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KILLARNEY is set to shoot for the skies as National League Basketball returns to town. It has been nine years since St Paul’s Basketball Club last featured in the league and the club and town are pulling all the stops to place Killarney firmly on the map as Ireland’s premier basketball town.

St Paul’s is now seeking support from the local business community to help finance the team. “We will be seeking sponsorship over the next month to help with the running costs. Any funds raised will help with coaching and recruiting foreign players,” said Aidan Quirke, chairman of the St Paul’s division one committee.

“It’s exciting times for St Paul’s with our return to the National League. Killarney has always been a great basketball town with over 400 juveniles registered with the club presently.”

A campaign will run over the next six weeks to put the necessary sponsorship in place to support the team along with self-generated fundraising initiatives.
There will be 10 home games this season and the committee are planning to put on a show. “We want to make home games a great family experience. It’s going to be exciting and we want to get as many as people as possible to get the games with tickets starting €2 for U18s and €5 for adults,” said Aidan Quirke.

The committee members are as follows: Tracey O’Shea – secretary; John Brosnan – vice chair; Sean Brosnan/Mike Pierce – treasurers.
 

 
Above: Looking forward to the return of national league basketball to Killarney are players Mark Greene, left, and Philip O'Connor, right, with St Paul's club officers Paul Sheehan, Padraig Weldon (chairman) and Jim Delaney (vice-chairman). Pic: Eamonn Keogh