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Busy festive season ahead for Scotts Lakers

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IT WILL be a busy festive season for Scotts Lakers St Paul's with another home game in Killarney Sports Centre along with Castleisland Christmas blitz action plus a big National Cup semi-final to look forward to.

Scotts Lakers will face Sligo All Stars in a national league division one game on Saturday, December 30, at 3pm in Killarney Sports Centre. This match has been rescheduled to this date after Sligo were unable to travel due to bad weather on December 10.

Prior to the Sligo match, the Lakers will compete in the premier men category of the annual Castleisland Christmas blitz on Thursday, December 28. The Killarney side have three games that day against Fr Mathews at 2.10pm and Ballincollig at 4.35pm before facing the high-flying Tralee Warriors at 6.55pm. The top two teams in this competition will contest the Premier Men final that night at 8.45pm.

Scotts Lakers will get 2018 off to a start with a very important President’s Cup semi-final against Ballincollig on Saturday, January 6, in the Neptune Stadium, Cork, at 8pm. The other semi-final featuring Neptune against Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin will go ahead on Friday, January 5, at 8.30pm.

The return to national league action after a nine year absence has been an enjoyable learning experience for the St Paul's club and the Scotts Lakers team that has tremendous potential and have enjoyed a season of mixed fortunes so far. The Lakers got off to a great start with early wins over Dublin Lions and Limerick Celtics.

The visit of league favourites Killorglin to Killarney Sports Centre attracted an estimated crowd of 950, probably the biggest crowd ever to attend a national league basketball game in Killarney. Lakers had chances to win this game but Killorglin's foreign players proved to be the difference in the end. The huge crowds that have been attending the home games just shows the appetite and goodwill towards national league basketball in Killarney and the club will be hoping to build on this huge support for the remainder of the season and in the future. Other highs of the season so far include the dramatic overtime win over Ulster Elks in November and the big cup quarterfinal win away to Fr Mathews on December 3.

Team coach Cormac O'Donoghue has a squad that is capable of challenging any team in the league when playing to full potential. Americans Antuan Bootle and Justin Tuason have been prominent while Mark Greene and Padraig Lucey are two of the best Irish players in the league. Team captain Philip O'Connor along with veteran players Andrew Fitzgerald, Dan Griffin and Shane Horgan and promising young players Cian Clernon, Mark O'Shea and Paul Clarke offer Coach O'Donoghue plenty of options.

Scotts Lakers will be without Mihail Kapitanov, who has taken up a job offer in Italy, but the good news is the addition of Dalian Mason, a shooting guard, who will hopefully increase the scoring threat of the Lakers for the rest of the season. Following the busy festive season, Scotts Lakers will have a home game in the national league against Limerick Celtics on Saturday, January 13, at 7.30pm in Killarney Sports Centre.
 


 
Above: Maurice O'Donoghue of Scotts Hotel, Killarney, sponsor of Scott Lakers St Paul's basketball team, pictured with team members Mark Greene, Andrew Fitzgerald, Antuan Bootle and Philip O'Connor. Pic: Eamonn Keogh

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Kerry artist explores identity at ANAM

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Kerry artist explores identity at ANAM


Kerry artist Felix Power is inviting the Killarney community to explore personal ideas of identity, belonging, and Irishness at a free interactive afternoon event this weekend.


Titled Where’s the I in Ireland?, the project takes place on Saturday, October 10, at the ANAM Centre on East Avenue Road, starting at 2.30pm.
The initiative centres around 21 questions regarding personal identity and participants’ complex relationships with Ireland. Over 2025 and 2026, groups across Dublin, Cork, and Kerry participated in sessions structured as part research project, part table quiz, and part bingo night, offering lighthearted moments alongside genuine personal reflection.
During the session, Felix Power and guest facilitators will guide attendees through thoughts on their own personal journeys, sharing notable responses gathered from previous events across the country. Attendees complete anonymous survey cards answering the core questions, with no expectation to speak publicly or share stories out loud. Those who wish to can hand in their cards at the end for inclusion in upcoming public installations.
A pop-up exhibition featuring previous written responses from past participants will also be on display inside the venue, showing the varied ways people move towards or away from traditional ideas of Irishness.
“What emerges is far from a unified voice or consensus,” stated Felix Power. “I see it as a beautiful cacophony, a hectic dawn chorus of differing voices, diverse journeys and unique understandings.”
Power, a graduate of MTU Cork’s MA in Arts and Engagement, has a background spanning visual art, sculpture, live performance, and film. His work focusses heavily on creating participatory spaces that combine playfulness with authentic dialogue about local culture and place.
The event is open to everyone regardless of background or nationality. Supported by Creative Ireland and the Kerry County Council Arts Office, admission is entirely free. While a limited number of entry passes will be available at the door on the day, advance online booking is encouraged to assist organisers with capacity monitoring.

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Town encouraged to wear bright colours for Kevin

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Town encouraged to wear bright colours for Kevin

The town of Killarney was encouraged to wear its brightest colours this week to honour the memory of one of its most beloved sons following the sudden and unexpected passing of Kevin Looney on Tuesday.


A familiar sight walking the streets of Killarney and his adopted home of Tralee alongside his wife Katie, Kevin was widely known for his bright personality, athletic talent, and involvement with local sports organisations.
A gifted athlete and dedicated leader, Kevin served for many years as captain of the Kerry Stars Special Olympics basketball team, leading the side to back-to-back tournament victories in Little Island, Cork, in 2023. Beyond his success on the court, he was a talented runner with an 18-minute 5k record, a keen soccer player with ambitions for Kerry FC, and a head designer who created custom sports gear for his clubs.
Tributes have poured in for the young man, whose kindness, dedication, and enthusiasm left a lasting mark on teammates, coaches, and the wider community.
Kevin is survived by his wife Katie, his mother Carmel, his sisters Selina, Carmel-Ann, and Frankie, his brothers Darren and Tommy-Dan, his granddad Dan McCarthy, and his nephews Sean, Noah, and Theo, along with his extended family, neighbours, and friends.
His removal took place on Thursday evening at O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Killarney. Funeral mass takes place this morning, Friday, at 10am at St Mary’s Cathedral, with burial afterwards in Aghadoe Lawn Cemetery.
Mourners attending the service have been asked to wear bright colours in Kevin’s memory. Family flowers only, with donations in lieu, if desired, to Epilepsy Ireland.

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