The division 1,3 &5 men’s and ladies championships took place Friday night last in the Tralee Sports Complex.
Its been great to see such good entries in all the championships that have been played already this year and Friday night was no different.
Many thanks to all those who helped to run the competition on the night. There were some brilliant games played out on the night but in the end these are the results.
Fiona Buckley (Moyvane) and Stacey McCoy (Ballyheigue) ,in action as they won the Division 5 Kerry Doubles title. Photo: Tom Bradley
Division 5 Men: Junior Griffin Perpetual Cup
Winners: Stephen Cotter & Jack Muldarry (Killarney)
Winners: Fergal Hannon (Listowel) & Alan Nelligan (Kingdom)
R. Up: Eric Nelligan & Tom Bourke (Kingdom)
Next up is the division 2 & 4 doubles which takes place on Friday the 3rd of March in the Tralee Sports Complex. Hope to see you all there!
Kerry Juvenile Boys & Girls Singles Championships
On Saturday, the juvenile Singles championships were held in the Killarney Sports and Leisure complex. With almost 8hrs of brilliant badminton played by the kids on the days to easy to see that the future of Kerry badminton is very bright. On the day, 125 kids from all the different clubs across the county took part and 150 high quality games were played. But once again, Listowel came out the big winners with their members taking home all 8 titles.
The results were as follows:
Girls:
U10 Winner: Anna O’Neill (Listowel)
R. Up: Aoibhinn Lyne (Annascaul)
U12 Winner: Alexia Belov Flanagan (listowel)
R. Up: Lauren McHugh (Milltown)
U14 Winner: Nicole Vesko (Listowel)
R. Up: Kate Harmon (Kingdom)
U16 Winner: Kate Nolan (Listowel)
R. Up: Sinead Kelly (Listowel)
Boys:
U10 Winner: Sean Kelly (Listowel)
R. Up: Donagh Moloney (Moyvane)
U12 Winner: Brendan Moriarty (Listowel)
R. Up: Jontie Wieland (Listowel)
U14 Winner: Ben McElligott (Listowel)
R. Up: Ciaran Moriarty (Listowel)
Kerry Juveniles Un 16 Singles Championships took place Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre Saturday 18 February Oscar McElligott Listowel in action as he wins the Un 16 title. Photo: Tom Bradley
U16 Winner: Oscar McElligott (Listowel)
R. Up: Evan Lemass (Killarney)
Plate:
U10
Girls: 1st Lily Ryan (Moyvane) 2nd Mary O’Sullivan (Milltown) 3rd Ava Phelan (Annascaul)
Boys Winner: Aodhan Kennedy (Annascaul) 2nd Sean O’Currain (Annascaul)
Boys Winner: Elliot Hudson (Tralee) 2nd Luke Fallon (Listowel)
U14
Girls Winner: Triona Prenderville (Listowel) 2nd Anna Lyons (Moyvane)
Boys Winner: Charlie Henderson (Listowel) 2nd Jamie Hudson (Listowel)
U16
Girls Winner: Emilie Keane Stack (Listowel) 2nd Carol Leahy (Killarney)
Boys Winner: Benedek H Csorba (Kingdom) 2nd Daire McCarthy (Milltown)
Thanks to all for coming alone, it was great to see the kids enjoying playing the sport. Also a big thank you to Suzanne and her helpers for running the competition on the day.
Finally, Kerry had 3 teams that travelled to UL to play in the Munster Intercounty graded team competition in association with Lee Strand Milk. It was the turn of grades C, E & G to play.
The Munster Inter-County Competition was played in UL Sports Arena Sunday 19 February. The Kerry Grade C Team who were winners on the day. Photo courtesy Tom Bourke
Grade C:
In grade C, only 3 counties entered the competition. Kerry, Cork and Tipperary. On the day, our Kerry team came out on top after beating Tipperary 9.0 on games and then beating Cork as well 6.2 taking home the Betty Thompson Cup. The team will now go forward and represent Munster in the all Irelands in Dublin in May.
