The black and amber is very familiar but now the Dr Crokes GAA Club in Killarney has added a distinct shade of green to its image.
The Kerry champions were honoured at a ceremony in Croke Park for adopting sustainability action for the benefit of the club and community.
GAA President, Jarlath Burns, who presented Dr Crokes with the award, applauded the club’s decision to lead the sustainability charge for the GAA.
“Green Clubs are reinforcing our social leadership, improving their facilities and helping ensure a better future for their communities.
“The breadth of initiatives spanning energy, waste, water, biodiversity and travel, speaks volumes about the innovative and community-focused spirit of our clubs,” Mr Burns said.
Picture: Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
“The diversity of these projects demonstrates how clubs are finding creative ways to address local challenges while contributing to a national movement,” he added.
The GAA President presented Dr Crokes with the GAA Green flag, wall plaque and sideline banners.
Eoin Brosnan, former Kerry All-Ireland winner and chairman of Dr Crokes, said everybody involved in the club is with the success in the Green Club awards.
“As well as excelling on the playing field, Dr Crokes has been at the forefront of the GAA’s efforts to promote sustainability whilst educating the club members on the importance of this,” he said.
The chairman added that the committee, under the stewardship of Éamonn Fitzgerald, has been carrying out great work around the club grounds and improving the visitor experience for all.
“To be one of only two Kerry clubs to have received this award is a testament to the work of Dr Crokes’ Green Committee. Whilst the award has been great to receive, I know the committee has future plans to improve our club further,”Mr Brosnan said.
It has been a busy year for Dr Crokes’ Green Club Committee members, Healthy Club Officer Éamonn Fitzgerald, Killarney Looking Good biodiversity award winner Niall Keogh, Dan Kelleher, Gene O’Doherty, Micheál Fitzgerald, Sinéad O’Mara and Peter O’Toole.
They have been creating projects in the five separate criteria for winning the award:
- Waste/Litter
- Transport
- Energy
- Biodiversity
- Water
The club is also supporting the innovative Killarney Coffee Cup initiative by designing and producing the bespoke reusable Crokes coffee cups as well as supporting Killarney Tidy Towns/Looking Good and the Meitheal.
The installation of disabled parking bays to Irish Wheelchair Association standards and bicycle racks at the club grounds encourage members and visitors to reduce the use of cars, where applicable.
A cost-effectiveness analysis of air-to-water energy savers and the feasibility of piping rainwater from the Lewis Road and clubhouse roofs to giant water tanks is underway.
The group also created a wild meadow, cutting it with the traditional scythes to avoid pesticides harmful to wildlife and planted 1,500 crocus to flower in late January 2025
The guest speaker at the Croke Park awards event, Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, spoke of her admiration for the leadership being shown by the Green Club in its engagement with the various local community efforts and within the GAA.
This positive legacy of the Green Club is creating an encouraging way forward for future generations.
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