THE TAYTO 2010 PÁIDÍ Ó SÉ FOOTBALL WEEKEND CELEBRATES ITS 21ST YEAR
OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED BY AN TAOISEACH BRIAN COWEN TD
17th February: The Tayto 2010 Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé was launched in Dublin today with a host of activity. Lining out with Mr Tayto for a photocall at Croke Park was Kerry football legend and Comortas host Páidí O’Sé. The evening saw the official launch at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin where special guest, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen T.D, was on hand to lend his support along with several personalities from the GAA and the wider community including Mick O’Dwyer, Christy O’Connor Jr, Eamonn Coughlan, Ronnie Delaney, former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, Minister Willie O’Dea and Minister Brendan Smith. The Tayto 2010 Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé returns to West Kerry from the 26th to 28th February 2010.
The Tayto Comórtas Peile Páidí O’Sé is an invitation-only senior club men’s and ladies Gaelic football tournament, which takes place every February on the Dingle Peninsula.
Teams and supporters from around the country will descend on West Kerry for a celebration of Gaelic games and Irish life and tradition. Following the successful introduction of an American Football exhibition match in 2009, this year again sees two of Ireland’s top Irish American Football teams lining out on the Corca Dhuibhne rugby grounds to bring the excitement of the IAFL to Muintir Na Gaeltachta. Cork Admirals will take on reigning Shamrock Bowl champions UL Vikings at 2pm on Saturday, 27thFebruary.
Over 1,000 people are expected to attend the tournament final on Sunday, 28th February. This year eight high profile men’s clubs, including Páidí’s local club An Gaeltacht, have been invited to compete in the football tournament which will take place in pitches around the Dingle Peninsula. Eight senior ladies GAA teams have also been invited.
| Invited Men’s Senior Teams are; | Invited Ladies Senior Teams are; |
| An Gaeltacht GAA, Co. KerryAn Daingean GAA, Co. KerrySt. Anne’s, DublinCooley Kickhams, LouthO’Rahilly’s, Drogheda, LouthRoscommon GaelsClonguish, LongfordO’Donovan Rossa, Cork | St Pauls, Belfast, AntrimDorsey Emmets, ArmaghMaghera, DerryDonnaghmoyne, MonaghanLackan, CavanBoardsmill, MeathMountmellick, LaoisSouthern Gaels, Kerry |
Páidí O Se commented: ’We are thrilled to announce Tayto as our sponsor for the special 21st anniversary of the Comórtas. I’m busy teaching Mr Tayto the cúpla focal before his big trip to An Gaeltacht for the Comórtas. Mr Tayto will be at the launch event tonight with his bus and will be on hand with some tasty packs of Taytos for those in Dingle on the 27th and 28th February”.
Páidí continued, “I’m also delighted that EBS Building Society and Lee Strand Milk are supporting the Comórtas as I know they like to give something back to the communities that support their business.”
Since it’s inception the weekend football festival has grown in popularity and in recent years has diversified it’s offering to include more Gaelic games and also aspects of Irish tradition and culture including music events, exhibitions, a Hall of Fame Award for contribution to Irish Life, a Media Award for contribution to development of Gaelic games and much more.
One of the main events is an Independent Newspapers / Kerryman sponsored photographic exhibition celebrating Irish political life by award winning photographer David Conachy which will be officially opened in Páidi Ó Sé’s Pub on Sunday evening, 28thFebruary by Sunday Independent editor Aongus Fanning. This will be on display in the bar over the coming months.