Kerry soccer kingpins Killarney Celtic FC have been awarded the prestigious FAI Club Mark one-star player development centre award – the highest accolade that the governing body of the sport in Ireland can bestow.
It acknowledges that the club has achieved excellence in a number of categories, including governance and administration, child welfare, safeguarding and coach education.
It also recognises the excellence of the club development plan, its coaching structures and in the way the club engages in FAI programmes.
FAI Club Development Programme Coordinator, Barry McGann, who visited Celtic Park in Killarney to present the award, said that the FAI looks forward to working closely with the club in the future.
Celtic Chairperson, Tim Jones, said the awarding of the one-star, the highest level the FAI awards in this programme at the moment, to the club is a reward for the work done by so many to ensure Celtic is the best club it can be on and off the field.
“As a club, we take our responsibilities very seriously and work hard to ensure we have the best structures in place at all levels,” he said.
Tim said special thanks must go to Helen Clancy and John and Jane O’Donoghue who took on the responsibility of ensuring the club had everything in place that the FAI required to be awarded the one-star.
The club was delighted that FAI President, Gerry McAnaney, took time from his busy schedule to visit the Celtic Park this week and make the official presentation and he said it was a great day for the club.
“Killarney Celtic has proved that it achieves the top standards on and off the field.
“The FAI is very proud of what the club has achieved and you join an elite group who have received the one-star,” he said.
Mr McAnaney said while Celtic are the reigning Kerry league and cup champions and they have been the top side in the county for several years, clubs are about a lot more than just what happens on the field.
“They make a huge contribution to their community and this doesn’t go unnoticed at the highest level.
“I am sure that I will be back again in the future presenting Killarney Celtic with further stars as part of the FAI’s Club Mark programme,” Mr McAnaney said.
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