The Munster Inter-County Competition was played in UL Sports Arena Sunday 19 February. The Kerry Grade E Team. Photo courtesy Tom Bourke
Grade E
All 6 counties had teams in the grade E competition on the day and it was eventually won out by Waterford after they beat Cork 5.1 in the final. Kerry were in the group with Waterford and Tipperary and did very well. They beat Tipperary 5.4 and then went on to play Waterford and were beaten 6.3 on games. It was great to have our very own Junior Griffin present on the day to present his namesake cup to the winning grade E team.
The Munster Inter-County Competition was played in UL Sports Arena Sunday 19 February. The Kerry Grade G Team. Photo courtesy of Tom Bourke
Grade G
Once again, all 6 counties had teams playing in this competition. Kerry were in the side of Limerick and Clare. In there first game they beat Clare 8.1 and then went on to play Limerick in the second group game. This one was a much closer affair with many of the games going to 3 sets and going all the way down to the wire. In the end Limerick came out winners 6.2. They then went on to play Cork in the final and were beaten 5.4.
A big thank you and well done must be given to all the players for travelling and competing on the day and also to the managers of the teams, Tom & Edel (Grade C), Peggy & Paudie (Grade E) and John & Kieran (Grade G).
SCÓR na nÓG: Competitions in Scór na nÓg ’23: a four-person table quiz team, a grúpa ceoil, solo singing, a five-person (boys or girls) ballad group, a figure dance, a set, a recitation/dán/scéal. Any club member under 17 years of age on 1st January 2023 is eligible to participate in Scór na nÓg. If interested, please contact Carmel O’Neill immediately.
Eolas: Tralee District Board must have its competitions finished by March 12th and successful candidates will go forward to the county finals on Saturday March 25th at 6pm in Currow. The Munster finals will take place on April 6th and the venue has yet to be confirmed. The All-Ireland finals will be held on Saturday April 15th in the Gleneagle National Events Centre i gCill Airne. Seans mór do dhaoine óga le bua an cheoil, na hamhránaíochta, na haisteoireachta nó an rince!
SCÓR na bPÁISTÍ: This is for primary school pupils who’ll perform in the name of the club. Eolas: A Tralee area competition will be held and the Tralee qualifiers will proceed to the county semi-finals on the weekend of 14th/15th/16th April. The county final will take place on Sunday April 30th.
Competitions: a four-person table quiz team, a grúpa ceoil, solo singing, a five-person (boys or girls) ballad group, a figure dance, a set, a recitation/dán/scéal and, for this year only and on a trial basis, two new categories will be added to Scór na bPáistí (only!), namely, solo music (one tune only) and solo dancing (3 minutes). Will you have a go? Why not? Bheadh sé go hiontach dá mbeadh baill dár gclub páirteach!
PEIL FAOI 7: Last Sunday’s U7 session in the Mercy Mounthawk Gym went very well. Come along next Sunday at 10am to be part of next week’s fun. Beidh fáilte roimh gach éinne….everybody welcome.Hoping to see you all again next weekend! Na bainisteoirí/mentors/helpers: William Kirby, Kevin O’Leary, Amy Lucid, Martin Courtney, Joe Kinsella, St John Hegarty, Liam Walsh, Séamus Mac Gabhann.
PEIL FAOI 9: Another enjoyable session for our U9 lads took place in the Mercy Mounthawk Gym on Sunday last. Brilliant footballers! We’ll be in action again next Sunday at 11am in the same Mercy Mounthawk Gym. It’s for everyone! Bainisteoirí: Michael Lynch, Tim McMahon, Mikey Collins, Kevin Counihan, David Lucid, Richard Long, Éamonn Ó Scannláin, Dara Ó Lúing (who also trains the Kerry senior ladies)!
PEIL FAOI 11: Last Sunday’s training/coaching went very well. A lot of really good football was played by these boys. We have some great players in this group! We still encourage every U11 boy in the greater Rock area to come along to The Green CBS Astroturf Pitch on Sunday next at 11am. Under 11s at 11.00! Fáilte roimh chách! Bainisteoirí: Colm Mangan, Wayne Quillinan, Brendan Smith, Jonathon Magnier, Kieran O’Flaherty.
