April 2, 2019 at 9:43 am

PHOTO GALLERY: Hundreds Enjoy Oiche Chiarraí At Croke Park

Tomás Garvey joined by Kerry GAA legends Colm Cooper, Eoin Liston, Ogie Moran and Sean Walsh at Oiche Chiarraí at Croke Park on Saturday night. Photo by Julien Behal

OICHE Chiarraí 2019, the flagship event in the annual calendar of the Kerry Association in Dublin, took place on Saturday in the iconic setting of Croke Park.

The Kerry Mountain Rescue Team were presented with the Laochra Chiarraí 2019 award on the night by the President of the Kerry Association in Dublin, Christy McCarthy, while Tomás Garvey, was presented with the 2019 Kerry Person of the Year award by Keelin Kissane, Chairperson of the Association.

The Kerry Person of the Year award, now in its fortieth year, recognises an individual who has shown leadership, brought honour to the county, and performed services for the county to such an extent that could be described as being beyond the norm of everyday life.

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Tomás Garvey is a staunch sponsor and supporter of community initiatives in Kerry and beyond, Kerry GAA and basketball— including the recently crowned Men’s Super League Champions Garvey’s Tralee Warriors.

He is chairman and founder of the Garvey Group, which encompasses award winning SuperValu and Centra stores throughout Kerry and Munster, a leisure store in Dingle, Dingle Benners Hotel, and the Dingle Skellig Hotel.

During her tribute to Tomás Garvey, Kerry Association Chairperson Keelin Kissane, noted that the award was presented in recognition of the enormous contribution he has made to Kerry through the business and local employment provided by the Garvey Group and for his tireless support and sponsorship of sport and community initiatives in Kerry beyond including the Kerry Cancer Support Group, and the Tidy Towns.

In a warmly received speech, Tomás recalled his early days in Dingle and his college days and the decision he made to take over his family’s grocery store in Dingle and to grow to it into the enormously successful business that it is today.

He noted the importance of community and family in all that the Garvey Group does and whilst he was delighted to receive the award he was quick to pay tribute to his wife, family, staff and the communities in which the Garvey Group is proud to operate and support.

Over 400 people were in attendance including a large number of past recipients of the Kerry Person of the Year award. Former Kerry footballer and broadcaster Dara Ó Cinnéide was master of ceremonies for the evening. Scroll down for photos by Julien Behal…