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Kerry Stars to host new Special Olympics basketball tournament

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TOURNAMENT: Kerry Stars Special Olympics and Killarney Lions Club will host a basketball tournament for teams from all over Munster in Killarney Sports Centre tomorrow (Saturday). Pictured at the launch of the event in The Dromhall Hotel Killarney on Monday night were front left: Martina McCarthy, Cliona Palmer, Kevin Looney and Jonathan Kerins. Second row from left: Denis Doolan (Special Olympics International), John Spillane (Kerry Stars Club Chairman), Sean O'Brien (Kerry Stars Basketball Coach), Ronan Doyle (Killarney Lions Club President), Liadh Tobin and Dermot Cronin (Killarney Lions Club). Back from left: Jillian Kerins, Oisin O'Mahony, Jane Curran, Luke Scollard and Anthony O'Connor. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

By Sean Moriarty

Kerry Stars Special Olympics and Killarney Lions Club have come together to create a new basketball tournament that will bring together clubs from all over Munster.

The event will take place in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre tomorrow (Saturday), from 10am to 4pm, and will feature seven Special Olympics basketball clubs competing for six perpetual shields for the very first time.

The Kerry Stars extended its sporting range to include basketball for the first time last year.

"When we heard that Kerry Stars were starting basketball as a new sport we wanted to help them in whatever way we could," Ronan Doyle, President Killarney Lions Club, said.
"They suggested the idea of hosting a tournament to build links with other Special Olympics basketball teams in Munster, and highlight the skills of the athletes, so we thought it was a great idea to get behind it."

St Paul’s Basketball club will provide timing and scoring equipment while local basketball referee Emer Buckley has encouraged her colleagues from national level to officiate at the event.

Staff from the Nike Store in the Killarney Outlet Centre will also be volunteering on the day along with members of Killarney Lions Club.

“When the Lions Club approached us last year looking to support an annual event we decided that basketball was our newest sport. We decided then that we would organise this tournament,” Kerry Stars Vice-Chairman Tom Tobin said.

Other Special Olympic clubs to participate include Special Olympics Waterford; Limerick City Special Olympics; Lisnagry Special Olympics (Limerick); Mallow United Special Olympics Club; Clonakilty Special Olympic Club and the COPE Foundation Cork.

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Network Ireland Kerry discuss sustainable success

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Network Ireland Kerry held their third annual collaboration event last Wednesday at the Rose Hotel, Tralee. The theme was: “The Journey to Sustainable Success” which brought three industry experts together to talk about their own journey to sustainable successful.

Business professionals, entrepreneurs, and financial leaders came together for this highly anticipated event to learn about the journey from becoming a start-up, to a small-to-medium enterprise (SME), and a large SME.

The event was opened by AIB Branch Liaison for Network Ireland Kerry and AIB Castleisland Branch Manager, Colleen Shannon. It was MC’d by AIB Tralee Branch Manager, Stephen Stack.

Sarah Farrar of AINMHÌ, Garrett Dillon of Mr. Binman and Dillon Waste Ltd. and Susan Quirke-Crowley of Mounthawk Montessori School Group were among the speakers at the event.

These leaders spoke about their challenges, milestones, and breakthroughs they encountered, from launching an idea to scaling operations nationally.

Tara Elzingre of Tara Elzingre Consultancy, Zaneta Labuz-Czerwein of Rustic Boowa and Sharon Hartnett of U Coaching promoted their businesses for ‘Minute on the Mic’

Emily Reen, Network Ireland Kerry President, described the event as a testament to the power of partnership. She said: “The event underscored a powerful message: sustainable business success is not a solo journey. With the right partnerships, teams and financial tools, businesses of all sizes can grow with purpose, resilience, and long-term impact.”

Network Ireland Kerry will host their next monthly event on November 12 in Killarney and in collaboration with the Kerry Local Enterprise Office, titled: “Gain Competitive Advantage in Your Business”. This event will be MC’d by Karen Ronan, 2025 National Vice President of Network Ireland and CEO of Galway Chamber. This event is open to non-members and members, and everyone is welcome from 6 pm for networking and refreshments, with the event taking place from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

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Minor injury clinic to open by this time next year

The Killarney Local Injury Clinic is expected to be open by Q3 2026, according to the HSE. The proposed unit will be located on the grounds of St Columbanus Home. […]

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The Killarney Local Injury Clinic is expected to be open by Q3 2026, according to the HSE. The proposed unit will be located on the grounds of St Columbanus Home.

The timeline was confirmed in response to a Parliamentary Question from Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill, who said the project will follow the relocation of the Community Nursing Unit from its current site to the grounds of the old St Finan’s Hospital. Once the transfer is complete, construction of the injury clinic can proceed.
Deputy Cahill described the two new health facilities as “a fantastic addition for Killarney and the wider East, Mid, and South Kerry regions” and noted they will help reduce waiting times at University Hospital Kerry A&E.
“I will continue to push for enhanced health services for our people,” added the Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Older People.
The new clinic is expected to provide urgent care services for local residents, easing pressure on hospital emergency departments and improving access to timely treatment in the Killarney area.

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