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Grainne Quirke, Ciara Lynch, Dervla Lynch, Kayleigh Moriarty and Sinead Lynch at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
FORTY years after a meeting in the Meadowlands Hotel saw Na Gaeil founded, around 250 of the club faithful gathered at their clubhouse in Killeen for a great celebration on Saturday night.
It’s been some journey from a green space in Ard Na Lí to the great facilities in Killeen they have now and 2018 has, arguably, been the club’s best year yet.
They’ve played in the top tier of the county league for the first time, boasted some high profile players like Diarmuid O’Connor and Stefan Okunbor who made the Eirgrid All-Ireland U20 Team Of The Year and the ladies won the Munster Club Intermediate title.
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It all started back in May 1978, when the first motion was put forward by residents associations to set up a GAA club to cater for the needs of the youth of north Tralee and the Oakpark area.
Following this, on November 8, a meeting of interested parties was held in The Meadowlands Hotel in Oakpark. At this meeting, the name ‘Na Gaeil’ was decided upon and Denis Reen was elected the first chairman of Na Gaeil C.L.G.. Pádraig Murphy was elected first president of the club.
Morgan Sheehy, the current Chairman of the club, said it was fitting to hold such a celebration.
“Tonight is a great occasion to celebrate the past and also to celebrate the successes over the past number of months at junior and senior level. We started from humble beginnings in Ard Na Lí in a small pitch with a small catchment of players and it’s grown since then,” said Morgan.
Many stalwarts from the club were present on a wonderful night to enjoy a meal and entertainment, where stories were told and some members who have passed away over the years were remembered. Scroll down for photos…
Ian McCarthy and Emma Connolly at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Liam and Noelle Kingston and Agnes and Morgan Sheehy at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Niamh Burke and Jackie Carlos at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Eamon O’Neill and Caroline Dillane at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Shane Fitzgerald and Caroline O’Sullivan at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Annette Henricksen and Rodney Harrington at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Eileen and Seamus Moriarty at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Muireann and Donal Rooney at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Terry and Pam McEneaney and Ranjna and Kieran O’Donovan at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Mary McElligott and Dermot Reen at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Denis, Helen and Barry Sugrue at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Sorcha Uí Shuilleabháin and Mairead Keane O’Connor at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Mary Leahy and founder member of the club, Donal Leahy at the Na Gaeil GAA Club 40th anniversary celebration at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
