.Killian Power, Terence Liston, Joe Costello and Raphael Crowley at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean
DESPITE the spitting rain, the inaugural Tralee RFC fund-raising fun run went ahead at O’Dowd Park in Ballyard on Saturday.
Around 170 adults and kids registered in the clubhouse before the event kicked off at 1pm.
There was a 5k and 3k route for this timed event, sponsored by Noyeks Newmans of the Mile Height, as families set off with buggies and bikes while dressing appropriately for the bad weather.
Later, they all came back to the clubhouse for well earned refreshments and to watch the annual ‘Home v Exiles’ game which has been played every St Stephen’s Day at O’Dowd Park in Ballyard for over 30 years.
A great way to spend St Stephen’s Day and even the rain couldn’t spoil the atmosphere.
Scroll down for a short video of the start of the 5k/3k run with loads of photos below…
..Rose O’Connor Ryan and Kieran O’Connor at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean.Mark, Shirley and Alison McEvoy at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean.Darragh McEvoy and Jerry Finnegan at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean.Sharon, Alan and young Sophie Mulgrew at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanIn front; Evie, Billy and Rosie with mom and dad Heidi and Daniel Giles at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean.Paul and Niamh Fitzgibbon at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanWinston Clapham, Martina Wadding and Samantha Wadding at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanJennifer Cunnane, Sinead Stafford, Tracey Smith and Emma Cunnane at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanSean, Aisling, Tom and Ben Quilter at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanMichelle Greaney with Miguel and Samuel Barrero at the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanParticipants gather at the start of the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanAnd they’re off…The start of the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanTaking off at the start of the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanTaking off at the start of the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanTaking off at the start of the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanTaking off at the start of the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanTaking off at the start of the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanTaking off at the start of the Tralee RFC fun run on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean
.Sam and Elaine O’Sullivan at the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean
IT was a wet Saturday morning but there was a decent turnout for the annual Bill Kirby Memorial Walk in aid of the Kerry Hospice.
The rain teemed down but around 200 showed up for the walk with Mike Gaffney and friends keeping spirits up playing music before the participants headed away to walk off the excesses of the day before.
Walkers left Kirby’s Brogue Inn at around 11.30am, went up Rock Street up Monavalley, over to the Bracker O’Regan Road, down Caherslee then back to The Rock through Pembroke Street.
Fiona and Kevin from the Brogue then generously supplied some free hot drinks and scones for the drenched walkers to warm them up.
The St Stephen’s Day event has raised €273,000 to date for charity ever since it began as a fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society back in 1999. Since 2006, all money raised has gone to the Kerry Hospice.
Organised by Michael ‘Fox’ O’Connor, the day has become a real tradition in town and long may it last.
Scroll down for photos…
Terry O’Sullivan with (in front) Bríd, Aine (left) and Aoife O’Sullivan at the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanDermot and Susan Leen at the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean.Frank Greaney, Brendan Hurley and Sam Locke at the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanNora and Lisa Curran, Cora and Anne Savage at the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean.Michael and Sandra O’Connell at the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanAndrea O’Donoghue, Grace Clifford, Frances Sheehy and Carmel Quilter O’Neill at the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean.Crowds gather for the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanSetting off on the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanMike Moriarty setting off on the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanSetting off on the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanSetting off on the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanSetting off on the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanSetting off on the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanSetting off on the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot CreanSetting off on the Bill Kirby Memorial Walk from Kirby’s Brogue Inn on St Stephen’s Day. Photo by Dermot Crean
