MULLINGAR SHAMROCKS TO REPRESENT WESTMEATH AT THIRTYFIRST PÁIDÍ FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

Mullingar Shamrocks will represent Westmeath in the 31st edition of the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé 2020, with 36 adult men’s and ladies club teams descending on the rugged Dingle Peninsula in Kerry from 21st to 23rd February.

There is some stiff opposition for newcomers Mullingar Shamrocks in the Dermot Earley senior men’s cup with Dingle back to defend their 2019 title against other local West Kerry rivals Annascaul and An Ghaeltacht, while there are other newcomers including Cork’s Kiskeam, Mayo’s Breaffy, Cavan’s Crosserlough and Granemore GFC, Co. Armagh, who will all be attempting to leave their mark.

Westmeath’s Tom Browne and Donie Malone of SportsTalk will be broadcasting at the festival founded by Kerry iconic footballer Páidi Ó Sé, and which has attracted over 16,000 club players over 30 years. Since then, it has grown into a major international GAA event with senior, intermediate and junior adult club competitions as well as teams attending social events at Comórtas HQ, Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry, Co. Kerry.

Comórtas Chairman Pádraig Óg. Ó Sé said, ‘We are thrilled to have Shamrocks with us as well as Tom and Donie from SportsTalk to make sure the tournament reaches those who can’t make the journey. Páidi’s idea to expand the tournament beyond senior men’s teams back in 2009 was visionary and he would be proud to see so many clubs getting involved year on year, all wanting to experience all that is good about the GAA. We are pleased that the tournament continues to be one of the most talked about GAA events in the calendar and we wish all clubs a safe and enjoyable experience. We are grateful to Lidl and our local partners Lee Strand Milk and Kerry County Council Tourism Unit who are backing us also to continue with the Comórtas, which has become a big benefit in terms of local tourism. We are also delighted that EJMenswear.com of Sligo, who are related to the Ó Sé family as well as new clothing sponsors McKeever Sports are partnering up with us to ensure it will be another weekend to remember.”

The football festival, will have some management pedigree is on show this year with former Cavan star Larry O’Reilly managing Knockbride in the senior men’s competition, 10-time All-Ireland winning Cork footballer Valerie Mulcahy is managing Ballyboden St. Enda’s ladies’ senior team while former Offaly senior football manager Stephen Wallace, a native of Ardfert in Kerry, is managing West Kerry side Castlegregory

And we have no doubt that our Ned will match the best of them.

#Comórtas2020