Antrim darts star Josh Rock has officially backed Killarney as the ideal location for a major European Tour event.

Speaking ahead of the Premier League’s return to Dublin this week, the World Cup winner identified Gleneagle as his top choice for a professional three-day tournament.

Currently, the PDC EuroTour features 48 of the world’s best players competing for a €250,000 prize fund across mainland Europe.

While Ireland has a long history of hosting the World Grand Prix, calls are growing for a multi-day event to return to the island to reflect the record nine Irish tour card holders currently on the circuit.

“There needs to be a EuroTour event on the island of Ireland,” Rock said. “If I had to host it anywhere, the only place I would put up is Gleneagle in Killarney. It’s a massive venue, and that’s where they hold the Killarney Darts Festival where all of us have played. It is a fantastic event.”

Less than 24 hours after Killarney’s Jessie Buckley secured the Academy Award for Best Actress, students from the Fiona Crowley Stage School were thrust into the national media spotlight on Monday afternoon.

The young performers were joined at the Arbutus Hotel by Zara King of Virgin Media Television and James Patrice from RTÉ’s Today Show.
The television crews were in town to capture the local reaction to the Oscar success, and the students were thrilled to showcase their own talents for the cameras.
Dressed in full costume for their upcoming April production of Wicked, the students gathered in the family-run Arbutus Hotel.
The location held particular significance for the group, as the hotel’s stage is the same venue where Jessie Buckley won her AIMS Best Actress award during her early years in Killarney.
Fiona Crowley said that seeing a local actress reach the pinnacle of the film industry has provided immense inspiration to the current class.
Photos: Marie Carroll O’Sullivan