26 December 2021
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
The underage coaches at one of Cork’s fastest growing soccer academies were recently selected as the latest ‘Cork International Hotel Community Spirit Award’ winners.
Kilreen Celtic, an amateur soccer club based in Ballyphehane Park in Cork City, has been in existence for 50 years. In recent years, its numbers have grown from 20 children to 225. The underage teams range from Under 5 to Under 14.
Kilreen Celtic, represented by Daniel Bennett: Child Welfare Officer: Winners of the Community Spirit Award, presented by Gerald McCarthy: Award Sponsor, alongside Sean O’Sullivan: Awards Co-ordinator & Eoghan Murphy: Deputy General Manager, Cork International Hotel, Friday 10th December 2021. Photo Siobhán Russell
The club now has girls teams for the first time with the Under 7s and Under 9s competing in the Cork Women’s Soccer league. It also plans to run a youth incentive programme for teenagers aged 15-17 who have an interest in soccer.
The volunteer coaches give up their time six days a week for training sessions. In between training and matches they run successful fundraising drives for local charities including Ballyphehane Meals and Wheels and Street Angels homeless group.
General Manager of the Cork International Hotel, Carmel Lonergan said, “Kilreen Celtic is a wonderful example of what can be achieved with dedicated volunteers and a host of community spirit. The club is not funded and doesn’t have its own facilities but it is continuing to thrive thanks to its committed underage coaches. They give up their time week in and week out, in all types of weather, to help local children and teenagers to develop their skills and have fun. It is so important to instill a love of sport and keeping active in our young people and that’s what these coaches are doing. Grassroots clubs can’t exist without these volunteers and I know that Kilreen Celtic will continue to grow in the coming years.”
The Cork International Hotel Community Spirit Awards are sponsored by The Carrigdhoun Newspaper and Gerald McCarthy Giftware. The awards take in a large geographical area in South Cork stretching from Rochestown, Douglas and Togher to Kinsale, Crosshaven and Passage West.
Nominations are open now at https://www.corkinternationalairporthotel.com/community-spirit-awards/
