News
Gala homecoming planned for Fitzgerald Stadium
By Sean Moriarty
Win or lose on Sunday, the Kerry football team will be assured of a gala welcome home on Monday night.
A special homecoming event is being planned for Fitzgerald Stadium from around 9pm on Monday.
This is a break from tradition as previous homecomings took place in the Glebe Car Park on College St.
Staying with tradition, the team will visit the county town of Tralee first from around 6pm on Monday, where up to 10,000 people are expected on Denny St should Jack O’Connor’s men be successful against Galway on Sunday.
The Tralee event is expected to last until about 800pm when the team will be transferred by coach to Killarney.
The new venue, which includes the construction of a new stage for the occasion, will accommodate 40,000 fans according to GAA chiefs in the country.
The event will include live DJs and music ahead of the arrival of the team.
The Killarney Advertiser understands that the main reason the venue was changed was the unavailability of the Glebe car park.
This year’s All Ireland Football final is being played in July for the first time as opposed to the traditional September date.
The tourist season is in full flight, Bird’s Funfair are still in town and are in residence in the Fair Hill car park.
New health and safety regulations and connected red tape also forced the County Board’s hands when it came to planning the homecoming celebration.
“This could be the way forward,” county board chairman and Dr Crokes GAA club member Patrick ‘Tatler’ O’Sullivan told the Killarney Advertiser.
“[As a county board] our main priority was the needs of the team and players, a separate team are looking after the homecoming, they worked with the Gardai and did all the safety statements. Kerry is unusual in that we have to have two separate homecomings – one in Tralee and one in Killarney – and there is a lot of planning in deciding who gets where and at what time.”
Looking ahead to the big game Patrick said: “It is in the hands of the gods, hopefully they will be shining down on us on Sunday.”
Free entry for under 18s at Ross Castle
Young people and families can explore Ross Castle free of charge throughout August as part of a national Office of Public Works (OPW) initiative.
The 15th-century stronghold on the shores of Lough Leane will waive admission fees for all visitors under 18 from August 1 to August 31. The scheme aims to make cultural and historic sites more accessible to young people and families during the summer holidays.
Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. The promotion applies across fee-paying OPW heritage sites nationwide, excluding Kilmainham Gaol and Brú na Bóinne.
Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kevin “Boxer” Moran, said the initiative offers young people a memorable way to connect with history, nature, and culture over the summer break.
Killarney judoka gain international experience in Bath
Eight members of Killarney Judo Club travelled to England last weekend for an international training camp at the University of Bath, with club member Ciara Forde competing at the West of England competition.
Accompanying five families, the young athletes joined 120 competitors from across the UK for two days of training and sparring in a high-performance environment.
The trip provided many of the judoka with their first opportunity to train alongside international athletes. It also offered members a look at a purpose-built facility, supporting the club’s push for a dedicated dojo at the Derreen Sports Project.
Coach Tim Kelly said:
“This camp gave our players the opportunity to test themselves in a challenging environment. Bath University has a proud history of producing Olympians, and we hope the experience inspires our young judoka to aim even higher.”
The club takes a summer break before returning on August 13 to prepare three members for their Black Belt grading later this year. Children’s classes resume on Monday, September 7. New members can contact Tim Kelly on 086 260 1591.
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