wallace, a native of Ardfert in Kerry, is managing West Kerry side Castlegregory
The festival, founded by Kerry iconic footballer Páidi Ó Sé, has attracted over 16,000 club players over 31 years and has grown into a major international GAA event with senior, intermediate and junior competitions as well as teams attending social events at Comórtas HQ, Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry, Co. Kerry.
The football festival will also host nightly free music and entertainment which is open to the general public and a Saturday Night Players Banquet at the Comórtas marquee at Páidi Ó Sé’s pub in Ard a’ Bhóthair , Ventry
Comórtas Chairman Pádraig Óg Ó Sé said, ‘Páidi’s idea to expand the tournament beyond senior men’s teams back in 2009 was visionary and he would be proud to see new clubs getting involved year on year, all wanting to experience all that is good about the GAA. We are pleased that the tournament continues to be one of the most talked about GAA events in the calendar and we wish all clubs a safe and enjoyable experience. The support of local host clubs is crucial in ensuring we can maintain such a high number of teams and we thank them for their co-operation and making fields available to us. A special mention is due to Lidl who are in the fourth year of their partnership with us and who have contributed enormously to promoting ladies’ football in the country. We are grateful to our local partners Lee Strand Milk and Kerry County Council Tourism Unit who are backing us also to continue with the Comórtas, which has become a big benefit in terms of local tourism. We are also delighted that EJMenswear.com of Sligo, who are related to the Ó Sé family as well as new clothing sponsors McKeever Sports are partnering up with us to ensure it will be another weekend to remember.”
Michael Collins, sales Operation Manager, Lidl Ireland said” “We are delighted to continue our partnership with this year’s Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé. Our store teams in Dingle and Tralee are proud to support the Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé and we are all looking forward to the festival of Gaelic Football ahead.”
2020 TEAMS
Senior Men’s
Dingle, Co. Kerry
An Ghaeltacht, Co. Kerry
Annascaul, Co. Kerry
Crosserlough GFC, Co. Cavan
Mullingar Shamrocks, Co. Westmeath
Granemore GFC, Co. Armagh
Breaffy, Co. Mayo
Kiskeam, Co. Cork
Intermediate Men’s
Listry, Co. Kerry
Knockbride, Co. Cavan
Na Piarsaigh, Dundalk, Co. Louth
St John’s, Carraroe, Co. Sligo
Castlegregory GAA, Co. Kerry
Hunterstown Rovers, Ardee, Co. Louth
Junior Men’s
Wild Geese GFC, Orange County, Los Angeles, USA
Lispole, Co. Kerry
Killenaule, CO. Tipperary
St Brendan’s GAA, Richmond, London, UK
Senior Ladies
Thomas Davis GAA, Tallaght, Dublin
Clonguish GAA, Newtownforbes, Co. Longford
Sarsfields Ladies GAA, Newbridge. Co. Kildare
Caltra Cuans, Co. Galway
Drumlane Sons of O’Connell. Milltown, Co. Cavan
Ballyboden St. Enda’s GFC, Co. Dublin
Intermediate Ladies
Belturbet Rory O’Moore’s GFC, Co. Cavan
Ballyroan Ladies, Co. Laois
Ballymachugh, Co. Cavan
Corca Dhuibhne LGFC, Co. Kerry
Dunedin Connolly’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
Araglen Desmonds Buí. Co. Cork
Junior Ladies
Dingle LGFA, Co. Kerry
Breaffy Ladies, Co. Mayo
Finuge/St Senans, North Kerry
Ballyboden St. Enda’s, Dublin
Ballymacelligott Ladies, Co. Kerry
Castlegregory / Annascaul Ladies, Co. Kerry
