PETER O’Leary is the new manager of the Beara senior football team.

The well-known Castletownbere man takes the reins of his home division, which will field in the county divisions/colleges senior championship for the first time since 2022.

Beara withdrew from the previous three championships but are now making a concerted effort to put a team on the pitch this season.

O’Leary, a familiar face as a referee, has stepped up as manager/coach, with Seán Hurley (Glengarriff) coming on board as a selector. It is envisaged that O’Leary’s backroom team will be strengthened further in the near future.

‘Peter has a lot of experience,’ Beara chairman Seamus Sullivan told The Southern Star.

‘He has been involved with a lot of teams, including ladies football teams in Cork and Waterford. We’re delighted to have him on board. He knows what he is doing, he knows the direction we want to go, and we’re all on the same page.’

Beara were set to hold their first training session on Wednesday as the division prepares for the county championship.

In the unseeded section, Beara have received a bye in round one and will await the winner of the clash between Seandún and Avondhu. The winner of that tie will play the victor of MTU v Imokilly to determine who advances to the seeded section.

New chairman Sullivan is encouraged by the response from clubs across the division.

‘We met all the clubs individually, outlined what we wanted, and asked what they wanted from us – and we all came together. The clubs are buying into what we want to do. We have good numbers and hopefully it will all go well,’ he explained.

A vice-chairman of the Beara board for the past five years, Sullivan – who is also secretary of his home club, Urhan – is optimistic about the future.

In a new-look board, Terence O’Shea is vice-chairman and also chairman of Glengarriff GAA Club. Denise Power (Castletownbere) is Beara secretary, with Sinead Whelan (Castletownbere) as assistant secretary.

There is also a mother-daughter connection, as Amanda Cronin (Castletownbere secretary) serves as PRO, with her mother Anne-Marie Cronin (Castletownbere) taking on the role of cultural officer.

Michael Dunne (Urhan) is treasurer, while Ollie Sullivan (Ardgroom) brings vast experience in his role as Beara GAA President. Jim Hanley and Seamus Murphy are Beara’s county delegates.