Kerins O’Rahillys GAA Club News

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Seniors:

KO’R: 1-12

Milltown/Castlemaine: 4-06

The dismissal of midfielder Jake Foley in the 17th minute was the deciding factor in this round 4 clash which eventually saw the visitors take the spoils by a 3 point margin, 4-06 to 1-12.

The opening quarter,  when we faced the breeze, saw us play controlled, direct football and with Tom Hoare and Jake winning the midfield battle, our forwards were on the front foot and notched 4 points without reply in the opening 12 minutes.

Our half forward line of Daniel Bowler, Shane McElligott and Gearóid Dillane were to the fore in this period supplying quality ball to the inside line where Darragh O’Connor, in particular, prospered.

Darragh had 3 points on the board, two from play and one from a free, while Tom Hoare slotted a short range free and Daniel Bowler chipped in with a lovely score off his left – initially waved wide by the umpire but over ruled by the referee.

Millltown/Castlemaine’s only response in this period  was a free from Eanna O’Connor whilst they also hit 3 wides from play.

Jake’s dismissal, for a foul on David Roche saw the referee issue a red card, which in real time looked harsh – it allowed the opposition to free up a man in defence and our challenge was further undermined when Shane McElligott had to leave the field injured, being replaced by Conor Hayes.

Milltown now added a brace of points and had a goal in the 21st minute through Eanna O’Connor which levelled the tie.

As the clock ticked into the 33rd minute, misfortune befell as a turnover in defence saw the opposition find the net after a bout of inter-passing to leave them in the ascendancy at the short whistle by 3 points, 2-03 to 0-06.

Darragh continued to lead the defence a merry dance, and he slotted over a lovely score on the resumption and with Eanna O’Connor and Barry John exchanging points we were only two behind; again, however we conceded a green flag which was followed by another 1-01 all within the following few minutes which saw us trailing 4-05 to 0-08 at the halfway mark.

The final quarter saw us up our game as Milltown had David Roche black carded – Daniel Bowler, playing at wing back sallied forth and kicked a fine point which was followed by another from Conor Hayes; a quick fire movement saw a penalty awarded for a foot block and Ryan Carroll fired past Cormac Leane in the 22nd minute – it was game on now, 4-05 to 1-10 but Milltown now restored to the full complement, saw out the game as both sides traded points.

It was a disappointing result given the good early play but the numerical disadvantage proved too much overall – however, the team and management will have been emboldened by the final quarter resurgence and will face the upcoming game against Rathmore with no little confidence.

Team: Robert O’Connor, Darragh McElligott, Ross O’Callaghan, Stephen Nix, Con Barrett, Ryan Carroll, TJ Heaphy, Tom Hoare ( C), Jake Foley, Daniel Bowler, Shane McElligott, Gearóid Dillane, Gearoid Savage, Barry John Keane, Darragh O’Connor.

Subs used: Conor Hayes, Padraig Griffin, Conor O’Sullivan.

Div 6:

KO’R: 3-09

An Ghaeltacht: 1-10

Our division 6 side made it 3 wins from 4 when overcoming An Ghaeltacht on Sunday in Strand Road; trailing by 3 points at half  time, 1-06 to 1-03 we controlled the second period to run out comfortable winners.

Gearóid Meehan found the net twice with Seán Griffin contributing 1-02.

Well done to the team and management.

Munster Championship:

Kerry overcame Cork on Saturday to qualify for another Munster senior final which will be played on Sunday 5th May @ 1:45 pm at a venue to be decided – Kerry’s opponents will be Clare who had a comfortable win over Waterford in the other semi final.

It will be an unique occasion as it will pit our club colleagues Micheál Quirke and Mark Fitzgerald in direct opposition.

Congratulations to Tomás Kennedy who played full forward on the Kerry U20 team who defeated Cork on Weds night last in the Munster Championship; Kerry will now play Tipperary in the semi final on this coming Wednesday night, April 24th here in Austin Stack Park @ 7 pm; Cork re enter the competition with a home tie vs Clare on the same night with the final fixed for 1st May.

Lotto:

This week’s lotto jackpot will see players play for a jackpot  of €11,900 – though many have come close in the past few weeks, the winning combination has remained elusive since June ‘22.

If you fancy your chances you can play by purchasing a ticket at any of the following outlets: Rock St PO, Jimmy’s Foodstore, Betty’s Bar or the Klub.

You can also play online ( deadline of 4 pm Monday) by following this link: https://play.clubforce.com/play_newa.asp?ll_id=328#Anchor

Juvenile Academy:

There was glorious sunshine for our last training session in Tralee Sports Complex which saw great numbers in attendance.

All age groups enjoyed their session,  learning key skills for the sport we all love and most importantly having fun while doing so. We return to Ballyrickard next Sunday 28th April at 10am for the rest of the season. We hope to see everyone there and new members are always welcome to join us.

Under 9 boys

U9 Boys:

Well done to our U9’s who kicked off their go-games by hosting Milltown on Wednesday evening. They showed great skills and played some entertaining football. Thanks to Milltown for travelling and we wish them all the best for the year ahead!

U11 Boys:

Our U11s played An Ghaeltacht at home on Thursday evening. Well done to the boys who had another very good performance. They showed great skills and teamwork on the night. Training continued on Saturday at 10am in Healy Park.

U13 Boys:

U13 KOR A Team V Fossa GAA 19th April 2024:

KO’R : 3-10

Fossa: 1-07

In a hard fought 1st half with strong tackling from both teams,  we carried a slight lead to the break. Fossa who had huge numbers,  emptied their bench and rallied again with a goal early in the 2nd half but with goals from Luca Fusco,  Conor Ryan and Jack Hanlon we kept our winning run going and keep the momentum for the away game Sunday v GB/GC/Cromane –  well done to all the boys.

KOR U13 Boys A v GB/GC/Cromane 21st April

The KOR U13 A team topped the County League with an away win v GB/GC/Cromane. In the toughest of encounters to date,  the home team dictated events for large periods of the 1st half where we had to rely on the safe hands of Goalkeeper Kyle Smith to keep things stable.

We came out in the 2nd half with more desire and the boys started to find their range of passing and with two  2nd half goals brought us the win we needed to finish in Top spot in the County League.

Kipras Mockas put in a man of the match performance but a huge well done to all the boys.

