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St Paul’s set for nostalgic return to Pres gym

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National League: Division 1
Scotts Lakers v Ulster University Elks
Saturday at 7.30pm
Pres Gym

 

Saturday night will be filled with nostalgia for Killarney sports fans as National League basketball returns to the Pres Gym for the first time since 2008.

With Scotts Lakers’ usual home venue, the Aura, being used as a general election count centre, St Paul’s had to find an alternate court for Saturday’s clash with Ulster University and the decision to return to the Pres is sure to prove popular with locals.

St Paul’s first played at the facility on the grounds of St Brigid’s Secondary School in the eighties and over the years it has been the site of some of the greatest moments in the history of Killarney basketball.

 

[caption id="attachment_30144" align="alignnone" width="781"] John Teahan in action for St Paul's/Kerry Spring against the Dublin Bay Vikings in the Pres Gym in October 1998. Pic: Eamonn Keogh.[/caption]

 

“The Pres Gym opened in 1984 and the Gleneagle Killarney team played National League games there from 1984 to 1987,” St Paul’s PRO Eamonn Keogh explains. “St Paul’s, playing under the Revelles and Kerry Spring banner, played senior National Cup and league games there from 1992 until 2000.

“With the formation of the Gleneagle Lakers, many National League matches took place at the INEC during the noughties, while some fixtures also went ahead at the Pres Gym until 2008.”

Coincidentally, this weekend’s fixture comes almost 25 years to the day from one of the most memorable games in the club’s storied history.

“On Saturday, February 11, 1995, St Paul's Killarney enjoyed an incredible 105-104 win over Sligo All-Stars after double over-time,” Eamonn recalls. “It was 86 points each at the end of normal time and 96 each after the first over-time.

“Match MVP Terry Smith gave a monumental performance with a huge 36 points while his American colleague Greg Ford also added 36. The team was coached by the charismatic Joe Coughlan and they also had outstanding displays from local players Pat O'Shea, Brian Clarke, Cormac O’Donoghue and James Fleming.

“Over 700 supporters filled the Pres Gym that night and the victory guaranteed promotion to the Super League.”

St Paul’s are hoping for a big crowd again this Saturday night as Killarney basketball makes its return to one of the town’s favourite sporting venues.

 

Main pic: The St Paul's/ Kerry Spring team from 25 years ago that defeated Sligo All-Stars 105-104 in the Pres Gym on February 11, 1995. Back: Brian Clarke, Joey Sheehan, Terry Smith, Greg Ford, Caoimhín O'Donoghue, Cormac O'Donoghue and Joe Coughlan (coach). Seated: Gerard Coughlan (Kerry Spring), James Weldon, Pat O'Connor, James Fleming and Pat O'Shea. Front: Patrick O'Connor and Tim O'Donoghue (mascots). Pic: Eamonn Keogh.

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Chamber pays tribute to late Dick Henggeler

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee. Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at his home in Baltimore, USA surrounded by his Aghadoe-born wife Eibhlin (née Moriarty), their son Franz, and other family members.
Dick and Eibhlin purchased The Rose Hotel in 2015 in tribute to their late daughter Dorothy, who represented Washington DC in the 2011 Rose of Tralee Festival.
The Chamber said Mr Henggeler would be remembered for his warmth, good nature and positive approach, as well as for being a forward-thinking and knowledgeable businessman.
“He knew how to run a good hotel and that was and still is very obvious at The Rose Hotel, which is a great success story,” the Chamber said.
It added that continuity of ownership will remain in place, with Eibhlin, Franz, daughter-in-law Amber, and grandchildren Conrad and Rowan continuing to honour Dick’s legacy and vision for the hotel.
“Dick took enormous personal pride in Tralee and all of Kerry and he was always available to generously support any community initiative or endeavour undertaken in Killarney,” the Chamber said.
“He will be greatly missed by all that knew him but he leaves a wonderful legacy.”

He will repose at O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Killarney, on Friday (October 17), from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The funeral will arrive at St Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday morning at 10:00am for Requiem Mass at 10:30am, with burial afterwards in Aghadoe Cemetery. The Requiem Mass will be live streamed at https://www.churchservices.tv/killarneycathedral.

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Beaufort Film Night returns with French drama-comedy

Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band. The film tells the story of Thibaut, […]

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Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band.

The film tells the story of Thibaut, a successful conductor recently diagnosed with leukaemia. A search for a bone marrow donor reveals that he was adopted and has a brother, Jimmy, a cafeteria worker.
The two meet, discover a shared love of music, and form a strong bond through an unexpected collaboration with Jimmy’s workplace band.
The Marching Band (French title En Fanfare) will screen at 8.30pm. Admission is €7, cash only, and will cover the motion picture licence fee.
The film has a 12A rating and is in French with English subtitles.
Beaufort Film Night is a non-profit community group that screens cultural English and international films that usually do not receive general release in Kerry.
The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office and Access Cinema. Cullina National School is providing the venue.
Further details are available on Beaufort Film Night’s Facebook page @BeaufortFilmNight.

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