Kerry Football Families

The Landers of Rock St


by Matt Leen

Urban Terrace in Rock St. Tralee, 'The Street of Champions', has a unique record in the annals of Gaelic football. In a terrace of 20 houses, 22 Senior AII Ireland medals have been won. It was from no. 7 in this terrace that the Landers brothers emerged; Mick, Gerard, Bill, John Joe, "Purty" and Tim 'Roundy'. Out of a family of six, 5 boys and 1 girl, the Landers blazed a trail of glory for their club Austin Stacks, and Kerry and Munster. With neighbours like the Gormans, the Drummonds, The Slatterys, The Doyles, The Regans and The Barretts, a football and a green field, it was only a matter of time before County Champions came up the Rock and AII Ireland titles came to Kerry. Hills field (later Barrett/O 'Learys, now Tralee track) and Garrett Cotters were the main training grounds in the Rock over the years.

Bill Landers was the first of the brothers to win a senior All Ireland medal when he was on the Kerry team that defeated Dublin in the 1924 AII Ireland final. John Joe 'Purdy' came to the notice of the Kerry selectors, and was picked to play in the Munster Final of 1927 against Clarea, a game they won easily. Purty recalls begin led on to the field by the great Dick Fitzgerald of Killarney, who had retired years earlier. Purty's first AII Ireland was not a success, as Kerry came up against a Kildare team of outstanding ability, and were beaten on a score of 5 points to 3 points. Kerry were back in the final of 1929, and got revenge when they defeated Kildare on a score of 1-8 to 1-5. This was to be Purty's first AIl Ireland medal.

Another medal in 1930 and in 1931, he was joined by Tim "Roundy" on the winning Kerry team. History was created in 1932 when Bill, the third of the Landers brothers, came on in the AlI Ireland Final - so they became the first set of 3 brothers to win AII Ireland Senior Medals on the same day at Croke Park. The Landers brothers or 'Landers Limited' as they were better known, were all forwards. It is thought and indeed, quite true, that the Landers brothers were the first to introduce 'mental telepathy' on the football field, as many a back who tried to mark them found out to their cost. When they played in Croke Park, thousands flocked to see them and even managers of professional soccer clubs in England offered terms to Tim 'Roundy' to tempt them across the water. In their star studded careers. The Landers brothers won the following honours:

  All Irelands National Leagues Railway Cups County Championships
John Joe Purty 5 4 1 11
Tim Roundy 5 2 1 7
Bill 2 1 - 2
Gerard - - - 2

 In 1985, John Joe "Purty" and Tim "Roundy" were jointly honored with the Hall of Fame Award in recognition of their great skill, sportsmanship and supreme excellence in the art of Gaelic football.



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