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Basketball legend Shane Battier enjoys Killarney visit

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HE MAY be an instantly recognisable sports star across America but former NBA Basketball champion Shane Battier passed through Killarney almost anonymously last week. His towering presence of 6 foot 8 inches certainly made him stand out when he visited The Porterhouse on Plunkett Street with a group of golfing friends but it is safe to assume that most of the locals there didn't have a clue who he was. Another group of Americans dining there did recognise him and alerted a staff member about the presence of a sports celebrity in the house. Despite enjoying his low-profile visit to Killarney, Shane kindly obliged to have his photo taken with Porterhouse staff members.

Shane Battier is best known for his role on the all-conquering Miami Heat team that won back-to-back NBA Championship titles in 2012 and 2013. His former teammate and friend LeBron James is a global superstar and the greatest player in the world. Other famous players on that successful Miami team included Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Ray Allen.

Battier (38) retired from a glittering NBA career after the 2014 finals. He is also well remembered for his outstanding college career at Duke University, where he led his team to the 2001 National Championship under the guidance of legendary Duke coach and USA Olympics team coach Mike Krzyzewski ("Coach K").
Unfortunately it appears that Shane had left town by the time word filtered through to many of the local basketball enthusiasts about his visit.

He is actually quite different to the average sports star and may have had some words of wisdom to offer to the news that top-flight basketball will return to Killarney later this year. Apart from his smart play on the court, Battier was once described as the most intelligent player in the NBA and even made a top ten list of the world's smartest athletes. His knowledge and skills from his playing career combine well with his current role as the Miami Heat director of basketball development and analytics.

Shane Battier definitely wasn't the first celebrity to enjoy an anonymous visit to Killarney and he certainly won't be the last. His visit is just one classic
example of Killarney's high ranking as a top global tourist destination. Hopefully the majestic scenery and wonderful hospitality that he enjoyed might inspire him to return again. He might even encourage his friend LeBron to visit!

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Winner claims €1m Lotto win after ticket sat in glovebox

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Winner claims €1m Lotto win after ticket sat in glovebox


A Killarney lottery player has officially claimed a life-changing €1,005,000 EuroMillions prize after discovering the winning ticket had been sitting forgotten in a car glovebox for over a week.


The lucky ticket was purchased at John Bowler’s Centra store at The Reeks Gateway on Tralee Road for the special Ireland Only Raffle draw on Friday, August 21.
While the winner’s identity remains anonymous, the individual strongly hinted at being a local resident after admitting to discussing the local mystery win with townspeople while unaware the winning paper was parked in their own driveway.
“I left the ticket in the car glovebox, it must’ve been sitting there for over a week,” the winner revealed. “I had no idea the ticket was even there, and less so it was a ticket worth €1 million.”
“I heard there had been a win in the town, and I had even been chatting to people about the win and what you would do if you ever won a prize like that. Little did I know a €1 million ticket was in my driveway.”
The Killarney player won the top prize in the National Lottery’s special event, which guarantees one player an extra €1,000,000 on top of the standard €5,000 raffle payout.
The newly minted millionaire has already begun planning how to enjoy the windfall, with a Mediterranean cruise sitting high on the priority list.

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Marathon run to honour memory of beloved teacher Sarah


A local man is taking on the Dublin City Marathon to raise funds for cancer research in memory of his sister-in-law, who passed away earlier this year.


David ‘Daithí’ Casey will run the 26.2-mile course in honour of Sarah Egan, a popular local teacher who lost her battle with Ewing Sarcoma in May.
Known affectionately to her family and friends as Suzie, Sarah was a cherished daughter, sister, aunt, godmother, and friend.
Paying tribute to her memory, David remembered Sarah as a exceptionally kind and brave person who faced her illness with immense strength.
“Suzie was a kind, caring, shy, and beautiful person,” David said. “When she got sick, she showed amazing inner strength and was a brave fighter, especially in how she handled her illness in front of her family and her nieces and nephews.”
All funds raised from the run will go directly to Sarcoma Cancer Ireland to support ongoing research and treatment developments for Ewing Sarcoma, as well as providing assistance to affected families.
“Every mile I run is a reminder of why I’m doing this — to make a real difference for those who need it most,” David added. “It’s not just about crossing a finish line; it’s about turning effort into impact.”
The Egan and Casey families extended their sincere thanks to the local community for their support and kindness over the past three months.
Donations can be made online via eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/DC69465374.

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