Clane, Johnstownbridge and Rathangan will all compete in the Lidl Comortas Peile Paidi O Se 2018, which takes place 16-18 February in West Kerry.
The power and appeal of Paidi O Se, one of Gaelic Football’s most favourite sons, is truly evident as over 1,200 players comprising of teams from South Korea, Germany, the UK and 12 counties from the four provinces of Ireland will compete in the famed Gaelic football festival.
Clane Image: Noel Haverty, Clane GAA (centre) at the launch of the Lidl Comortas Peile Paidi O Se 2018 with (L to R) Kerry All-Star defender Aislinn Desmond, Comortas chairman Paidi O Se Michael Collins, Lidl Ireland and Kerry footballer David Moran. Credit: Paddy White
Celebrating its 29th year, the festival is one of the biggest and longest running club competitions in GAA history. 40 club teams compete in ladies and men’s senior, intermediate and junior competitions in over 20 GAA venues across the Dingle Peninsula as well as teams attending cultural and social events at Comortas HQ, Paidi O Se’s pub in Ventry, Co. Kerry.
There will be lots of familiar GAA faces popping up on and off the field over the weekend and plenty of interesting matches for Gaelic football enthusiasts at Comortas 2018, sponsored by Lidl and supported also by Kerry County Council Tourism Unit, EJMenswear.com and Lee Strand Milk
There is some stiff opposition for Clane and Johnstownbridge in the Dermot Earley senior men's cup with local side An Daingean (Dingle) and Ardfert as well as newcomers including Mayo’s Crossmolina Deel Rovers, Rosemount GAA of Westmeath, Meath's Ratoath and previous competitors Dublin's Fingallians.
Another Kildare side Rathangan, under the management of former Kildare All-star Karl O'Dwyer, son of the great Micko Dwyer, will line out in the intermediate men's competition against Kerry's Keel, Anascaul, and Lispole as well as Tyrone's Augher St Macartan's and St. John's of Sligo.
The football festival, which has attracted over 15,000 club players since it began in 1989, is a big boost for tourism in the area and continues to attract huge interest.
Johnstownbridge Image: Des Holton, Johnstownbridge GAA (centre) at the launch of the Lidl Comortas Peile Paidi O Se 2018 with (L to R) Kerry footballers David Moran and Aislinn Desmond, Comortas chairman Paidi O Se and Michael Collins, Lidl Ireland
Comortas Chairman Paidi O Se said, "It's great to see so much interest from Kildare clubs with their biggest showing yet. We are also thrilled to be breaking new ground by hosting a team from South Korea and it's great to see Team Germany ladies and men's teams, made up of six German GAA Clubs, making the big effort to travel. It reflects the expanding reach of the GAA community globally but also shows the interest in our tournament has spread far beyond what my father ever imagined. Supermarket chain Lidl are our main partner and, just as they have helped to grow Ladies Football, they have helped us to grow the tournament to 40 teams this year which we are really excited about."
O Se continued, "The support of local host clubs is crucial in ensuring we can maintain such a high number of teams and we thank them for their co-operation. Local partners Lee Strand Milk and Kerry County Council Tourism Unit are backing us also to continue with the Comortas, which has become a big benefit in terms of local tourism. Paidi would be proud to see his mother's Sligo family connected too in the form of Sligo’s EJMENSWEAR.com and the Cunningham family who are supporters of this year’s festival".
Michael Collins, Sales Operations Manager said, "We are delighted to continue our partnership with this year’s Comortas Peile Paidi O Se. Our store teams in Dingle and Tralee are proud to support the Comortas Peile Paidi O Se and we are all looking forward to the festival of Gaelic Football ahead."
For a programme of events and a full list of teams visit www.Paidiose.com
Twitter: @PIOs85 Hashtag: #Comortas2018
PARTICIPATING TEAM LIST
Tournament draw will take place w/c 5th February. Check www.paidiose.com for updates.
SENIOR MEN'S
Ratoath GAA, Ratoath. Co. Meath
An Daingean, Dingle, Co. Kerry
Clane GAA, Clane, Co. Kildare
Johnstownbridge GAA, Johnstown, Co. Kildare
Deel Rovers GAA, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo
Fingallians, Swords, Co. Dublin
Ardfert GAA, Ardfert, Co. Kerry
Rosemount GAA, Rosemount, Co. Westmeath
INTERMEDIATE MEN'S
Anascaul GAA, Anascaul, West Kerry
Lispole GAA, Lispole, West Kerry
Keel GAA, Keel, Mid Kerry
Augher St Macartan’s, Augher, Co. Tyrone
St John’s GAA, Carraroe, Co. Sligo
Rathangan GAA, Rathangan, Co. Kildare
JUNIOR MEN'S
Team Germany GAA, Germany
Éire Óg GAA, London, UK
Buttevant GAA, Buttevant, Co. Cork
Seoul Gaels, Seoul, Korea
Banteer/Lyre GAA, Banteer, Co. Cork
Round Towers GAA, London, UK
SENIOR LADIES
Ballyboden St. Enda’s, Ballyboden, Dublin
Brian Borus Ladies, Clogheen, Co. Tipperary
Bray Emmets GAA, Bray, Co. Wicklow
Mullahoran GAA, Kilcogy, Co. Cavan
Rathmore GAA, Rathmore, Co. Kerry
Na Gaeil GAA, Tralee, Co. Kerry
INTERMEDIATE LADIES
Corca Dhuibhne Ladies, West Kerry
Blessington Ladies, Blessington, Co. Wicklow
Burrishoole Ladies, Burrishoole, Co. Mayo
Naomh Abán, Baile Bhuirne, Co. Cork
Gowna GFC, Gowna, Co. Cavan
St. Francis GAA, Co. Leitrim
JUNIOR LADIES
Team Germany GAA, Germany
John Mitchell’s GAA, Liverpool, UK
Funcheon Gaels, Co. Cork
Glen Rovers GAA, Watford, UK
Dingle Ladies, Dingle, Co. Kerry
Round Towers GAA, London, UK
Fossa GAA, Fossa, Co. Kerry
Ballymacelligott GAA, Ballymacelligott, Co. Kerry
