New York Native Pat ‘The Bag’ O’Sullivan Returns as Kerry GAA Chair

Dec. 8 2022 By Michael Dorgan

New York-born Patrick “The Bag” O’Sullivan has been appointed as Kerry GAA chairman for a second time.

Queens native O’Sullivan defeated Eamon Whelan earlier this week by 127 votes to 112 at the county boards convention held in Tralee’s Munster Technological University North Campus.

The Dr. Crokes man — a previous guest on The Long Hall Podcast — served as county board chairman from 2012 to 2016, where he achieved tremendous success for the county both on and off the field.

During his first term, Kerry won their last All-Ireland senior title and the minors claimed three consecutive All-Ireland crowns.

Moreover, O’Sullivan became synonymous with his fundraising prowesses to help develop Kerry’s center of excellence at Currans. The center was officially opened last weekend but has been in operation for some time.

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O’Sullivan promised to work “as hard as I can for this board for the next five years,” upon his appointment.

“I’ve the energy for it and I think I have something to offer otherwise I wouldn’t be putting my name forward,” O’Sullivan told The Irish Examiner in October when announcing his bid.

“There are a couple of things that I started and didn’t get finished the last time and I’m hoping to achieve that this time around if I am successful. Whoever gets in, the house draw has to be a success for Kerry.”

O’Sullivan is the son of former All-Ireland winning selector Eddie “The Tatler,” and is the proprietor of the popular Tatler Jacks pub in Killarney. He spent his early childhood in Woodside/Sunnyside with his family before they relocated permanently in Ireland.

“I was always actively involved in the GAA and it’s something my father instilled in us when we were living in America,” O’Sullivan said to the publication.

“It was a big thing of his and our lives when we lived there and it became a big thing for us when we moved home.

“When you enter a race like this, some people mightn’t want you and some might feel you had your turn and now it’s somebody else’s turn. That’s a fair enough opinion but I wouldn’t be going again if I didn’t think I had something to bring to the table.”

O’Sullivan envisages more being done with Currans and the development structures in the county.

“Kerry are not in a bad spot. The infrastructure in Kerry still has to be developed. Even though we have Currans built physically, there are still things that need to be built there.

“A lot has been done but there is more that can be done and you need finances and the will for that.”