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Lakers host playoff hopefuls in final home game

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National League Div 1

Scotts Lakers v Sligo All-Stars

Saturday at 7.30pm

Killarney Sports Centre

 

Your Scotts Lakers play their 24th and final game of the 2018/19 regular season on Saturday night and with a playoff berth already guaranteed, they can rest assured knowing that the hard work is done. For now.

 

The Lakers have their biggest match of the year the following Saturday when they face DBS Éanna in the semi-final of the playoffs, with the winner advancing to Division 1 final in WIT on Sunday. The winners of that decider will gain automatic promotion to the Super League while the runners-up will have the option of a playoff with the second-lowest ranked team in the top tier.

 

There’s no doubting that the Killarney side are outsiders at this moment in time but the prospect of Super League basketball is a mighty big carrot for the club to go above and beyond and cause an upset. When you look at it in the simplest terms, the Lakers are two wins away from returning to the highest level of Irish basketball. As impressive as they have been this season, there’s no guaranteeing that they’ll be in the same position 12 months down the line

 

Éanna will be an extremely tough proposition - they beat the Lakers by 16 points on February 23 – but Cormac O’Donoghue’s side rightly believe that on their day they have the potential to beat anyone.

 

Before that big showdown in Dublin, Paul’s have this home game against Sligo to worry about and while it may not mean much to the hosts, it certainly holds major significance for the opposition. Heading into the final round of fixtures, Sligo are currently joint second with the Dublin Lions in the Northern Conference with an identical record of 16-6.

 

The sides split the season series but the Dubliners lead by virtue of their superior points difference in those two games against Sligo (Sligo 80-77 Dublin Lions, Dublin Lions 110-100 Sligo), so victory over the Limerick Celtics on Saturday will secure second.

 

Strangely enough, the Lions game is tipping off at 6pm in Limerick, an hour and a half before the Sligo game, so the Lakers’ opponents will know exactly where they stand by the time the match in Killarney begins.

 

Although this is the final home league game of the season, local basketball fans will have the opportunity to see the Lakers in action at least one more time at the Auracle.

 

The end of season League Cup competition gets underway on March 30/31 and the Lakers will host the seventh seed team in the north, LYIT Donegal, in Round 1. If they win, they will also have home advantage in the quarters, against IT Carlow or Ulster University, on April 6/7. The semis and the final will be played in Dublin the following weekend, on April 13/14.

 

Pic: Eamonn Keogh.

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Kerry coaches firm honoured with All-Ireland title

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Kerry Coaches named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025

Killarney-based Kerry Coaches has been named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. This recognition also marks Kerry Coaches’ second Business All-Star Accreditation, having received its first accolade in 2024.

Founded in 1957, Kerry Coaches has established itself as a leader in the Irish transport industry, known for its exceptional service and commitment to quality.  With a fleet of over 100 modern chauffeur vehicles, mini-buses and coaches the company provides a wide range of transport services, including corporate travel, executive golf transportation and bespoke tours throughout Ireland and Scotland.

 Speaking on the achievement, Mike Buckley, Director of Kerry Coaches, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive this national recognition from the All-Ireland Business Foundation. It’s a true reflection of the dedication, professionalism, and passion shown by every member of our team. Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional travel experiences, and this award reaffirms our position as a leader in the industry.”

Announcing the news of Kerry Coaches’ achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBF’s Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said: “It is my pleasure to commend Kerry Coaches for its outstanding performance in achieving the Business All-Star accreditation. After a thorough review, the firm has been honoured with All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company Of The Year 2025. Kerry Coaches is distinguished not only for its superior fleet but also for its exceptional team, some of whom have been with the company for over 25 years. This seasoned team brings an extraordinary level of knowledge and expertise, ensuring that every client experience is exceptional.”         

Managing   Director   of   the   All-Ireland   Business   Foundation, Kapil   Khanna, said:  “The accreditation, which is now held by over 700 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards but have nothing to measure them by.”

He   added: “We   evaluate   a   company’s   background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

About The All-Ireland Business Foundation

The All-Ireland Business Foundation is an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class Irish businesses.

As the accreditation body for the Business All-Star mark, the AIBF recognises Best-In-Class Irish 

businesses.   Companies   that   merit   recognition   based   on   an   independent   audit   of   their performance, reputation, and customer-centricity.

Business All-Star Accreditation Is The Nation’s Symbol Of Trust. Currently, there are over 700 

companies that are accredited by AIBF. Since 2014, over 5000 companies have participated in their programmes.

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Trainee Blacksmith forging a career at Muckross Traditional Farms

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Phillip Pestor-Young, a trainee blacksmith from County Kildare, is currently gaining experience under Master Blacksmith Tom Allison at Muckross Traditional Farms.

Pestor-Young is enrolled in the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme. This programme is a cross-border educational initiative by the King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council, and the Historic Environment Division in Northern Ireland. 

Prior to moving to Ireland in 2019, Phillip trained as an engineer and fabricator in the UK. He is now developing his blacksmithing skills in Kerry.

For more information on the program, visit https://kings-foundation.org/study/all-ireland-heritage-skills-programme/.

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