The New York-based Kerrymen’s Association has opened up their doors to women as members for the first time since the association was founded in 1881.
For the first time in one hundred and thirty years women will be able to apply for membership of the county organization.
The landmark event ends a controversy as fiercely fought as gay marriage in New York for many of its members.
Kerry women had been fighting hard over the past few years to gain admittance to the organization, which they claimed discriminated against them.
The organization was founded in 1881 to help those from County Kerry in need. It grew to be the largest Irish county association in the New York area.
The organization has its own headquarters in Yonkers and holds highly successful fundraising events there.
It was active in the fight to legalize thousands of Irish undocumented .
It recently raised significant funds for the family of Saoirse Heffernan, a little girl who died from the rare Batten’s Disease who needed New York hospital treatment.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Scottmcgowan | Jun 29, 2011, 04:39 PM EDT
Hell, in ancient Celtic Ireland, woman were treated as equals. Even St. Bridget was consecrated as a bishop - and that really annoyed Rome. I say congratulations to the men of the Kingdom of Kerry based in NY for bringing us back to our ancient ways.
mcbreen | Jun 27, 2011, 10:31 AM EDT
Maybe if Irish woman and gays would join these organizations, they would have one last rosary - bead in their litany of victimization. Fine with me.
TiocfaidhArmani | Jun 27, 2011, 04:07 AM EDT
Can us men not have our own groups? What is it with women they want to be offended and feel excluded. Can you imagine men wanting to be apart of a womens group?
peterson | Jun 26, 2011, 06:29 PM EDT
It's about time !!
cillowen | Jun 26, 2011, 04:24 PM EDT
they shudda have a club of their own. Now the guys will have to shut their FN mouths and wear panties next. The unisex shiite is like mulligatawny soup where one hasn't a clue on whats in that crud. Mrs Murphy's trousers overalls.
WoundedKnee | Jun 26, 2011, 04:16 PM EDT
hollaback " No wonder the St. Pat's parade is in the mess it's in." You're right, the Dublin parade is garbage. Thank God the NYC Parade is as good as ever.
hooligan6a | Jun 26, 2011, 03:40 PM EDT
The next thing you know they will want to be priest.
walter3ca | Jun 26, 2011, 03:17 PM EDT
I bet that this place has a bathroom that only men can use. Throwbacks!
phinsman | Jun 26, 2011, 02:09 PM EDT
I am surprised it took this long to not be discriminatory against women…
joycean | Jun 26, 2011, 02:07 PM EDT
As a proud Kerrywoman, where do I join?
Springfield9 | Jun 26, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT
It should Immediately be renamed the "Kerry Persons Association"!!!!! Without further ado a new organization called the Co. Kerry Berries and Twig Organization needs to be formed - no women.
johhnyb | Jun 26, 2011, 12:28 PM EDT
Imagine those stupid Kerrymen thinking that a 'Kerryman association' should be for men from Kerry.
antoman | Jun 26, 2011, 10:39 AM EDT
Ah yes Kerry.The highest mountain in Ireland is in Kerry and as an American discovered when he pointed out to a passing farmer that it did'nt look that tall to him and his wife he was met with the reply.."you see the thing about Carrauntoohil is that it lies in a bit of a hollow".So you can understand now why it took so long for the women to be accepted into the association,they have more brains you see.
seanskelligs | Jun 26, 2011, 10:33 AM EDT
They are from Kerry-why would any girl want to join?
hollabackgurl | Jun 26, 2011, 08:53 AM EDT
These old throwbacks are just getting their heads around the equality of women, apparently. Give them more time to discover there are Irish gays too. No wonder the St. Pat's parade is in the mess it's in. Utterly amazing. Wait till they try and tell Chris Quinn she's not equal next March 17.