3 days ago
Kerry v Donegal: How counties compare in five key categories... unrelated to GAA
We rank today's All-Ireland final contenders – kindred spirits at opposite ends of the Wild Atlantic Way – across five# categories unrelated to Gaelic football:
Donegal: With its rugged coastline, breathtaking beaches and majestic mountains, Donegal offers the postcard ideal of Irish scenic beauty. 5/5
Kerry: With its rugged coastline, breathtaking beaches and slightly higher majestic mountains, Kerry does much the same. 5/5 Carrauntoohil mountain in Kerry. Pic: Shutterstock
Donegal: Along with trad greats like Tommy Peoples and Dermot Byrne, Donegal has spawned inoffensive international successes like Enya, her old group Clannad, and Daniel O'Donnell.
The Henry Girls are from Inishowen while guitar legend Rory Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon. 4/5
Kerry: Home to a rich and vibrant trad scene with the Begley family still at the forefront. Indie rockers Walking On Cars were school friends from Dingle, while Oscar-nominated actress Jessie Buckley once released a well-received album with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. 4/5 Pic: Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images
Donegal: Aside from its two All-Ireland titles in Gaelic football (with a third on the cards today) Donegal has produced Irish soccer greats Packie Bonner, Shay Given, Séamus Coleman and Amber Barrett. Olympic runners Mark English and Kelly McGrory also hail from the county. 4/5
Kerry: On course for a staggering 39th All-Ireland today, but the county's contributions to Irish sporting life have been rather self-serving overall. Champion flat jockey Oisín Murphy and Munster rugby player JJ Hanrahan come from the Kingdom, but Gaelic football reigns supreme. Our loss is their gain. 3/5 Seamus Coleman of Everton looks on during the warm up prior to the Premier League match between Everton FC and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on December 07, 2023 in Liverpool, England. Pic:Donegal: The Mary From Dungloe Festival, which started yesterday, has been running since 1967. Like an indie Rose of Tralee, the week of music and fun ends in a pageant at which Mary From Dungloe is crowned for the year. 3/5
Kerry: First held eight years before the Mary From Dungloe Festival, in 1959, the Rose of Tralee blows the Donegal pageant out of the water in terms of recognisability, glitz – and budget. 5/5 Cork Rose Shauna O'Sullivan with Dáithí Ó Sé. Pic: Domnick Walsh
Donegal: Undoubtedly a strong accent with notable variation around the county, but delivery tends to be clear and unhurried, meaning tourists can generally get by without asking the same question too many times. 4/5
Kerry: The Kerry lilt is distinguished, unmistakable and beautiful – but certain strains can require considerable effort on the part of the listener, depending on how far from Kerry they come from. 3/5