KOR U13 Boys A 2-10 v GB/GC/Cromane 0-8

KOR U13 Boys B v An Ghaeltacht

Our B team had the long haul back to Gallarus where we took on An Ghaeltacht Sunday evening in a high scoring game we went down by 3 points on a score line of 5-16 to 5-13.

Harry O Mahony  and Oisin Priestley stood  out for the blues but thanks to  all for a brilliant effort and to everyone for making the trip back west.

KOR U13 Boys B 5-13 v An Ghaeltacht 5-16

U15 Boys:

Kerins O’Rahillys/St. Pats 3-18 v Currow 2-9

Clubzap:

It is vital that all members download clubzap and add Kerins O’Rahillys to their account. Clubzap will be used for all communication regarding each age group from U5s upwards. If you are having any difficulty with joining clubzap please ask one of our committee members on Sunday mornings to assist you and we will be happy to help. Or contact us through any of our social media outlets.

Registration:

All juveniles need to be registered at this stage if you have not done so can you please register asap. If you need any assistance or have any queries please contact us through any of our social media platforms or ask a coach/committee member at training. We are happy to help.

Save the date :

Kerins O’Rahillys Summer Camp will take place from 6th August to 9th August 2024. More details to follow keep an eye on our social media.

Kerins O’Rahillys Gamesense Workshop “Coach Education Program” with Stephen and Peter Lavin,  took place Friday evening in The Club. Thank you to all our coaches who attended from Juvenile & Ladies Huge thank you also to Ryles Pharmacy who sponsored the evening.

Under 14s

U14 GIRLS:

Kerins O’Rahillys 4-07

Cromane 4-07

Our U14 ladies began their Co. League campaign last Sunday, April 21st .

On what turned out to be a beautiful sunny afternoon both Cromane and ourselves took to the field just after 3pm. to play division 1B football.

For some of our team it was their first time playing full pitch – both teams were full of will and determination and gave it their all.

Every  player was very tenacious and worked hard for 60 minutes.

We are very proud of everyone and the final result came from a great team effort.

Having been behind by 8 points at one stage we fought hard to lead by 3 with a late goal denying us at the end.

Best wishes to Cromane for the remainder of the competition.

Well done to our team and management.

Senior ladies

Condolences:

There was widespread shock and sadness last week with the news of the passing of two great GAA stalwarts Derry Sheehan and Gerdie Murphy both of Castleisland Desmonds.

Derry had a long and storied association with the Desmonds club as a bainisteior in the early ‘90s as well as Kerry Coiste Na nÓG.

Gerdie Murphy along with his father, Vincent ran the sports shop in Castleisland and had served in various roles in the Desmonds club in both mens and ladies sections.

Gerdie was a colourful character, known far and wide and was often conspicuous on the steps of the Gresham Hotel on the morning of the All Ireland kitted out in a custom made green and gold suit – his passion for his beloved Desmonds and Kerry was unbridled, his love of sport enormous.

We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to both families.

We also extend our sympathy to the family of the late Frankie Lynch ( nee Harman) of Listowel and Cappamore.

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St Pat’s GAA Club News

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Dingle Way Challenge

We are pleased to announce that our Dingle Way Challenge is back for another year. This event takes place on Sunday 2nd of June.

Please find details of the two routes below we have available this year for you to choose from.

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a first timer, looking for a challenge this year’s Dingle Way Challenge promises an unforgettable journey through the rugged beauty of the West Kerry peninsula.

The allure of the 2024 Dingle Way Challenge lies in the diverse landscapes of the routes. For the Ultra route (42Km) starting at Coumeenole, through the lovely town of Dingle, onto Lispole and finishing in Annascaul.

The Standard Route (30Km) will start at beautiful Ventry beach, through the lovely town of Dingle, onto Lispole and finishing in Annascaul.

Register on-line through eventbrite, registration closes on Friday 31st May at 5pm.
Early Bird option: €70 before the 1st May; €75 from the 1st May.
(transaction charge will be added)

Check in on the morning of 2nd June will be in St Pat’s GAA Club, Blennerville, Tralee and buses will be available to take you to the start points of the Routes. More detailed information on the eventbrite page  Dingle Way Challenge 2024 Tickets, Sun 2 Jun 2024 at 05:00 | Eventbrite.

Since our Eventbrite page went live, many have booked their place. There are limited numbers for this event so be quick you don’t want to miss this great day out!

Club Lotto

There was no winner of our club Lotto Jackpot of €2100 on Sunday night last the numbers drawn were 09,11,15 & 28. The five €30 euro consolation prizes went to:

1.      Adam Roche Curragraigue

2.      Noel Foley c/o Betty’s Bar

3.      Adrian Greaney Online

4.      Marian Williams c/o Byrnesworth

5.      Tom Hill Lohercannon

Next week’s Lotto will have a Jackpot of €2200 and the draw will take place on Sunday Night 28/04/2024 at 9pm in Skelper Quanes Bar club Lotto can be played online through the club website www.stpatsgaaclub.com online at https://www.locallotto.ie/play.asp?LL_ID=1328&PC=0 from any club officer, or at the following outlets:

O’Shea Shop and Service Station Blennerville

Poff Motors Dingle Road

Seamus O’Sullivan Master Butchers Manor

Noyeks Mile Height

Byrnesworth

Skelper Quanes

Keane’s Of Curraheen

Betty’s Bar The Rock Inn

Many Thanks to all who contribute to our weekly club Lotto. The club cannot emphasize enough the importance of our members promoting the club Lotto among family, friends, and work colleagues. The lotto is now a critical source of funds for the club. We are appealing to all club members to promote our Lotto at this time to ensure our club’s future viability. Please have your Lotto entries in by 7pm, every Sunday night.

Juvenile Academy

We are Back, St Pats Football Academy took place last Sunday morning and every Sunday Morning in Kerry Sports Academy, MTU North Campus V92HD4V from 11am-12pm. Open to all boys and girls from Under 5 to Under 13. Contact Michael for further information on 086-3855428. Come along any Sunday, All New Members welcome!

U5

Well, done to all our under 5s on another fun and energetic session. Great determination by Dylan Vahey and Robyn McMahon made them well deserved players of the week. Well, done to all the boys and girls for great effort. See you all next week!

U7

There was a superb effort by all our U7’s this morning. There was plenty work done on handpassing, tackling and the pick-up followed by a match. Well done to all involved and Tom who was our player of the week.

