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Pony the hero in 7-a-side’s first ever MLS shootout

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There was high drama this week down at the Killarney Athletic 7-a-side as we saw the first MLS shootout in the tournament’s 42-year history.

In the first round of the playoffs, Dunboy Construction held my own team, The Speakeasy, to a 1-1 draw and, in a departure from previous years, the match went straight to penalties. But not just any penalties: in a new format borrowed from American soccer, players had to dribble from the centre circle and shoot/dribble past the advancing goalkeeper to score.

There was great interest in this novel addition and it was a lot of fun for spectators and players alike - even though I missed mine. Thankfully our goalkeeper Conor ‘Pony’ O’Riordan came to the rescue. He stepped up to score our 7th penalty by calmly rounding his opposite number (check out the video on Killarney Athletic’s Instagram), and then he saved Dunboy’s last effort. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and hopefully there will be one or two more before the tournament is over.

The penultimate week of action kicks off Monday night and there are some great matches in store. Check out our print edition for a full fixture list.

Matt Keane, meanwhile, seems to have the Golden Boot Award sewn up already. The Fáilte Legends midfielder has 12 goals to his name.

Race for the Golden Boot

1. Matt Keane (Fáilte Legends) - 12 goals
2. Ian Somers (MD O’Shea’s) - 6
= Marcin Bzowy (Liam Lynch Skoda) - 6
4. Adam Moynihan (The Speakeasy) - 5
5. Ryan O’Carroll (Four Star Pizza) - 4
= David Long (Tim Jones) - 4
= Derry Ahern (Liebherr) - 4
= Brian O’Reilly (The Speakeasy) - 4
9. Chris O’Meara (Mackey’s Crew) - 3
= Kevin Gorman (Cavemen Clothing) - 3
= Shane Doolan (Tatler Toffees) - 3
= Wayne Sparling (Fáilte Legends) - 3
= Cathal O’Shea (Fáilte Legends) - 3

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Parnell commemorated in Beaufort on 125th Anniversary of Land League meeting

A special ceremony was held in Beaufort to mark the 125th anniversary of Charles Stewart Parnell’s historic visit to the village in 1880, when the Irish nationalist leader addressed thousands […]

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A special ceremony was held in Beaufort to mark the 125th anniversary of Charles Stewart Parnell’s historic visit to the village in 1880, when the Irish nationalist leader addressed thousands at a pivotal land reform meeting.

The commemoration, which took place beside the Beaufort Bar, honoured the legacy of the former MP and founder of the Irish National Land League.
The original meeting was held in a field belonging to Patrick O’Sullivan and attracted a crowd of approximately 3,000, defying the orders of local landlord ‘The O’Mahony’ of Dunloe Castle, who had threatened eviction to any tenant who supported the gathering.
Padruig O’Sullivan, proprietor of the Beaufort Bar and a direct descendant of Patrick O’Sullivan, addressed attendees at the unveiling of a new monument to mark the occasion.
The stone was designed by renowned uilleann piper and artist Tomás O’Sullivan, who also composed a special piece of music titled Parnell’s Blackbird to honour the occasion.
The original 1880 meeting was reported in publications such as the ‘Dundalk Democrat’, which gave a vivid account of the powerful speeches delivered that day.

Extract from the Dundalk Democrat – May 1880

The meeting, held on Sunday, May 16, 1880 in Patrick O’Sullivan’s field south of the Beaufort Hotel, was arranged in defiance of local landlord ‘The O’Mahony,’ who warned tenants they would be evicted for taking part. Nevertheless, the turnout was overwhelming.
Parnell arrived by special train and travelled by carriage from Killarney with fellow MP ‘The O’Donoghue’. The two were met by a band and a large welcoming crowd. Police and a Government reporter were present, but the atmosphere remained peaceful and spirited.
Speakers rallied against the unjust land laws of the time. ‘The O’Donoghue’ praised Parnell as the “shining star” of Irish nationalism and stated that “Kerry desired that her meeting should partake of a national character.”
When Parnell spoke, he described it as “the largest land meeting he had attended since County Mayo” and declared the movement to reclaim Irish land as one of the greatest undertakings in Irish history. He condemned the laws that allowed landlords to evict tenants and seize food as rent payment, noting that 600,000 farmers were subject to the whims of just 10,000 landlords.
He called for legislative reform, including the suspension of evictions and Government-backed tenant purchase schemes, warning that if Parliament failed to act, “the people will do for themselves what the Legislature refuses to do for them.”
He concluded by proposing the first resolution.
“That in the opinion of this meeting, the eviction of occupiers of land for non-payment of rent arbitrarily fixed by the landlord is unjust, subversive of the true interests of the country and calls for the emphatic condemnation of all lovers of justice.”

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St Pauls sign American Maisie Burnham

Killarney’s Utility Trust St Pauls women’s basketball team has announced the signing of American player Maisie Burnham for the upcoming 2025/2026 season. The club, who performed strongly in the latter […]

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Killarney’s Utility Trust St Pauls women’s basketball team has announced the signing of American player Maisie Burnham for the upcoming 2025/2026 season.

The club, who performed strongly in the latter part of the recent season and reached the league final, is looking to build on that success.
Maisie Burnham, a 24-year-old, six-foot-tall guard from Spangle City, Washington, comes to Killarney with a strong playing record. During her time at Liberty High School, where she also played volleyball, she was a high-scoring player.
She then went to Eastern Washington University, where in the 2020/2021 season, she led the team in scoring with over 14 points per game, a record for a freshman player at the university.
Burnham later moved to the University of Portland, where her scoring average continued to improve, reaching a peak of 16.3 points per game in the 2024/2025 season.
Utility Trust St Pauls say they are looking forward to welcoming Maisie to Killarney well in advance of the new season.

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