PEIL FAOI 13: (i) Training will continue on Friday and on Sunday at the MTU North Campus for our U13 footballers. (ii) A very successful meeting for all U13 boys and their parents was held in the clubhouse on Monday last. Everything is nearly ready for our upcoming football activities v other clubs. Come on, The Rock! (Dan Ahern)
IRELAND LIGHTS UP ~ CLUB WALK: A new initiative, under the patronage of Irish Life, will commence on March 1st. It will continue for a month during which time people will be encouraged to reach a daily target of 10,000 steps….deich míle coiscéim! People with a high standard/rating will be entered in a worthwhile draw for holiday vouchers. More details later.
FAOI 15: (i) We had an early start on Sunday morning last as 22 players and 5 coaches/trainers headed back west….siar amach go hIarthar Dhuibhneach….for the Gaeltacht Annual Tournament, our first competitive games of the season. The ever reliable ‘Power Travel’ bus service had us back in plenty of time for the 10.30am throw-in v Tralee Town rivals, Na Gaeil.
Under trying conditions we edged out the win. Unfortunately, in our 2nd game Keel/Listry had the upper hand on us! We were the victors in our 3rdencounter….we took the win and gained a place in the shield final. Our opponents were Nemo Rangers from Cork.
It was a good sporting contest in pretty miserable weather conditions but, unfortunately for us, we couldn’t take our scores and Nemo took the laurels! Mí-ádh mór, a leaideanna na Carraige!
However, we learned a lot during the long day out and we know that plenty of work has to be done by all to make the required improvements. Lots of encouraging signs from the boys were noted by the bainisteoirí!
And we saw some beautiful places along the way….Gleann na nGealt, Dingle Harbour, Sliabh an Iolair (Eagle) and the Wild Atlantic Ocean! Lá dár saol ba ea é!
(ii) Training continues this week. Please, keep an eye out for the messages. And full attendance is required, please. (iii) We can’t wait for the Nemo Rangers Tournament (in Cork) in March. (iv) The men who ‘make it happen’ for the U15 boys: Theo Ó Duigín, Pa Laide, Ger Hobbert, Ronan Kavanagh, Morgan O’Connell, Frankie Murphy. (Ger Hobbert)
FAOI 17: Our U17 stalwarts who are ever ready for their next battle: Steven Conway; James Fisher, Pádraig O’Halloran, Tomás Ó Conaill; Alex Touhy, Seán Heaslip, Ciarán Kavanagh; David Lucid, Fionnán Ryan; Jack Barrett, Tomás Deregee, Liam Ó Conaill; Cormac Bastible, Oiliver Lata, Ryan McMahon; Rory Lynch, Jake O’Connor, Bao Foley; Barry Nagle, Rory Ó Loinsigh, Gavin Ó Cathasaigh, Donnacha Horgan, Jack Barrett. Bainisteoirí: Richie Conway, William Kirby.
COLÁISTÍ….ROCK PLAYERS IN COLLEGE GAMES: (i) Good luck to the Meánscoil Chnoc an tSeabhaic players in their Munster Schools Senior B final v Clonakilty’s Meánscoil an Chroí Ró-Naofa, Bhur seacht ndícheall, a leaideanna! Rockites on the panel: H.Ní Bhriain, R.Ní Dhónaill, M.de Mórdha and G.Ní Riada.
2023 AUSTIN STACK CLUB MEMBERSHIP: Please, (i) purchase on line via your Club Foireann account or (ii) pay on line via Clubforce (see austinstacks.ie for link) or (iii) sign up for a monthly DD payment or (iv) pay by cash. Club contact/registrar: Bernie Mannix (086 0767415).
CLOTHES ~ ATHCHÚRSÁIL: Our club fundraising clothes recycling collection day is this Saturday (25th). Please, bring your goods to the club between 11.30am and 1pm. ‘Go raibh míle maith agaibh’ in advance. We will accept men’s, women’s and children’s clothing as well as household textiles (curtains and towels), soft toys, shoes, handbags, belts.
We cannot accept duvets or pillows. It is requested that all items be clean and dry. As part of our Club Clothes Recycling Fundraising Collection day (25th), we are asking parents of club juvenile players to put boys’ or girls’ Austin Stack Club merchandise or old football boots in separate bags.
The plan is that we will hold a ‘previously-loved give-away gear day’ with/for these items at our Juvenile Academy on a sunny Sunday morning in Connolly when we’ll be back outdoors….won’t that be nice! Bímis ag líonadh málaí gan a thuilleadh moille!
