In Croke Park today, Joanne O’ Riordan, launched the gala tribute dinner to Micheál Ó'Muircheartaigh which will take place in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road on Saturday September 22nd 2018.

The IT Tralee Foundation are hosting a gala tribute dinner to honour and celebrate the life and times of one of Ireland's most popular and much loved sons, the legendary Micheál Ó'Muircheartaigh. Micheál holds a Fellowship from the Institute of Technology Tralee and is a member of the IT Tralee Foundation Board. All proceeds from the night will go to the Foundation to complete the Institute’s €16.5m Kerry Sports Academy.

The €16.5m Kerry Sports Academy is currently under construction at the North Campus of the IT Tralee and once opened it will allow people from all sporting disciplines, irrespective of ability, to enjoy, prepare and compete to the highest standards. The Academy has been designed to address the needs of Paralympic & Special Olympic level athletes, as well as opening up a world of opportunities and accessibility to sports and recreation for people with disabilities in our society.

The IT Tralee has an esteemed international reputation for leadership in inclusion and adapted physical activity and is the only higher education provider globally to be awarded a UNESCO Chair in this area. The title of the UNESCO Chair project is “Transforming the Lives of People with Disabilities, their Families and Communities through Physical Education, Sport, Recreation and Fitness.”

Chairman of the IT Tralee Foundation Board Mr. Dick Spring said “We are delighted to be awarded the honour of hosting this gala dinner to celebrate the life and career of Micheál Ó'Muircheartaigh who has often been referred to as a national treasure and it promises to be a very special night for his family, Irish sport, and indeed, the larger GAA family”

Ms. Joanne O Riordan who formally launched the event in Croke Park this morning said “I am deeply honoured and privileged to have been asked by Micheál to launch this very special tribute night. Micheál is a very special person and it is only right and fitting that he should be honoured and celebrated with a gala tribute dinner”.

IT Tralee President Dr. Oliver Murphy said “The Kerry Sports Academy has been on the masterplan for the IT Tralee for many years and I would like to sincerely thank Micheál for the time he has given to us as a board member of the IT Tralee Foundation. It is testament to his unending generosity that he has decided to donate 100% of the proceeds from this fundraising gala dinner to this very worthy cause.”

The Kerry Sports Academy, which opens in January 2019, will support participants involved in sport both regionally, nationally and internationally.

Guest of honour at the gala dinner will be President Michael D. Higgins and the event MC will be Des Cahill. Garveys Supervalu are the main sponsors of the event.

A table of ten will cost €5,000 and tickets are available from the IT Tralee Foundation. For further details contact Mary Griffin Tel: 066 7191787 or Email: mary.griffin@staff.ittralee.ie