U9 Boys

Big numbers turned out for our U9’s at Sunday mornings academy session. They had great fun taking on a few new games and drills and enjoyed a competitive game to finish up. We are playing away to Castlegregory this Tuesday with Throw In at 6:30pm.

U8 Girls

We had a great session this morning we joined the under 10 girls and did some hand passing in pairs and a tackling game in groups finished with 5×5 match all the girls showed their skills this morning and how enthusiast they all are. Our player of the week and well deserved was Amy. Well, done Amy!

U10 Girls

We had a great session this morning and all the girls showed great enthusiasm and an incredible appetite for hard work and learning the skills of the game. They really impressed all the coaches. Our player of the week this week was Eva who show great skill and desire to get stuck in, well done Eva. Keep up the practice at home girls and we will see you all next week. Regards, Coaches.

U11 Boys

St Pats U-11’s went west along the road again last Thursday evening to play our neighbours Annascaul in Round 2 of the Lee Strand Co League Go Games.

It was great to be able to field two teams again which were made up of our U9’s and U11’s. All our players tried their best and the coaches were delighted with that.

We encourage our players to keep physically active now that the evenings are getting longer. This will improve fitness levels and will really be beneficial when participating in games and training.

Our next game is this Thursday 25/4 at home to Kerins O’Rahillys we will be in contact with parents with details of same. It is important you all continue to attend our training sessions and keep practicing your skills at home during the week. Naomh Pádraig Abú!!

U12 Girls

Na Gaeil proved to be a tough opposition for what was our first U12 match of the season.  They got the better of us in the first half with some impressive scoring. In the second half with the wind on our side the girls fought hard to catch up.

They had a very strong final quarter showing great attacking skills, overpowering the opposition, and booting over plenty of scores from play in quick succession. The girls displayed great teamwork with some good football on show and hopefully learned a lot.

Special mention to our 3 U10s who did themselves proud. It was a bright start to our matches for 2024! Thanks to all the parents for supporting the girls, to Na Gaeil for a very sporting game and to referee Del White.

The girls trained on Sunday up at the MTU under the stewardship of Noel and Monica. We are due to play Churchill in Round 2 of the North Kerry U12 go games next Tuesday evening in Blennerville at 6:30pm.

U13

Well done to all the lads this evening in the win over Northern Gaels, 4:11 to 3:5. In fabulous sunshine in Blennerville, we dominated from the start and every player made a huge contribution.

The opposition made it tough for us at times, but our lads were not found wanting. The attitude and application was spot on. Well, done lads. Training again tomorrow at 6pm in St. Pats.

U15

After the lull of caused by wet pitches and postponed games the tempo’ for the under 15’s picked up last week. We had one of our few training sessions on a pitch when we trained in Ballyrickard on Monday evening.

On Wednesday we travelled to Currow for a Lee Strand Co. League A game against Currow.  Overall, we proved too strong for the local team however all the players on the St. Pats/Kerins O’Rahillys got good game time which was badly needed.

While we maintained the upper hand all through the game Currow never gave up and badly missed some of their key players who missed the game due to a school fixture outside the County.

On Friday evening we were back in action again in Blennerville for a Lee Strand Co. League B game against Laune Rangers.  After the win on Wednesday evening, we were brought back to earth with a comprehensive defeat to the visitors.

While playing some decent football we were unable to translate our possession into scores and credit goes to Laune Rangers for the quality of their team. We had a good few players who hadn’t played on Wednesday’s A game, and it was good that they got game time on Friday evening.

On Monday 22nd we are scheduled to play Glenflesk/Kilgarvan in Ballyrickard at 7pm and on Wednesday 24th against Duagh in Ballyrickard at 7pm.

U17

Our U17 came away with a win against Annascaul/Lispole last Monday night. Their next game takes place on Monday night 22nd of April, against Ardfert in Strand Road at 7pm.

Senior

St Pat’s achieved a comfortable win at the weekend against Tuosist, with the sun shining St Pats led for all the match. There were scores coming from Gary Savage, Fergal O’Brien and Colin Doody, there was a superb goal scored by Tommy Lynch, which stunned the Tuosist goalkeeper it went past so quick.

Tuosist tried hard to stop the scoring and managed three points, but we proved too strong. There were assists for scores coming from Darragh Moriarty, Brian Murphy, Conor Moore, and Tommy Nicholson. Half Time score St Pats 1-09 Tuosist 0-03

With heat increasing St Pats added more scores with Conor Enright, Fergal O’Brien, Dylan Griffin, Colin Doody, David Moriarty, Luke Mulligan, and Conor Burke. Each player had a great game providing opportunities through assists or providing strong defence throughout the match to keep Tuosist’s scoring low.

Danny Greaney and Cillian O’Riordan were two players who made sure to mark their men closely not to allow a score to be gained.

Cillian O’Riordan’s goal in the last fifteen minutes increased our scoring and helped to secure a win. Many players showed great determination and work ethic for St Pats to gain another win in our Round 4 game. Full Time St Pats 2-20 Tuosist 1-06

St Pats Team:  Paudie Bailey, Ben Sharp, Luke Mulligan, Dylan Griffin, Darragh Moriarty, Eoin O’Carroll, Tommy Nicholson, Conor Moore ©, Tomas O’Sullivan, Conor Enright, Brian Murphy, Tommy Lynch, Gary Savage, Fergal O’Brien, and Colin Doody.

Subs Used:  Conor Burke for Eoin O’Carroll, Jack Moriarty for Brian Murphy, Jack Lynch for Tommy Lynch, Danny Greaney for Gary Savage, and Cillian O’Riordan for Colin Doody.

Our seniors are scheduled to play Duagh in Round 5 of the Credit Union County League on Sunday 28th of April, please keep an eye on O’Shea’s Gala, old clubhouse window and Skelper Quanes for details of this fixture.

Congratulations

To Kerry who won against Cork in the Munster Football Championship semi-final on last Saturday.

To Kerry Ladies for their win against Tipperary in Round 1 of the Munster Football Championship at the weekend.

Sympathy

The club would like to extend its sympathy to the families and friends of Patrick Riordan Ardfert, Tommy Lyons Clonmore Terrace, Derry Sheehan Cloghers & Castleisland, Gerard (Gerdie) Murphy Castleisland and Margaret (Mags) Dowling Née McMahon Church Street Tralee.