OUR CLUB LOTTO: (i) All Rock supporters are encouraged to support the Rock Street Post Office club lotto competition. The winning club will have exclusive sales of its club lottery tickets in Rock Street Post Office for the next 3 years. This would greatly help our thriving club. Club supporters need only ask (YOU MUST ASK!) for a token for each transaction completed at the post office between now and Friday 31st March.
He/she then puts the token into the Austin Stack Club collection bucket in the post office. By the end of March all the tokens will be counted and the club with the most tokens will be deemed the winner. Tokens can be requested for the following transactions: €4 tv licence saving stamps, registered letters, parcel postage, bill payments, phone top-ups, phone sales, dog licences, foreign exchange dealings, bank lodgements and withdrawals. (A single postage stamp doesn’t count as a transaction). Please support your club. Thanks to all who support and/or promote the club lotto: (i) The Burger Shack, Monavalley,
(ii) O’Flynn Interiors (Malachy Nagle), Lower Rock Street, (iii) The Brogue Inn, Lower Rock Street, (iv) Husseys’ Deli, Prince’s Quay, (v) Carmel O’Neill and others, (vi) Maguires’ Butcher Shop, Caherslee, (vii) Barrys’ Supermarket, Upper Rock Street, (viii) Paudie Commane’s Bookshop, Rock Street, (ix) www.austinstacks.ie (x) and/or on https://play.clubforce.com/play_newa.asp?ll_id=X529#Anchor
CLUB SHOP: Official Austin Stack Club merchandise – available to order on www.oneills.com
AN RAIBH ‘FHIOS AGAT? The most wins in National Football League: Kerry…won 23, lost 7; Dublin…won 14, lost 14; Mayo…won 12, lost 8; Cork…won 8, lost 6; Meath…won 7, lost 6; Derry…won 6, lost 6; Galway…won 4, lost 6; Down…won 4, lost 4.
SINSIR CHIARRAÍ: (i) Good luck to our county footballers, including Dylan, Greg and JackO, v Ard Mhacha ag an deireadh seachtaine. (ii) Best wishes to our county hurlers v Uíbh Fhailí…..an important game.
Castle Bar Spring League Cup:
1. Mikey Sheehy Jnr 248
2. Jim Donovan 246
3. Pat Williams 245
4. Brendan Fitzgerald 244
5. Paul Stephenson 240
6. Jason Daly 238
7. Conor Foley 236
8. Denis Kelly 234
Castle Bar Spring League Plate:
9. Tom O’ Driscoll 233
10. Jim O’ Connor 232
11. Derek O’ Brien 230
12. Norman Foley 230
13. Anton O’ Callaghan 228
14. Gerard O’ Sullivan 226
15. Martin Mitchell 222
16. Barry Moynihan 216
Fixtures:
Club sponsored 16 holes stableford 25th and 26th February.
THE Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally is back after a four-year hiatus. The 2023 event, the 43rd in total, is scheduled for April 1 and 2.
As ever, organisers, Kerry Motor Club have planned a host of innovations that have made the rally one of the most popular one-day events in Ireland.
A nine-stage 110km route over some of north Kerry’s finest rally roads is on offer, including variations of some classics in formats that have not been used for years.
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The rally will be based at the Rose Hotel, often rated as the finest rally headquarters in the country as the service park in the hotel’s grounds and all rally-related activities like documentation, drivers briefing and the rally control room are all under one roof.
The Triton National Championship makes a welcome return to Tralee after a five-year absence. The Top Part West Coast Championship is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and fittingly, the Circuit of Kerry Rally was the opening round of the inaugural championship three decades ago.
The Circuit of Kerry is included in the IPS Packaging Southern 4 Championship for the first time but it is not the first time Kerry Motor Club hosted the series as last year’s Kerry Winter Rally was included in the 2022 championship.
The Kingdom of Kerry Championship has a new title sponsor for this year in the shape of Central Car Sales, Farranfore.
Plans are afoot to bring the rally into the heart of Tralee too, with support from Tralee Chamber Alliance, the Rally Town festival, first introduced for the 2019 event will make a return to The Mall on Saturday afternoon. (April 1).
