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National League men’s basketball to return to Killarney
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NATIONAL League Men’s Basketball will return to Killarney for the 2017-18 season following an absence of almost a decade. Basketball Ireland confirmed today that the St Paul's Basketball Club application for a place in the Division One Men’s league has been accepted.
St Paul's application to the Men’s National Competitions Committee (MNCC) of Basketball Ireland was submitted in recent weeks and it also involved a presentation and interview in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght last Saturday. Club members Paul Sheehan, Philip O'Connor and Mark O'Leary presented an impressive case before the adjudicating panel to guarantee the return of top-flight basketball to Killarney.
St Paul's Basketball Club Chairman Padraig Weldon said everybody in the club is delighted with the news. "It is fantastic to welcome national league basketball back to Killarney. It is something that we have been striving for in recent years. There is a great tradition of basketball in Killarney and having a senior team competing at national level gives our young players something to aspire to. It is a big step for everyone associated with the club and I am appealing to all past and present members and anyone interested to get involved. Even if you have zero knowledge of basketball, there are several areas where volunteers are more than welcome to assist the club with their time and expertise," he said.
Basketball Ireland has yet to announce the structure of the national league division one next season but it is possible that it may be a northern and southern conference style league system. That would mean that St. Paul's would compete in the southern conference with teams such as Ballincollig, Neptune, Fr Matthews, Killorglin, Limerick, Kilkenny, Portlaoise and others. The Killarney side plan to acquire the services of an American player and are also likely to include at least two European players. The rest of the squad will be made up of local Killarney players while St Paul's also hope to reach out to other clubs in the East Kerry area where a structured link would allow some of these players to play national league basketball.
There is a proud tradition and great history of national league basketball in Killarney. Paudie O'Connor and the Gleneagle St. Vincent's brought in the first Americans to Irish Basketball in 1979 and enjoyed national league success at the time. St. Vincent's competed in the national league until 1987. St Paul's Basketball Club (founded in 1985) first entered the national league in 1993 and competed at Superleague level until 2008.
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A Kilcummin native living in New Zealand is appealing to the Kerry community for genuine local memorabilia to decorate his new Irish pub and deli on the other side of the world.
Cian Curtin and his wife are currently fitting out The Snug, a new venture located in New Brighton, a seaside suburb of Christchurch. By day, the venue will operate as a deli serving Irish staples such as breakfast rolls, chicken fillet rolls, home-made soda bread, and fresh milk. In the evenings, it will transform into a traditional neighbourhood pub featuring Irish food, drink, and live music.
Determined to create an authentic atmosphere rather than relying on generic decorations, Cian is calling on Kerry locals, businesses, and sports clubs to send over items with a real story behind them.
“Being from Kilcummin, there’ll naturally be plenty of Kerry influence around the place. One thing that’s particularly important to me is that the pub doesn’t end up filled with generic, newly made ‘Irish pub’ decorations. I’d much rather fill the walls gradually with genuine pieces from home that have a bit of history and a story behind them. If any local pubs, clubs, businesses or readers had an old sign, photograph, jersey, bar piece or other bit of Kerry memorabilia gathering dust that they thought deserved a new home on the other side of the world, I’d absolutely love to hear from them.”
If you can help email: thesnugirishbar@gmail.com
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