Such a difference between GAA in Wicklow and Kerry. There was quite a big crowd at the final on Saturday in Fitzgerald Stadium, between Dr. Crokes of Killarney and Rathmore, a game easily won by the Killarney men. But its obvoious that the GAA in Kerry know how to organise their sport. In Wicklow for some strange reason, they play their matches in Aughrim. I mean where the hell is that. I have lived in Wicklow for 20 years and I dont know where it is. I think I have seen it signposted on the Arklow by-pass. But ask any kid in Bray where Wanderers play their home matches and they will point you in the direction of the Carlisle Grounds. In fact most of them will no doubt have been there at some stage in their life.

Bray has a population of 30,000 people, Killarney around 9,000. But how come Killarney has a much bigger GAA following? And I’m not just talking about the usual Kerry crowd who “wait for the All-Ireland”. I am talking about club matches in Kerry, that attract what must be massive crowds by the standards of any other county.

The Wicklow county board have made a step in the right direction, by appointing Mick O’Dwyer as manager of the senior team. But even then its a Kerryman they appoint. And it just shows you that given the right circumstances that there is a significant interest in GAA in Wicklow. See this and also the fact that 400 people turned up for the first Wicklow training session under the stewardship of Micko. Lets hope they keep this forward thinking up, and maybe in the future they will see sense and play matches in Bray, or one of the towns in Wicklow (no offense, Aughrim).