A reception for overseas visitors will be held in the Rose Hotel on Friday, March 31. International visitors will be racing for the London Irish Motor Club Shield presented by Kerry Motor Club member Sean Moriarty who was a founding member of the London Irish Motor Club in 2006.
“The club and organising committee are well away with organising this year’s event, we have completed the initial route survey and we are delighted to get such support from the local community,” said the clerk of the course Eoin Duffin.
“We are looking forward to welcoming drivers, service crew, volunteers and fans to Tralee on the first weekend of April.”
THE local community came together on Sunday for a marram grass planting and networking event organised by Clean Coasts and co-hosted by Banna Coastcare Group.
There were 25 volunteers, including members of Banna Coast Care group and Clean Coasts volunteers from groups in the Maharees and Fenit ,taking part in the event. The groups from these areas have vast experience planting marram grasses.
Prior to the Roadshow event, Pat from Banna Coastcare harvested grasses and, at the event, he gave a talk to the group about the local issues in Banna in relation to exposed dunes.
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Elaine Doyle from Clean Coasts talked about marram grass, dunes and the importance of respecting the dunes. Banna is such a popular beach and is known from its length and dune structure, however there are a lot of exposed dunes which the local groups want to address.
Elaine and Pat demonstrated how to harvest and plant marram grass and all the group got to have a go.
The group visited the area they will be planting at the next meeting. The local NPWS ranger also attended. A plan was made for planting, protection and education, all facets of a successful dune restoration project.
Banna Rescue kindly offered their premises for more chat and well deserved refreshments after the time in the dunes and gave the group a history of Banna Coastcare and ecological information about the area.
The group will meet again to harvest and plant marram grass on exposed dunes in Banna Strand.
Clean Coasts Development officer Elaine Doyle said: “Clean Coasts ran the North Kerry Roadshow last Sunday, a beautiful sunny spring day on the ever wonderful Banna strand. It was a great event, meeting local people locally and who travelled to the event, people who care about the dunes and their huge importance to our beaches.
“We got to chat, make plans for very important dune restoration, everyone got their hands in the sand for marram grass harvesting and planting and the seeds were set for the lengthy but exciting job of restoring the exposed dunes in Banna.”
“After the beach the group headed to the lovely Banna Rescue centre for more chat, local history and well-deserved refreshments. We are looking forward to getting out again to Banna Strand and with the power of community restoring our wonderful dunes.”
.Tralee Manor West Bicycle Club members look forward to the Lacey Cup.
THE 69th edition of the Lacey Cup hosted by Tralee Manor West Bicycle Club will be held on Sunday, March 5.
As is customary, the Lacey Cup will be the grand opener to the Munster Road Racing season. The challenging 75km circuit always lends itself to aggressive racing with cyclists eager to test themselves and to show some good early season form.
The race always draws a large field of riders, with over 200 competing in recent years. Some of Ireland’s top riders will be in action on the day, all intent on taking home the coveted Lacey Cup. Tralee Manor West Bicycle Club will also offer a generous prize fund of €1200.
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As per Cycling Ireland rules, the A4 race will be run separately to the main A1/A2/A3 race. Manor West Hotel, sponsors of the Tralee Manor West Bicycle Club will be the venue and headquarters for the races.
The races will have a single 3km neutralised roll out from Manor West Hotel. Departure from the hotel will be at 12:15pm sharp.
Following a brief stop, racing will officially commence from George Poff’s Garage on the Dingle Road at 12.30 and will pass through Blennerville at 12.35, Camp (13.00), Upper Camp, Gleann na nGealt (13.10), Annascaul (13.25), Inch (13.30), Boolteens (13.50), Castlemaine (13.55), Sliabh Mish (14.05) and finishing at 14.15 at the 60kph speed sign opposite Skehanagh Cross on the Killorglin Road on outskirts of Tralee.
The main A1/A2/A3 race is run on a handicap basis consisting of 3 groups with the first group of A3 category riders, followed by the A2 category riders, and finally the group of elite A1 category riders.
The separate A4 race will start approximately 5 mins after the A1 riders are underway and will follow the same race route.
The first prime of the race is Gleann na nGealt and will likely be hotly contested between the A3 riders. Following Gleann na nGealt, the A1 and A2 groups will work hard to catch the race leaders as they head towards Inch.
