THE BRACKER 100KM FUNDRAISING WALK: The Bracker 100km fundraising walk, an initiative of our Club Chairman Billy Ryle, was launched at the Bracker Monument on this Monday evening (13th July) by Austin Stacks and Kerry football legend, Mikey Sheehy.
With current Covid guidelines in operation a small gathering joined members of Martin Bracker O’Regan’s family at the launch and Fr. Pádraig Walsh PP blessed the Bracker Monument and imparted a general blessing on all present.
The objective of the 100km walkis to raise €25,000 for urgently needed repair and upgrading work at the Austin Stacks playing pitches in Connolly Park, Tralee.
Like all GAA Clubs, Austin Stacks has suffered financially from the Covid-19 lockdown. The Bracker 100km is a worldwide online fundraiser to pay for a pathbehind the main pitch.
The new path willprevent footfall damage on the pitches andwill facilitate disability access to the far terrace in Connolly Park.
All donations, large or small, will be gratefully accepted through the online fundraiser. Link can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-bracker-100km.
Billy will walk 100km (100 laps of 1km) on Bracker O Regan Road over a ten-day period beginning on Friday 17th July and concluding on Sunday 26th July. He will walk two sessions per day on the path, beginning and ending at the Bracker Monument – a 6km walk beginning at 10am and a 4km walk beginning at 3pm.
The walk is dedicated to the memory of Martin Bracker O Regan.
Martin Bracker O Regan was one of Austin Stacks and Kerry’s finest footballers, whose brilliance on the playing field was matched only by his good nature and humility.
‘Put me on the forty and build the team around me’ is the oft-quoted slogan attributed to one of the most charismatic characters of his era.
Martin won two All-Ireland senior football medals (1931, 1932), one All-Ireland junior football medal (1930), four County Championship senior football medals (1930, 1931, 1932 and 1936) and two County Championship senior hurling medals (1929, 1931). Martin also had a keen interest in greyhound and horse racing and was a regular racegoer all his life.
Tralee Town Council generously acknowledged Martin’s outstanding contribution to the sporting life of Tralee and Kerry by naming the new link road in his honour. Martin Bracker O Regan was a perfect gentleman, a supreme sports man and a rare auld stock of the Rock. He has earned his right to immortality’.
Billy paid a special tribute to Mikey Sheehy for doing the launch. He said along with Club mate Ger Power, ‘Mikey won a record eight All Ireland Senior Medals. Mikey Sheehy and Martin Bracker O’Regan were friends and neighbours. They had great respect for each other – each person maintaining that the other was the better footballer. But as we all know they were both superstars of The Rock and Kerry.
When I asked the O’Regan family who they would like to launch the Bracker 100km fundraising walk there was only one answer – Mikey. So, it was my great pleasure to invite Mikey to cut the ribbon to formally launch the Bracker 100km fundraising walk’.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Round 1 of the Championship is due to start on the week-end after next (w/e of 25th July). Rounds two and three will then go ahead on the following two weekends with the final to take place later in the season. No firm details have yet come hand as we write.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL: We now understand that there will be no Championship Competitions for our Junior teams this season but will be replaced instead with a Junior League in Groups of 4 with each team having three games. With the groups still to be finalized dates have been provisionally fixed for the three round games – Friday 14th August and 4th September and Saturday, 12th September.
U20/21 FOOTBALL: Details have also to be finalized with regard to competitions for our U20/21s.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Our Minors get their season back on track on this Friday evening (17th July) when they travel to Castlegregory for our round one game in the Co. League. Throw-in at 7pm. Then we have two home games against Na Gaeil in round 2 on Saturday 15th August and against An Ghaeltach on Saturday 5th September. Both games throw-in at 4pm.
In between we will be involved in Co. Championship action (this will be confined, for the first time at Club level, to our U17s). As in previous years the Championship will be straight knock-out. All Championship games are fixed for Monday evenings. The first round and quarter finals will be fitted in between the first two rounds of the League – round one on 3rd August and the quarter finals a week later on the 10th August. The semi finals and final are then fitted in between the second and third rounds of the League – the semi final on 24th August and the final, a week later, on 31st August. So now we will have at least four games and, if we go all the way in the Championship, we could have seven games in a seven week period.
STACKS 100: We continue to remind all club members that our Award Winning Stacks 100 website is now available to view – check out club memories, matches & podcasts – a great way to spend an enjoyable few minutes or hours and hours and hours . . . www.stacks100.ie.
ONLINE CLUB SHOP OPEN – check out the newest ‘official’ Austin Stacks Club Merchandise – only available to order on this link (free delivery on any orders over €50) see www.oneills.com
CLUBHOUSE: Our Bar and Clubhouse continue to remain closed until further notice.
CONGRATULATIONS: to all in Radio Kerry who are celebrating the 30th anniversary of its formation this week (14th July 1990). Many Rockies have been involved with the Station down the years including the late Seamus O’Mahony and Timmy Sheehan.
And today we are still represented by some super Rockies like Elma Nix (current Club Secretary), Andrew Morrissey (one of the Club’s great dual players) and Joe O’Mahony (Head of Sport and a former Club player and official). So happy birthday Radio Kerry.
ONLINE LOTTO: This new initiative, which was launched recently, is to reach out to a much wider playing audience locally, nationally and worldwide. Playing the Austin Stacks Club Fundraising Lotto online will be very straight forward. It takes just six easy steps to play. All you need do is visit our club Website, Facebook Page or Twitter Account, click on the lotto links and follow the steps.
Online tickets purchased up to 6pm on a Monday will be included in that evening’s Lotto draw. Tickets purchased online after 6pm on a Monday will be included in the following Monday’s Lotto draw. Results of the Austin Stacks GAA Club fundraising Lotto draw are published weekly on our website, club notes and social media platforms.
LOTTO RESULTS: This Monday Night’s (13th July) Jackpot, worth €13,400, was not won. The numbers drawn were 25, 26, 31, 32.
The €20 winners were – Joe & Cáit Looney, Michelle Carroll Slattery and Anne Marie Horgan, all c/o The Club; Aidan O’Connor, c/o The Gem; and Josephine Casey, c/o Kevin Barry’s.
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We would be delighted to continue to hear from any other businesses who wish to sell lotto tickets for Austin Stacks GAA Club. If interested please get in contact with Bernie on 086 0767415 and in exchange we will promote your business, special offers and products to our vast membership through our extremely popular social media outlets which command a very high following.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died during the past week: Deirdre Laide (nee O’Sullivan), Monavally and formerly Ballylongford (mother of former Kerry and Club Footballer and current Juvenile Mentor, Pa; and Grandmother of current Juvenile Footballers Ciara and Barry); Helen McHugh (nee Savage), Fountain Court and formerly Old Marian Park; Richie Dowling, Connolly Park and formerly Ballyconry, Lisselton and Ballyheigue; Rita Daly (nee Finucane), Moyvane and Tralee; Peter Doyle, Oakpark and Beaufort; Miriam Murphy, London and formerly Pluckeen, Caherslee; Teresa O’Leary (nee Lacey), Listowel and formerly Kevin Barry Villas (mother of Club Member, Mary Lacey and grandmother of Club Footballer, Pa Fitzgibbon); Timothy V. Sheehen, Mounthawk Manor and formerly Kenmare; and Margaret Lacey (nee Griffin), Clogheresta, Hawley Park.