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Tralee Parnells GAA Club News

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Tralee Parnells U15s who won the Feile na nGael Division 1 Country Final in Abbeydorney on Saturday evening

Féile na nGael – Hurling
What a legendary showdown it was at Abbeydorney for the Kerry Hurling Under 15 Feile final between Tralee Parnells and Ballyheigue on Saturday evening.

Playing in our second Div 1 Feile final in three years, our lads went into the game as slight favorites, having beaten Ballyheigue in the group stage.

Ben Litchfield from Tralee Parnells relieves the presssure as he drives the ball into the forwards in the Div 1 Feile final

We got off to a flying start with an early goal, but we were soon under massive pressure from a talented Ballyheigue team. At halftime, we were trailing by a mere two points on a scoreline of 1-06 to 1-04 but did that dampen our spirits? Not a chance!

The first 15mins of the second half was a cagey affair with both teams exchanging scores. The tackling, effort and work rate from both teams was as fierce as you’d expect in a Feile final.

It was only in the final 15 minutes of the match that our boys truly found their form, mounting a spirited comeback that saw us seizing victory with a final score of 4-05 to Ballyheigue’s 2-09.

Danny Brick from Tralee Parnells emerges with the sliotar after immense pressure from Ballyheigue in the Div1 Feile Final.

There was great excitement at the final whistle with players, coaches, parents, and supporters embracing on the pitch as Captain Daniel Spring lifted the trophy for the team.

Thanks to Abbeydorney allowing their fabulous pitch and facilities to be used for the game, well done to Mike Hennessy and his team of linesmen and umpires and finally to Ballyheigue who are sure to be devastated on the loss but can be proud of their performance on their effort on the day.

Hats off to our phenomenal players and the coaching team whose dedication and years of hard work have brought us this moment of glory. Up Parnells!

1. Ronan Brick 2. Sean Maunsell 3. Sean Sargent, 4. Sean Og O’Connor 5. Darragh Field 6. Danel Spring (C) 7. Adam O’Brien 8. Jacob Drzymala 9. Ben Litchfield  10. Andrew Redican 11. Luke Hanafin 12. Jayden Sugrue 13. Conor Lynch 14. David Cullinane 15. Danny Brick.

Subs: 16. Fionn Clancy 17. Eamon Kissane 18. Dylan Sheridan 19. Jack Lynch, 20. Max Allen 21. Ben Deegan 22. Haulie Cotter 23. Patrick Bailey 24. Conor Reidy

County Féile Skills – Camogie
The county Feile skills competition took place on Sunday evening at the Ardfert Community Centre.  Congratulations to Jessica Leen and Orla Costello who represented in Tralee Parnells and especially to Orla as she finished third overall.

Trale Parnells U9s who enjoyed their first hurling blitz of the season out in Crotta

U9 Hurling
Our Under 9s had a great evening out in Crotta for their first u9 blitz of the year. There was some great hurling on display from all our young players. The boys had games against Crotta, Kilmoyley, Abbeydorney and Ballyduff with great fun had by all. Thank you to Crotta for hosting.

Tralee Parnells U11s who played a very competitive match against Causeway on Friday evening in Caherslee

U11 Hurling
The Under 11s put on a great performance on Friday night in Caherslee against Causeway. It was a really competitive game with some fantastic hurling skills on display.  Well done boys.  Thank you to Causeway for a really competitive game and Donnacha Buttimer for refereeing the match.

U12 Camogie
The under 12 camogie squad returned to training last week.  The girls train on Tuesday evenings in Caherslee from 6.30 to 7.30pm.  New players born in 2012 and 2013 are welcome to come along and give camogie a try.  Hurleys and Helmets are available to borrow from the club for any player who wants to try it out.

Tralee Parnells U14s who won the first round of the Kerry League against Ballyduff

U14 Camogie
Our U14 ladies had a great start to the Kerry League last Monday evening in a bitterly cold Ballyduff. They came away with a strong win after a great team performance where a number of our players took some lovely scores after great link play.

Thanks to Ballyduff for a sporting game and providing the pitch and to referee John Ross. Well done to all the players tonight and Management team David Brick, Brian Shanahan and Aine Lambe

Cul Camp
The summer Cul Camps are open for booking at https://www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie/.  There are still a few places left for the Tralee Parnells camp 12th to 16th August.

Senior Hurling
Tralee Parnells took on St Brendans in round four of the County Hurling League last Friday evening in Caherslee. Parnells were first out of the blocks with a great score from play by John Sherman in the opening minute.

Gearóid O’Doherty (Doc) had his first score soon after, a free, and Sherman added his second point but these were all cancelled out by St Brendans as the sides were level on three occasions.

Doc scored his second free and this was quickly followed by a great goal by full forward Cillian O’Riordain in the seventh minute.

This gave Parnells a four point lead, but this only seemed to drive St Brendans on as they got the next six scores on the bounce. Oisin O’Brien steadied the ship for Parnells and two points in a row from centre forward Brian Lonergan and a point from Doc left the scores level at half time.

Half Time: Tralee Parnells 1-8 St Brendans 0-11

The second half was all one way traffic as St Brendans took over and Parnells seemed to run out of steam. St Brendans scored 1-7 without reply before Parnells added a free from Doc. Brendans added another six points with Sherman responding with the final point of the match.
Final Score: Tralee Parnells 1-10 St Brendans 1-24

Scorers for Parnells: C. O’ Riordain (1-0), G. O’Doherty (0-4, 0-3f) J. Sherman (0-3), B. Lonergan (0-2), O O’Brien (0-1)
1. R. Gilsenan 2. Andrew Morrissey 3. Enda O’Connor 4. Darragh Keane 5. Ruairí O’Sullivan 6. Tadhg Brick (Capt) 7. Martin Frawley 8. Eddie Sheehy 9. Tadhg Reen 10. John Sherman 11. Brian Lonergan 12. Oisín O’Brien 13.Gearoid O’Doherty 14. Cillian O’Riordain 15. Stephen Morrissey
Subs: Sean Woulfe for Eddie Sheehy; Dylan Cunningham for Stephen Morrissey

Kerry Hurling 
Congratulations to Kerry Hurlers on a great win over Westmeath in the opening round of the Joe McDonagh Cup. The team will now face Down at home next weekend.

