Kerry Trainers

Talking with Pat O'Shea as he becomes Kerry Manager

February 6th, 2007
by Weeshie Fogarty

Pat o Shea of the Dr. Crokes club Killarney was appointed manager for the Kerry senior football team this year '07. His appointment was in many ways historical especially in relation to this publication on the life and times of Dr Eamonn. Eamonn trained his last Kerry team for the final against Galway in 1964. It was the one and only loss he had suffered in nine final appearances. Now forty three years later Pat o Shea becomes the first Dr Crokes man since his former legendary club mate to take over the management of the county side. It must be pointed out of course that in Eamonn's time he was referred to as the trainer. Pat o Shea is referred to as the manager.  An outstanding sportsman himself Pat played a huge part in his clubs All Ireland win in Croke Park in 1992, while he was also a prolific hurler and basketball player. So what are his views on his legendary predecessor, Dr Eamonn o Sullivan?

"I would often have read our clubs history and other publications and talked to my own father Murt and questioned others about the importance of Dr. Eamonn o Sullivan in relation to our club and in regards to his training of Kerry as well. He was a hugely iconic figure especially for younger people like me. A kind of a mythical figure to our younger generation who came in and did something unbelievably extraordinary. The success he had, all his unbelievable achievements. Looking back I suppose only Mick o Dwyer would have followed in his footsteps, that is the amazing achievements you are talking about here.  A powerful man not only in the GAA but also outside it as well. He was very influence I would say in the town of Killarney and life in Kerry.

Many people remark that he has been largely forgotten, however that must be down to the time in which he trained Kerry and worked here. Historical documents not been retained, lack of newspaper coverage, no television coverage, no local radio, etc. Ireland was a completely country as well lets not forget that. We lived in a different time; it was easy to forget people back in those far off days. We to day are very fortunate that you are writing a book on Dr. Eamonn as that will give us all the opportunity to examine his life. There is a lot written about all the present players and managers not so with Dr. Eamonn. Information about was passed on by word of mouth but not enough was written about him. Now on the other hand it may have been but not all of it was assembled together like what this book is achieving.

In relation to my own club I must say that the young people have no idea as to what he won. Now I would know because I would have taken a great interest in his life. Our club patron John Moynihan would have given us great information about Dr. Eamon. Now during that particular time during the late twenties what was unique about it as well the formation of the Killarney Legion club was taking place in Killarney, they then became the dominant team while The Crokes were almost in decline. John Moynihan tells stories of how difficult it was to keep the show on the road as The Legion were dominant club and the side everyone wanted to beat and all of this was around the period when Dr. Eamonn was training Kerry. Even though he was the great trainer at that time our club was struggling to keep going ant that to me was very strange and unusual as well.

The man was obviously ahead of his time, (this phrase kept being repeated by most people interviewed for this publication), and he appeared to have great forward thinking of events that were going to happen and that were going to be needed. He was able to look around the community and see what was needed. He touched everything, not only the GAA. He set up structures, he started to work with people and I am told he had a unique gift of bringing others with him. At that particular time back in the early part of the last century we did not have the magnificent golf courses we have to day. There was no football stadium, the GAA here in east Kerry had to play in the local cricket pitch. Now suddenly you had this magnificent Fitzgerald Stadium which could accommodate massive crowds, a golf course that was the envy of the country and suddenly Killarney more and more a popular place to come to. I will go as far to say that you could trace the continued growth of tourism back to what Eamonn ad developed because people had something different o come to Killarney for. I must emphasis he seemed to have an understanding of what was needed and very few people in life have that amazing ability. Dr. Eamonn had it.

Just imagine if he had not led the drive in building Fitzgerald Stadium what would have happened? I dread too think what would have happened. Would we have the great interest in the GAA that we have to day. The more you look at this aspect of his achievements I would say that only for the Stadium the GAA here in Killarney and indeed kery would not be what we know to day. Even look at it from the point of footballers, training facilities, and the ability to be able to perform and display the skills of the game on one of the best surface in the country and be allowed to train on that surface all the time. Look at to day kery still don't have their own exclusive training ground, yet you are expecting our players to perform at the very highest level.

Look at the premiership clubs in England and the facilities they have now. Don't forget back in the thirties and forties when the stadium was built and developed it was the Old Trafford of the time, it was the best stadium in the country and maybe even in Europe. What Eamon did here with the help of my club and the patient's of the mental hospital has had massive repercussions since and it made the whole district of East Kerry and the county think different of Gaelic games. As far as I know not one club around here had their own club grounds then and all were allowed to play in then Stadium as far as possible. This helped all clubs develop and grow. Again I pose the question if the stadium had not been built what would have happened. Yes clubs would have got on and developed eventual but it was Eamonn's dream that laid the great foundation for football in East Kerry and beyond.



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