County Council must respect footballers’ historic success

It’s hard to imagine anything more deserving of FULL Kerry County Council recognition, by way of a FULL civic reception, than the historic victories of Ballymacelligott, An Ghaeltacht and Daingean Uí Chúis GAA football teams in the All-Ireland Club Football Championships.

Now, when I use the word ‘historic’, what I mean is…em…well, historic, as in something that has never been done before, as in something entirely novel and new, as in something that’s unique for Kerry and also unique for the rest of the freaking world, as in something that’s super-important and famous. That kind of ‘historic’.

Now, since every day is a learning day, I decided to refer this rather straight-forward word ‘historic’ to our friends at Cambridge Dictionary. And they think that ‘historic’ means something that’s “important or likely to be important in history’.

Which, in fairness, is a definition that I don’t think anybody in their right senses would disagree with, even Kerry County Council.

So, the question I’d ask is: what part of ‘historic’ does Kerry County Council not get, what part of ‘historic’ are they quibbling with, or reluctant about, in the context of these three GAA clubs’ truly magnificent success? I mean, c’mon like?

Because of the obvious significance in history of this ‘triple crown’ All-Ireland achievement – at Junior, Intermediate and Senior levels – cannot be denied and, given all that, it is fully deserving of recognition by the most important, local expression of democracy in this county, which is Kerry County Council.

It appears clear that Kerry County Council’s Director of Corporate Services Martin O’Donoghue is concerned about granting these three magnificent clubs a full civic reception to mark their achievements on the basis that civic receptions are honours which should not be devalued, or watered down in any way.

In fairness to Mr O’Donoghue, it is right and proper that he and his colleagues in the higher-up regions of the County Council executive should have regard to such a consideration in order not to devalue the currency, so to speak. It can’t be like snuff at a wake, if that’s not too ‘historic’ a reference.

But, even a blind man can see that these magnificent footballers, all from wonderful clubs, have achieved the stuff of dreams, something that is unlikely (although we always hope) ever to be repeated.

It would offend sound reason and good judgement if Kerry County Council refused a full civic reception to these three GAA clubs, in all the circumstances.

Ballymacelligottt, An Ghaeltacht and Daingean Uí Chúis demonstrated, in the same and in different ways, the best that we can be.

They exposed the courage, vitality and fortitude that is to be found at grassroots level in all our communities throughout Kerry.

Their individual performances amounted to pure poetry at the lowest, darkest point of the year, at the very time we needed it most.

Nothing but a FULL Kerry County Council civic reception would be appropriate to mark such outstanding success.

The people of Kerry fully respect what has been achieved in this triple-crown victories. And, given that Kerry County Council belongs to Kerry, surely the local authority must respect those achievements as well.

So, note to Kerry County Council: ‘Just Do It’.