Sympathy

All at Tralee Parnells were saddened to hear of recent the death of Gerdie Murphy, Castleisland. Through Vincent Murphy Sports, Gerdie was a great supporter of Tralee Parnells and provided us with gear and equipment over the years. We offer our sincere condolences to all the Murphy family on their sad loss. May Gerdie Rest in Peace.

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John Mitchels GAA Club News

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Senior Men – Our Division 2 team played away to Glenbeigh/Glencar, which saw a win for the home side on a score line of 1 goal and 11 points to John Mitchels and 2 goals and 15 points to the hosts. Round 5, which takes place next weekend, sees us playing Templenoe at home. Our Division 6 team also play at home to Milltown/Castlemaine. Further details to follow on days/times.

Senior Ladies – Training continues on Thursday. We play Kerins O’Rahillys away next Sunday at 12 noon in round 3 of the Donal Curtin Cup.

Minor Team – Congratulations to our minor team who came out as Division 2 League Shield Winners in a pulsating game of football last Monday evening against Keel/Listry which took place in Fossa.

The game went to extra time which is testament to how close the teams were. Well done to all of the players and management. A special word of congratulations to Gearoid White, MOT with a personal score tally to 1 goal and 12 points.

Academy – Sunday’s glorious weather made sure we were able to have our academy outdoors. Well done to all the boys and girls who had a great training session. Week on week we can see your skills improving. Keep up the hard work.

Under 9 Boys John Mitchels U9 Boys had their first training session on grass on Sunday last. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and we had a fantastic turnout. The boys trained hard practicing their ball work & kicking skills & as we are away to Beaufort next week. Parent’s will be notified during the week regarding times – until then folks keep on practicing!

Under 8s and 10s Girls – Training continues next Sunday at 10.30am on the Astro and all new players are very welcome.

Under 14 Girls – Well done to our girls who drew against Shannon Side Tarbert on Sunday evening. John Mitchels 1g 7pts versus 10 points. We play our next round of the county league next Sunday against Knock Brosna. Further details to follow.

Congratulations to the Kerry Ladies Under 14 A Champions. A special work of mention to our John Mitchels players Grace O’Regan and Amy Noonan who were part of the winning team and to club coach Denis O’Regan who is a member of the winning management team.

Under 12 Girls – We played Churchill in the North Kerry league on Thursday evening. We have now entered two teams in the North Kerry league and we have a bye this week. Training will be at 6pm on Tuesday and we look forward to welcoming the players from the Gaelic for Girls program to the squad on Tuesday evening.

Under 11 Boys – Our latest match saw us play St. Senan’s on a chilly Thursday evening away in Mountcoal. We enjoyed two free flowing games and were proud of the way our boys performed on the evening. As always the Mitchels boys were not found wanting and displayed their skills admirably.

We had one or two injuries going into the game and sustained a few more minor injuries in the games so hopefully those boys will heal fast. A big thank you to all the parents who travelled with their children.

We saw the return of training on grass on Sunday which can only see our boys improve going forward. Parents will receive details of the next match for this age group via Whatsapp. Training resumes on Sunday. Until then kids are encouraged to practice their ball skills at home.

Under 13 Boys – We played host to our neighbours Na Gaeil on Wednesday evening, which saw our green and gold teams in action. Team Gold came out victors over our town rivals. Our Green Team were unlucky with Na Gaeil coming out on top.

Well done to all players from both sets of teams for some very entertaining football. Management will be in contact with the players on training details for this week.

Congratulations to Eddie Carmody and Liam Corkery who represented Kerry in the Primary Schools Game at half-time in the Munster Championship semi-final in Killarney. Eddie scored 1-2 and Liam kicked 1-1. Well done boys from all at the club.

Under 15 Boys – On Monday night our U15 Gold team overcame a very decent Kemare side in a wet and windy Ballyseedy. Following on from that victory, our U15 Green team welcomed Glenbeigh Glencar/Cromane to Ballyseedy.

After a tight first half, the boys pulled away in the second half to earned a well deserved victory. This week both teams play Round 5 of the County League – the Green team play Firies on Thursday evening with a 6:15pm throw-in in Ballyseedy. The following evening, the Gold team travel to Milltown/Castlemaine for a 6pm throw-in.

Under 16 Girls and Minors – Our Under 16s play Knockanure in Moyvane on Monday evening (April 22nd) at 7pm. Best of luck to players and management.

Bingo – Continues Wednesday and Friday at 8.30PM at the John Joe Sheehy Road. Over 18s only. ID must be provided on request.

Lotto – There was no winner of our lotto jackpot which this week was €3,150.00. This weeks numbers were 9, 13, 29 and 32. Congratulations to our lucky dip winners – Breda Flaherty, Sharon Clancy and Jimmy Moloney. Next weeks jackpot is €3,200  we would ask you to please support this important fundraiser for the club.

Membership – Membership is now due for 2024. You can pay online through Clubforce or call to our Club Registrar Georgie Lowe on Sunday from 11 am to 12 noon weekly.

Sympathies – We express our sincere sympathies to those who have recently experienced bereavement. We especially remember the families of Mags Dowling, Tommy Lyons, Eilis O’Toole and Sr. O’Connell.

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Ballymacelligott GAA Club News

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The Credit Union SFL Div 1 Round 4
Ballymacelligott 1-16 Spa Killarney 0-13
Venue: John Mitchel’s GAA Ground  Date: 21st April 2024

We in Ballymac GAA wish to extend our Thanks to the John Mitchel’s GAA Committee, which facilitated our game in Ballyseedy.

We are very grateful for the facilities. It was great to see Michéal Reidy back from an injury he sustained last September and showing his everlasting passion for the game.

Spa and Ballymacelligott were level on three points each in this fourth-round clash. Both teams had lost a game, drew one, and won one. There was a lot to play for. They played in ideal playing and weather conditions.

Both teams gave their best in an earnest, energetic, and entertaining game. Ballymac held their own when down to fourteen players for the last ten minutes of the first half. and a goal from Brian Lonergan nine minutes into the second half gave Ballymacelligott that extra push to finish well and secure the two vital points.

The game opened with two points from Spa quickly followed by two for the home side from Vinnie Horan from a free and Donal Daly. Spa added two more from frees taken by Evan Cronin.

