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Jimmy Diggins. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
A BASKETBALL legend in the county is to be inducted into the Basketball Ireland Coaches Hall Of Fame at a ceremony in The National Basketball Arena in Tallaght this Saturday.
Jimmy Diggins has given almost 40 years to basketball in the county and as he says himself “it’s my life”.
He is the first Kerry person to receive the honour. “To be recognised by your peers for the work I’ve put in over 30/40 years is fantastic,” said Jimmy.
A hoops stalwart in Kerry, Jimmy played alongside GAA greats Ger Power and John O’Keeffe on the courts.
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He coached Kieran Donaghy and Mike Quirke who used their basketball skills to great ability not only on the courts, but also in Croke Park with Kerry.
One of Jimmy’s fondest memories during his playing days was winning an All-Ireland title in 1969 against Dublin at a packed out and hostile CYMS (now the KDYS on Denny Street).
Along with coaching Ireland teams at international events abroad, in 1988, Jimmy coached a Moyderwell girls team which won a European Championship.
A successful time for his teams, he also steered Tralee Lee Strand Super League ladies to National Cup triumph in 1986 and 1987 and National League Crown’s in 1987 and 1988.
Today, there’s no let up in his dedication to the sport. Every Saturday he coaches a group of five to ten-year-olds, followed by sessions with U16 boys and girls. He’s quite simply in touch with every aspect of basketball in Kerry.
In his time he has seen basketball branch out in Kerry from the main towns to every corner of the county. Accolades are wonderful thing, but Jimmy loves the work and right now he’s focused on bringing Super League basketball back to Tralee.
A license for a team called ‘Warriors’ has been granted from Basketball Ireland and the next step is to find a sponsor that will put Tralee back on the basketball map.
“We hope to have something in place by the end of May,” said Jimmy. “Sport for the youth is invaluable and basketball is a growing sport in Ireland. We have a great tradition of producing international basketball players in Kerry and I hope to be involved for a few more years to come! Ultimately I want to see the Super League back in Tralee so young players can stay playing basketball in the county at a high level,” he said.
