Ballycumber gear up to play in Páidí Ó Sé football festival

The countdown has begun to the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé 2024, the famed club ladies and men’s Gaelic football tournament, taking place all across the Dingle Peninsula this weekend, February 23-25.

Ballycumber line out in the men’s intermediate straight four-team knockout competition against Newry Shamrocks of Down on Saturday and if they progress, they will play the winners of St Anne’s (Dublin) and Crettyard of Laois in the final.

Many will be keeping an eye on Cahir GAA club from Tipperary in the junior men’s competition as RTE 2fm radio presenter Johnny O’Brien, AKA ‘Johnny B’ who is one of ‘The Two Johnnies’, the famous Irish comedy duo, will be togging out.

Fifteen counties from the four provinces of Ireland as well as one UK club will take part in the 35th edition of the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé, with 28 adult men’s and ladies club teams coming for a weekend of competitive football and social events including popular Irish band Super Céilí at Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry, West Kerry.

Every year, the cream of GAA club football descends on West Kerry and this year sees many championship winning teams competing.

The football festival, which was founded by eight-time All-Ireland winner Páidí Ó Sé, is supported by Lidl Ireland, EJ Menswear, Kerry County Council Tourism Unit, Dooctor.ie, Medel Healthcare, Fáilte Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta, and has attracted over 30,000 club players since it was founded in 1989.

Comórtas Chairman, Pádraig Óg Ó Sé said; “We are thrilled to keep driving forward Páidí’s vision to attract new people to the peninsula every year to play Gaelic football. Clubs are really enthusiastic to be involved and we have planned a great weekend of craic and entertainment for them."

Full details are available on www.Paidiose.com and stay tuned to @PIOs85 on X for match fixtures and times in advance of the weekend.