Spa were pressing hard and had two great goal chances saved by Christy Leen in the Ballymac Goal and another save within a minute by full-back Daniel O’Shea. Daire Keane and Evan Cronin added one each for their teams.

Daniel O’Shea added a point and Ballymac were reduced to 14 when Seán Rice was shown a black card. Daire Keane scored a point followed by four in a row from Spa. Captain Vinnie Horan scored the last point of the half, from a free just before the half-time whistle.

Half Time Score: Ballymacelligott 0-6  Spa Killarney 0-8

Ballymacelligott back on the pitch with fifteen players were the first to settle and Vinnie Horan scored two points, one from a 45 and one from a free. Ballymac were level 0-8 each. Cian Tobin for Spa and Donal Daly exchanged points.

Then Daire Keane kicked a ball that looked like it was not going to make it over the bar when Brian Lonergan popped up and helped it into the net.

Ballymac were a goal ahead. Evan Cronin from Spa scored a point from a free, and Aidan Breen did likewise for Ballymac. Evan Cronin added another for Spa from a free and this left Ballymac in the lead by two points with fourteen minutes left.

Daire Keane scored a point from a class pass from Niall Collins. Ballymac notched up three more from Daire Keane, Donal Daly, and Daire Keane again.

Evan Cronin added another for Spa from a free. Donal Daly scored Ballymac’s two last points with Spa scoring their last point in between Donal’s points.

Full-Time Score: Ballymacelligott 1-16  Spa  Killarney 0-13

This was another industrious performance from our Senior Team with inspirational performances from Daniel O’Shea, Eoin Creedon, Seán Rice, Daire Keane, Brian Lonergan, Cian Counihan, Donal Daly and Vinnie Horan,
We wish a speedy recovery to Cathal Dunne who got injured at training during the week.

Team and Scorers:
Christy Leen, Sean Rice, Daniel O’Shea (0-1)  Darragh Sweeney, Cian Counihan, Tadhg Brick, Eoin Creedon,Shane Gilroy, Aidan Breen (0-1)  , Adam Sheehy, Vinnie Horan (Capt) (0-4)  Micheál Reidy,  Daire Keane (0-5) Brian Lonergan, (1-0) , Donal Daly (0-5)

Substitutes Used: Niall Collins, Brian Cassidy, Darragh Regan and Michael Herlihy.

We play Dingle in Dingle next weekend. Watch Social Media pages for full details.

The Credit Union SFL Div 6A  Round 4
Ballymacelligott 2-16 Beaufort 3-09
Venue: Beaufort Date: 20th April  24

Beaufort came into this game on top of the Div 6B table. Ballymacelligott had a point to prove after a tough outing two weeks ago v Dr Crokes.
Conditions were perfect and both teams played great football to make it a competitive and enjoyable game.

Darragh Regan opened the scoring in the first half for Ballymac followed by a point from Beaufort. Two more points from Skye Lynch and Maurice O’Connell followed for Ballymac. Beaufort added another. Cathal Culloty intercepted a ball, passed to Michael Herlihy who delivered a great ball to Darragh Regan who found the back of the net for Ballymac. Another turnover by Ciaran Brosnan, great teamwork and passing and resulted in another goal from Darragh Regan. With eighteen minutes gone, Ballymac were in the lead 0-3 to 2-03.

Despite being two goals down, the Beaufort team showed their grit and scored a goal and a point within three minutes. The last three points of the half came from Darragh Regan, Skye Lynch, and Michael Herlihy for Ballymac.

The Half Time score was: Beaufort 1-04 Ballymacelligott 2-06

The second half was a cracker of a half with a further two goals and 15 points scored.  Neither side was willing to relent and kept up the pace right to the final whistle.
Beaufort opened the scoring with a point. Then came a perfect point from Shane McGillicuddy, both himself and Maurice O’Connell worked the ball up the pitch and Shane made no mistake. Beaufort then scored their second goal of the game. The margin narrowed to a two-point lead for Ballymac.

Sean Rice and Maurice O’Connell scored two points from play, and Beaufort added another. Skye Lynch intercepted a great ball and made a great run passed to Shane McGillicuddy who passed to Michael Herlihy and Ballymac once again had a four-point lead with fifteen minutes left. The next point of the game came from an exquisite shot from Michéal Savage. However, the next three minutes were all Beaufort who scored a Goal and a point and looked determined to win the game.

Nevertheless, The Ballymac side were resolute and kept going. Points from Skye Lynch and Michael Herlihy gave Ballymac a three-point lead. Both teams scored another two points. Ballymac scores coming from Michael Herlihy and Maurice O’Connell.

There is great credit to the squad of players, who came back from a tough game two weeks ago and defeated top-of-the-table Beaufort. Over time good communication and understanding have developed between the players.

It was teamwork at its best with Shane McGillicuddy having a superb game and involved in almost all the scores. Darragh Regan, Skye Lynch, Cathal White, and Cathal Culloty never gave up and it made a difference to the final result.

Full Time: Beaufort 3-09 Ballymacelligott 2-16

Team and scorers: Padráig Laide, Ciarán Brosnan, Cian Godley, Jonathan Brick, Andy Rogers, Brian Cassidy (0-1), Cathal White, Cathal Culloty, Skye Lynch(0-3), Michael Herlihy(0-4), Shane McGillicuddy(0-1), Darragh Regan (2-2), Barry Lyons (Capt), Jack Tobin, Maurice O’Connell(0-3).
Subs Used: Seán Rice (0-1), Jamie Burke, Michéal Savage (0-1), Conor Brick, and Brian Godley
We wish Ciarán Brosnan a speedy recovery having to come off injured early in the game.
The next game is V Kenmare at home. The time, date, and venue to be confirmed.

Congratulations 

Huge congratulations to Dan and DD O’Rahilly and their entire family on their great win on Saturday night in the Con and Annie Kirby memorial Championship with their greyhound Knockeen Dazzler.

Senior Ladies

Great Performance by our Senior Ladies Team, in the Credit Union Donal Curtin Cup Division 2 Round 3. They fought right to the end, going down by 2-12 to 1-9.

Squad as follows. Robyn White, Kerry Hennessy, Niamh Rahilly, Claire Kenny, Grainne Galvin, Una Kerins Morrissey, Emma Daly, Aishling O’Connell, Ellie McElligott, Rachel Creedon, Roisin Rahilly, Lisa Curran, Tina Quinn, Ella Quirke, Kate O’Connor, Ciara Kerins.