After Castlemaine the riders will climb Sliabh Mish mountain and contest the second prime for The Teddy Griffin Memorial Cup. Sliabh Mish mountain is usually where the race is broken up into a small group of elite A1 and A2 riders, with the expected winner coming from these groups.
Entry fee is €20, and registration is online only. Sign-on at race HQ will also be required between 10:00 and 11:30 on the morning of event.
Presentation of prizes will be at Manor West Hotel. To celebrate the Lacey Cup, Manor West Hotel are also offering a discounted accommodation rate. For full details, call 066 7194500 and quote ‘Lacey Cup 2023’ to avail of offers.
For event updates follow them on social media or for further information please email traleebc.pro@gmail.com or traleebc.secretary@gmail.com
.Leanne Hennessy from Tralee will perform at the Stag and Doe Sessions this Friday in The Greyhound.
HAVING been postponed a couple weeks ago, the Stag & Doe Sessions return to Tralee this Friday night at ‘The Greyhound Bar’.
The line-up includes Tralee’s very own Leanne Hennessey, Farranfore’s Shane Kennedy, Neon Cars from Cork and three-piece pop/rock band Stolen City.
Leanne is a newcomer to the music industry, only learning how to play guitar six months ago. She has since gathered thousands of views on her social media including her Tik Tok account.
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Leanne quickly gathered a fan base with her covers of Ed Sheeran, Bob Marley and rock and roll icon Elvis Presley.
A musician from an early age, Shane Kennedy is a well-known performer in the Kerry pub scene but since then Shane has been busy cooking up exciting new tracks such as “Phone Box,” “Your Shadow” and his debut single “Far From The Way We’re Told”.
The Neon Cars are a four piece Indie Rock band from Cork. They have performed across Ireland and the UK playing a number of headline shows and festival appearances such as Independence Music festival.
Stolen City are a three-piece pop/rock band comprised of lead singer Sean McGrath, multi-instrumentalist Dave McCabe and drummer Ian Bailey, who pride themselves on their high energy and unforgettable live performances.
The independent three-piece band have had some major success on their own with them selling out shows around Ireland, playing at some of the top festivals and even reaching the number 1 spot in the Irish charts with 2 of their singles.
Tickets are on-sale now for €8 via Eventbrite and €10 on the door. Doors 8pm, strictly over 18’s. See @staganddoesessions for more info!
THE Ukrainian community are coming together on this Friday, February 24, at 5pm to hold a candlelit vigil in the Square in Tralee.
There will be music and speeches from the Mayor of Tralee Cllr. Mikey Sheehy and the Ukrainian community to mark on year since the Russian invasion of the country.
The event is being organised by the Ukrainian community in Tralee and a spokesperson from the organising group said; “It has been a year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but in fact, this fight has been going on for at least 9 years.”
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“Ukrainians choose freedom because it is the highest value for Ukraine and the entire civilised world. We fight and die for the right to live, dream and rule freely on our land. The price of this struggle is tens of thousands of dead and wounded civilians and military, completely destroyed Ukrainian cities and villages, and a huge migration crisis, with millions of people forced to leave their homes and flee to other countries.”
The spokesperson continued; “The event we are organising is to remember our loved ones still in our home country and those who lives have been lost in the war. It is also to thank the people of Kerry who have warmly welcomed the Ukrainian community to their county and who have helped ensure the safety of women and children who fled their homes in the days after the invasion last February and every day since then.”
The event is being supported by Tralee International Resource Centre who have helping the thousands who arrived in Kerry since the war first began and who continue to arrive daily.
“This event is for the Ukrainian community and the local community to join together to mark the year anniversary of the invasion that forced them to flee to Ireland and Kerry. It has been a difficult year for all involved but the love and compassion and welcome shown by Kerry to those who need their help has strengthened the hearts of the Ukraine community,” said TIRC co-ordinator Mary Carroll.
“It had been a privilege for TIRC to be part of the incredible community response to this crisis, and we will continue to support the Ukrainian community with all our supports, from English classes, to employment advice to general information on living in Ireland,” she continued.
THE Ukrainian community are coming together on this Friday, February 24, at 5pm to hold a candlelit vigil in the Square in Tralee.