Sporting Songs
The tradition of composing songs and ballads about sporting matches, competitions, races and players of renown etc, is still alive locally. It is a long tradition that goes back many years. Compositions would appear regularly in the local newspapers and the importance given to them would ensure they were given a prominent position in the paper. These songs were the sports reports of the day and the capturing in verse the names of the players was not without skill. You could wallpaper a house with the amount of sporting songs and ballads in the Binneas Collection and more are being uncovered all the time and will appear below.
This song is a typical example of a football song composed about a particular game. The composer highlights the skill, athleticism and overall ability of the team players and their positions on the field.
Jack O’Shea was born in Cahersiveen in November 1957, close to Con Keating Park. In total Jack played in 13 All- Ireland finals, eight senior, four under 21 and one minor and lost only twice, to Offaly in ’82 and the under 21 final against Roscommon in 1978.
This song was published in the 1972-73 edition An t-Oileánach, The Voices of Valentia, Michael "Mick" O'Connell was born 4th January 1937. His league and championship career with the Kerry senior team spanned nineteen seasons from 1956 to 1974. O'Connell is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
This ballad was composed by Sigerson Clifford in 1953, to commemorate the golden jubilee of Kerry’s first All-Ireland triumph in 1903. It was commissioned by Michael O’Ruairc who was secretary of the commemorative committee that was formed by the Kerry County Board.
This song was composed by Padraig O’Connell, Cappanagrown, to celebrate the victory of Dromid pearses in the 1994 All-Ireland Gaeltacht tournament in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal.
South Kerry Championship final 1936 (Portmagee versus Derrynane)
The composer of this song was John C Driscoll. He was a postman in Portmagee and played on the local team in this match with Derrynane in 1936..
The 1959 All-Ireland Final (Kerry vs Galway)
This song was composed by a nun from Monaghan and was collected from Mary Horgan (Waterville)
This song was composed by Tralee singer and historian Peter Locke. The song celebrates Kerry’s defeat of Galway in the 2000 All-Ireland Final. The final scores were Kerry 0-17 to Galway 1-10. Maurice Fitzgerald replaced Noel Kennelly in the 27th minute and played as a third midfielder.
The 1986 All-Ireland between Kerry and Tyrone final took place on the 21st September. Kerry won the championship following a 2-15 to 1-10 defeat of first-time finalists Tyrone. This was Kerry’s 30th All-Ireland title and their third championship in succession. Kerry's Pat Spillane from Templenoe was the choice for Texaco Footballer of the Year. As of yet it is not known who composed this song.
The South Kerry Championship 2004
Composed by Padraig O’Connell, Cappanagrown, about the 2004 South Kerry championship between Dromid Pearses and Skellig Rangers.