Fr Kieran is new Kerry Handball President

By Con Dennehy

Kerry handball has a new president, Killarney Parish Administrator Fr Kieran O’Brien, who was unanimously elected to fill the vacant post.

Fr Kieran was elected at the Kerry handball AGM in Ballymacelligott, the first held since 2019.

The Tralee native was ordained in Killarney Cathedral on June 13, 1993 and celebrated the silver jubilee of his ordination in 2018. Almost half his ministry has been based in Killarney, initially as a curate from 1993 to 1999 before later returning to take up the demanding role of Administrator in 2012. He also served in St John’s Parish and in West Kerry. In 2012, Fr O’Brien officiated at the Requiem Mass in Ventry for his great friend, Kerry GAA football legend Paid Ó Se.

“We were delighted and deeply honoured that Fr Kieran is our new president. It is a fitting acknowledgement for all his selfless work with Kerry handball both as a player and official,” Christy Moriarty, chairman of the Kerry Handball Board, said.

“Fr Kieran was actively involved in the An Gaeltacht Handball Club when he served in West Kerry. Over the past few years he has also been involved with the progressive Spa/Killarney Club.”

The new president replaces Paddy Downey, a member of the famous Jones-Fitzgerald Club in Tralee.

Paddy, a known handball legend, passed away in April 2020, in his 90th year.

“Paddy won the All-Ireland Senior Softball Singles in 1958 and 1961 and the Senior Hardball Singles in 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1962. He also won 11 senior doubles titles, 10 with Jimmy O’Brien (seven in softball) and one with former Tipperary player Joe Haslett in hardball. Downey’s first breakthrough was when he won junior softball honours with club mate Tim Commune in 1951, the same year he won the junior hardball singles title.”