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Black and Amber on red alert

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by Eamonn Fitzgerald

Senior Club Championship

Dr Crokes v Austin Stacks

Sunday at 2.30pm

Lewis Road

The prospect of relegation will once again be staring Dr Crokes in the face if they lose to three-in-a-row champions Austin Stacks on Sunday.

Crokes have home venue and they will certainly need that advantage following two defeats at the hands of Templenoe and Kerins O’Rahillys in Rounds 1 and 2.

They were beaten by four points by Rahillys and lost out narrowly by a single point at a balmy Templenoe on Saturday last (1-6 to 0-10). Both sides kicked some dreadful wides and the county players were largely anonymous - obviously still drained after their All-Ireland win/celebrations.

The only two Kerry players who really shone were Gavin Crowley and Micheál Burns.

The outstanding footballer on the field was Templenoe’s Pat Clifford, who is not long back from England.

Crokes have now suffered four defeats in a row. Along with Stacks, the Killarney club are the most successful club team in Kerry. Crokes won seven Kerry SFC titles between 2010 and 2018. Now they are rebuilding a new team with a cohort of young players to be blooded.

However, that does not provide the total reason for their losses. They were close to a full team versus Templenoe, except for key player Gavin White who is out with a knee injury which could keep him out of football for the rest of the season if he needs surgery.

Micheál Burns and debutants Neil O’Shea and Cian McMahon kept Crokes in the game the last day. Fionn Fitzgerald also showed that he hasn’t lost the defensive skills he has honed in Croke Park and elsewhere. He confined Killian Spillane, Templenoe’s most dangerous player, to just one point from play. Burns did very well also.

The Rock also had a dreadful start to this year’s championship as they were hammered by Templenoe and just about got out of dodge on Sunday last against Strand Road.

This match at Connolly Park was a repeat of the 2021 Kerry SFC final. After their mishaps of losing their two top players at the start of last year’s county final, Rahillys put in a big effort to win the bragging rights. David Moran was unlucky to be injured last year but he made amends for it this time around.

As expected, Jack Savage scored from frees. Mush O’Brien scored their goal and Tommy Walsh popped up for three points, which included two marks.

Stacks battled on, however, and some of their younger players did well. The Stacks natives told me that Star Donaghy will not be playing this year “because he is nearly 40”.

Gearóid Fitzgerald’s goal got the Rock going and it was nip and tuck to the end with Stacks eventually winning by a single point.

Now Stacks are back in the mix for a semi-final berth, although they could still face the drop if their trip to Killarney is unsuccessful. Group leaders Templenoe (4 points) face Rahillys (2 points) at the same time in Strand Road.

Stacks (2 points) will secure a top two finish if they win and Rahillys lose.

If Rahillys and Stacks both win, the top three teams will be separated by points difference.

If Stacks lose on Sunday and Rahillys win, Stacks will finish joint bottom with Crokes, at which point their head-to-head record against Crokes will sentence them to the relegation playoff. However, if Stacks lose and Rahillys also lose, they and Crokes will be joint bottom and the fourth placed team will be decided by points difference.

One thing is certain: a further loss for Crokes will put them into a relegation battle, as happened last year. They won that game against Legion.

Brian McMahon will be looking for a big step-up in performance from the Crokes in this all black and amber clash at Lewis Road.

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Rotary Club’s Wine & Art Night raises €25,000

The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects. President Ciara Irwin Foley […]

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The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects.

President Ciara Irwin Foley expressed the club’s delight with the amount raised, thanking club members and everyone who contributed to this impressive sum. She highlighted that this popular annual event directly supports vital local initiatives such as schools, clubs, and charities in the Killarney area.

Ms. Irwin Foley extended particular thanks to the event’s long-standing key sponsors: Daly’s SuperValu, Killarney Brewing & Distilling Co, and Killarney Credit Union, acknowledging their crucial and consistent support over the years. The team at The Great Southern Killarney was also thanked for ensuring the smooth running of the event. Appreciation was also given to the businesses that sponsored door prizes and competitions, including The Rose Hotel, M.D. O’Shea’s, CRL, and The Lake Hotel, as well as to Mike Neeson for providing entertainment.

The Wine & Art Night provides a valuable platform for local artists and craftspeople, with up to fifty showcasing their work. Some artists have been involved since the event’s inception, making it a wonderful networking opportunity. There is always significant interest from artists to participate in this worthwhile cause, with a percentage of their sales donated on the night. Many also generously donate their artwork for the auction, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to the beneficiary fund.

The beneficiaries themselves play an active role by selling tickets for the event in advance, using this as a key fundraising method for their own projects. The schools, clubs, organisations, and charities involved put in tremendous effort, and it is always inspiring to hear how the funds raised have positively impacted them. For example, the Hospice sells their Christmas cards at the event, and the Irish Pilgrimage Trust sells raffle tickets to help bring local people to Lourdes at Easter.

Organising the Wine & Art Night is a significant undertaking for the Killarney Rotary Club, with extensive preparations happening well in advance. Many individuals contribute their time and effort, with numerous volunteers ensuring everything runs smoothly on the night. It is this collective effort that makes the event such a success.

The €25,000 raised this year has been distributed to the following deserving beneficiaries: Faha N.S., Fossa N.S., Gaelscoil Faithleann, Knockanes N.S., Loreto N.S., Loughquittane N.S., St. Brendan’s (Sem), Hospice, Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Kerry Stars Club, Killarney Athletic, and Killarney Valley AC.
The Killarney Rotary Club is already looking forward to hosting their next Wine & Art Night at the end of November.

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Kerry Jobs Fair to connects job seekers and employers

Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee. Over 30 companies […]

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Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Over 30 companies from the county will be there, offering hundreds of job openings across different sectors.
The free event is organised by NEWKD Local Development Company, in partnership with The Rose Hotel and Tralee Chamber Alliance. Anyone interested can attend by registering on the day.
People looking for work can explore opportunities in areas like office administration, IT, accounting, finance, hospitality, manufacturing, food production, and retail.
The event aims to link job seekers and employers with useful information and support related to employment.
Alongside employer stands, there will be a careers clinic offering help with CV writing, interview skills, and information on training and career development.
There will also be workshops for both employees and employers about employing people who are not Irish citizens.
Robert Carey, NEWKD SICAP Programme Manager, said that bringing together many employers, services, and speakers will give job seekers a great chance to talk directly to potential employers, join workshops on career progression, and learn about employment schemes like Tús, CE, and WPEP. He added that employers will get to meet job seekers face-to-face and get information on employing people from abroad, which is important for business growth.
Efforts are being made to help Ukrainian refugees and those seeking international protection attend the fair, with information provided beforehand and interpreters available on the day. NEWKD, as part of the Kerry Community Response Forum, highlights that employment is key for refugees integrating into the community.
During the event, employers can learn about the specifics of employing migrants, get answers to common questions, and raise any concerns. A workshop for employers will be led by Frank O`Boyle from the Irish Refugee Council.
In addition to the job fair, there will be information sessions for all visitors on topics such as CV preparation (led by Sean Connell, HR at NEWKD), interview skills (presented by Lydia Oboryna from the Open Door Initiative), employment law for migrants, accessing the labour market for those with temporary protection, and entrepreneurship workshops on starting a business and finding funding.
The Newkd Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 is supported by the Rose Hotel and the Tralee Chamber Alliance, with funding from the SICAP programme, which is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).

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