Minor Ladies 

Well done to our Minor Ladies who followed up their victory in Round One with another win this evening in Milltown in Division One of the Co League against MKL Gaels on a scoreline of 5-11 to 2-11.

Well done to Jamie Lee O’Connor and her teammates on the Kerry U16 team who beat cork today after extra time in the Munster LGFA U16 championship Final

Under 14 ladies

Commiserations to our U14 Ladies On their loss to a very strong Fossa side, in their Round 1, Division 4 County League game.

Under 16 Ladies

Best of Luck to our U16’s v Knock/Brosna tomorrow night at 7pm in Knocknagoshel.

Minor Boys

Ballymacelligott GAA v Laune Rangers GAA – Minor – Div 2 Final

Ballymacelligott GAA 2-13 (19)

Laune Rangers GAA 3-13 (22)

Our Minor team played Laune Rangers on a dry & at times blustery evening in Austin Stack Park on Tuesday evening last, the 16th of April, in the County League, Division 2 decider.

In the first half, it was our lads who dominated the ball with some fine fielding & turnovers which provided the platform for some sustained Ballymac attacks. Scores from Jack Joy, Ciarán O’Connell, Michael Quirke & Gearoid Healy ensured Ballymac had a strong opening period.

However, Laune Rangers tagged on two late scores to slightly narrow their deficit, with a half time score of Ballymac 0-12 Laune Rangers 0-6.

The second period commenced with the Killorglin men in the ascendancy where they continued to erode our advantage with some fine scores. However, it was Jack Joy with an incisive, fast paced run who found the bottom left hand corner of the net with his right foot to help raise our challenge.

From here, it was Laune Rangers who responded with two goals of their own to give them the advantage. In a further twist, despite this setback, Ballymac would go on to find the net again with a pass from Jack Joy to Ciarán O’Connell who finished well with a bullet to the near post.

The game was very much in the melting pot at this point but, it was Laune Rangers who managed to find the net again with a fine finish to give the opposition the crucial advantage going into the final stages. Our lads never gave up however, it proved just out of reach with Laune Rangers coming out the victors by that third goal.

The disappointment was felt by players, management and all those from the club in attendance however, credit must be given to our lads for staying in it when the tide was very much against us at times in the second half.

They showed great resilience. We had some fine performances, despite the disappointing defeat with Sam Slattery, Eoghan Joy, Patrick Reidy & Conal Savage doing well defensively, Eoin Moriarty winning some vital possession in the middle of the field & with Jack Joy & Ciarán O’Connell impressing up front.

With the Central Region & Club championship ahead, there will, we hope, be better days for this group of young men, who, as always, represent the club with professionalism & distinction.

Finally, we congratulate and wish the very best of luck to Jack Joy and Eoin Moriarty on their selection to the Kerry Minor panel for 2024. It is a huge honour for themselves, their families and the club. The future is most certainly bright. Ballymac Abu!

First round of Division 1 of the Minor Central Region tomorrow Monday evening away to Austin Stacks @ 6pm.

Under 15 boys

U15 Boys Results

Both u15As and Bs suffered 2 losses this week.

Our Bs went down to Glenbeigh/Cromane.

Our As suffered a heavy defeat to Finuge.

Next up are Stacks and Glenflesk.

Under 13 Boys

U13 boys were in Spa. Killarney on Friday evening for 2 games. The B’s played well and won their game. The A team played well in patches but unfortunately ended up on the losing side. We play Legion this evening at 6pm.

Under 11 boys

Our under 11 boys played Na Gaeil on Sunday morning in the next round of the Go Games.

Well done to everyone some great games were played.

Under 9 Boys

Our U9 boys played their first Go Game in Listowel Thursday evening. All the boys got plenty of playing with 3 games each. Great effort put in by all the lads. Thanks to Listowel for hosting. Next up Ardfert away Thursday evening 6pm

Lotto

On Tuesday 16th April Maureen O’Shea and Eamon Moriarty conducted the lotto draw (for Monday 15th April) live from Ballymacelligott GAA Club Rooms.

The Numbers drawn were: 5, 12, 19 & 24. There was no winner of this week’s Jackpot of €7300 Congratulations to the lucky dip winners this week:

€30.00 – Pat McCarthy, Gleenisk, Kells purchased in The Halfway Shop

€20.00 -Padraig McGillicuddy C/O Paula Silles

€20.00 – Joanne Long. Online Entry.

Next week’s Jackpot is €7400.00 and the draw will take place on Monday 22nd April at 7.45pm live from our club rooms.

Play Ball Lotto Ticket sales close at 6 pm sharp. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here or from our regular sellers Paula Silles, Gene O’Keeffe, and Maureen O Shea.

Quick Pick Envelopes are available at The Half Way Shop and O’Riadas Bar. Simply pop €5.00 into the envelope with your name and contact details. We’ll generate a quick pick of 3 lines for you! You will be automatically entered into the draw. It couldn’t be easier! The closing time for entries will be 4 pm on Mondays to facilitate the draw.

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Kerry College Learners To Exhibit Work In Siamsa Tire

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KERRY College is thrilled to announce the eagerly awaited return of its annual Creative Arts Exhibition, titled “WORK,” which will open its doors on Friday, April 26th, at 6pm.

Set in Siamsa Tíre, WORK promises to offer a diverse array of artistic expressions spanning traditional and digital media.

Visitors can expect to see a wide range of artwork, from traditional fine art like painting, print-making, and sculpture, to cutting-edge digital media including animation, games design, graphic design, and interaction design.

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The opening night promises to be a vibrant celebration, featuring live performances from learners on the Music Performance and Sound and Production courses, along with Creative Arts learners, together marking the culmination of a year of hard work at Kerry College.

Participating in the gallery exhibition are learners from Kerry College Creative Arts courses, Art, Craft & Design, Animation, Digital Design with Visual Communication, and Computer Games Design.

This annual event is a celebration of talent, innovation, and creativity, providing a platform for Kerry College learners to showcase their work and celebrate their artistic achievements accomplished throughout the year.

Kerry College is committed to nurturing the next generation of creatives and recognises the vital role of artists and creative media makers in society and the creative industries. WORK is an opportunity to engage with these new artists and designers to discover their unique perspectives and the stories behind their work.

