Jerry (Small Jer) O’ Leary (1885-1974)

People who knew Jerry O’Leary late in his life would have remembered him as an historian, with a great knowledge of the town of Killarney, and especially the Gaelic Athletic Association. Anyone chasing history, reporters looking to verify a story, to confirm or demolish same, or maybe to add a little extra to it, made out Jerry.

 But what of his youth and what part did he play in the building of the Gaelic Athletic Association through his life?

 Gerry was a member of the Dr Croke club all his life, as a player, and as an officer he held every post, and was President for many years until his death.

                                                      In his teens he was a footballer of merit, and was described as a brainy, elusive and effective forward and was a player and officer of the Killarney hurling club. He played football in St Brendans College, played cricket with the Killarney Cricket Club and acted as referee on many occasions.

 It was a telegram from the New York G.A.A in early 1906 that really showed Jerry’s status in Kerry G.A.A circles.  Addressed just to Jerry O’Leary, G.A.A.  Killarney, it read, “Send Dick Fitzgerald, Paddy Dillon and another player, signed Denis Buckley.”

 When the passage money arrived Jerry booked them through Con Counihans Tours, High Street, and their records show that Richard Fitzgerald [age 23], Donie McCarthy [age24] and Paddy Dillon [age 24] sailed on the S.S. Lusitania of the Cunard Line from Queenstown on October 14^th 1906. They helped New York to win the American Championship and gave exhibitions. Dick Fitzgerald and Paddy Dillon returned home on Christmas Eve 1906, with Donie McCarthy choosing to remain in New York. One wonders how many players have crossed the Atlantic since those famous Crokesmen’s historic journey. They were indeed the pioneers of Gaelic footballers Trans Atlantic travel.

 Those first fifteen years of the 1900s was a special time for the G.A.A., the Dr Crokes, and Kerry. The club won four County Championships and the County five All Irelands. “Small Jer” was very much part of this period as a selector of the club team, half of which made up the County team, a selector with the Kerry team, a club-mate of Eugene O’ Sullivan , who was Chairman of the County Board, and he was a close friend of Dick Fitzgerald who was then recognized as Irelands greatest footballer. He was present after the Croke Memorial games when negotiations to purchase the Jones road field were going ahead and on his suggestion the difference between seller and purchaser was divided and the deal was made.

 Jerry was a selector on winning Kerry teams – Minor three in a row -1931, 32 and 33, Junior in 1913, 15, 24, 28, 30 & 41, and Senior in 1913, 14, 24, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 37, 39, 40 & 41.

 Jerry saw Kerry win their first All Ireland in 1903 and attended every final up to his death and his stand tickets arrived from Croke Park without fail every year.

 The Fitzgerald stadium in Killarney was another project he was happy to be involved with as it was built by the Dr Croke club in honour of the great Dick Fitz., in 1936 and of which Jerry was President for many years.

 Jeremiah O’Leary - an only child, was born in Main St Killarney on March 11^th 1885. He was educated in the Presentation Convent and the Presentation Monastery, St Brendans Seminary and Caffreys College Cork. In 1903 he joined his mother and father in the family business –newsagents ,general merchants-carrier of goods from Railway Station to businesses in town .He was secretary to the Killarney jarveys and boatmen.  Together with William Lynch,jarvey ,and Jack Thomson ,garage owner ,agreed with Bourne and Vincent families that no motor traffic be allowed in Muckross estate and Demesne. In 1925 was appointed Town Steward to the Killarney U.D.C. Involved in the prevention of Cable Cars on Torc and Mangerton  mountains and in setting up of Muckross House Trustees. A member of the Killarney Tourist Board for most of his adult life.

 He married Mary Ellen Kelliher on February 9^th 1918 and they had six children - Kitty, Joan, Mary, Margaret, Derry and Pat. All the family were immersed in the G.A.A - Derry acted as Croke club secretary in the 1940s and early1950s. Margaret is presently a Vice- President of the Dr Croke club.

 Jerry and Mary Ellens only grandson Teddy Counihan held many posts in the club, and was Chairman in the early 90s when the All Ireland club championship was won. He now represents the Crokes as their Trustee in the Fitzgerald Stadium committee.

 Jerry O’Leary was another G.A.A legend, a builder of dreams like many more in the country.