The exhibition will run until Monday, 6th of May with no admission charge. Enthusiasts, industry professionals, and the public are invited to experience the wealth of talent on show by Kerry College.

“We are incredibly excited to once again host our Creative Arts Exhibition at Siamsa Tíre,” says Siobhan Murphy, Programme Co-ordinator, Digital Design with Visual Communication at Kerry College.

“This event not only showcases the exceptional talent of our learners but also serves as a testament to the vibrant creative community that thrives within Kerry College.”

Kerry College is privileged to partner with Siamsa Tíre once again this year, and we are immensely grateful for their continued support in hosting this annual showcase of creativity and innovation.

For more information about Kerry College’s Creative Arts Exhibition WORK, including exhibition hours and featured artists and designers, please visit the Siamsa Tíre website at https://siamsatire.com/exhibitions/current-exhibition/.

About Kerry College: Kerry College is a leading provider of Further Education and Training, dedicated to empowering learners and fostering excellence in education. With a focus on creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning, Kerry College offers a diverse range of courses designed to prepare students for success in their chosen fields. For information about Creative Arts courses at Kerry College, please visit https://kerrycollege.ie/course-fields-of-learning/creative-arts/.

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Assess Ireland International Rally Of The Lakes Launched

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Liam Cronin, Cormac Casey ( KC Print and Clerk of the course), Laura Healy (Rally Events Secretary), Conor Deasy (Assess Ireland CEO) and Anthony O’Connor at the launch of the Assess Ireland International Rally of the Lakes at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney on Sunday . Picture: Eamonn Keogh

KILLARNEY and District Motor Club launched the Assess Ireland International Rally of the Lakes at the Gleneagle Hotel on Sunday afternoon.

The 43rd running of the biggest rally in Kerry will take place on May 4 and 5. Rally fans can expect an action-packed weekend, beginning with the now-traditional ceremonial start on Main Street on Friday night.

Speaking at the launch, clerk of the course Cormac Casey outlined some of the plans for this year’s rally and thanked the large group of people that have helped pull this event together.

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“I’d like to welcome back to Assess Ireland who is the title sponsor for the second year and hopefully for many more years,” said Mr Casey.

“There are many moving parts that made this event possible and so many fantastic people behind those moving parts. I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who knows who you are. I have been involved for many years and it is an absolute pleasure to work with such people.”

The rally returns to the Beara Peninsula on Saturday and the route will include classic favourites like Cod’s Head, Ardgroom and the Healy Pass.

Sunday’s route also features some new roads, as the rally heads to east Kerry with newer versions of old favourites on offer including a longer version of Gortnagane.
Returning too for 2024 is title sponsor  Assess Ireland.  The Gleneagle Hotel and KC Print/The Killarney Advertiser are the events accommodation and publishing partners.

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Unveiling Of Memorial Plaque At Former Nazareth House

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Miriam Moriarty Owens who is one of the organisers of the event next month.

A MEMORIAL plaque will be unveiled on the grounds of the former Nazareth Home in Tralee, formerly Pembroke Alms Industrial School, by Minister for Education Norma Foley, next month.

This is to mark the anniversary of when Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stood on the steps of Dáil Eireann and offered a heartfelt apology on behalf of the State for the cruelty inflicted upon children in Industrial and Reformatory Schools across Ireland.

The 25th anniversary of this pivotal event in Irish history approaches on May 11. An invitation has been extended to the general public to attend the unveiling on May 11 at 1pm at McCauley unit Baile Mhuire, Tralee.

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“This ceremony serves as a profound act of respect and a catalyst for healing for all those impacted by such institutions,” said one of the organisers of the event, Miriam Moriarty Owens.

“We are deeply grateful that Minister for Education Norma Foley will make the official unveiling of the memorial, underscoring the government’s commitment to acknowledging and addressing these historical wrongs.”

“The harrowing experiences endured by these innocent children within the walls of such institutions must never fade from our collective consciousness,” continued Miriam.

“We ask everyone to stand not only behind us, but beside us, in united remembrance and a commitment to ensuring such injustices never occur again.”

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Tralee Estate Agent Receives DNG Special Recognition Award

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Daniel Giles of DNG WH Giles.

TWO Kerry-based estate agents, DNG WH Giles in Tralee and DNG agent Timothy O’Sullivan in Kenmare, have scooped national awards at the DNG National Conference and Awards ceremony which took place at Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort in County Kildare on Friday last.

Tralee based estate agent DNG WH Giles received a DNG Special Recognition Award, while Kenmare estate agent DNG Timothy O’Sullivan won DNG Shop Front of the Year 2024.

The Conference and Awards ceremony was attended by more than 280 delegates from 82 DNG offices located across Ireland, with Pieta House as this year’s Charity Partner.

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Established in the early 1920s by William H. Giles, DNG WH Giles is one of the longest serving estate agencies in the state.

Currently run by Daniel Giles, DNG WH Giles actively sell property primarily in North and West Kerry, undertaking residential sales and lettings, commercial sales and lettings and agricultural property, while also carrying out valuations for many of the leading institutions.

Speaking after receiving the award, Daniel Giles, Managing Director, DNG WH Giles, said: “From the moment we joined DNG Nationwide, we knew we were on to something big, and it’s been a real boost for us here in Tralee and surrounding areas. As we continue to prosper, we’re excited for the future and the next 100 years in business!”

The awards ceremony serves as a platform to showcase the achievements of individuals and offices who have consistently demonstrated excellence in their respective roles, driving innovation and success throughout the company’s franchise business.

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AIB Staff Join Tidy Towns and Chamber For Earth Day Clean-Up

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Amelia Teahon, Abbey Hobbert, Sharon Crean Hobbert, Lily Anne Hobbert and Connie Morrissey at the clean-up at the Lock Gates on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean

TRALEE Tidy Towns, AIB and Tralee Chamber teamed up to hold a beach clean to celebrate Earth Day on Friday afternoon.

Over 30 volunteers from the organising groups and people from the local community took part and collected an impressive 25 bags of marine litter from the area.

According to Earth Day, its mission is ‘to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.’

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This year Earth Day is focusing on the problem of plastic pollution which is why this event focused on marine litter.

Cockleshell beach is part of the Tralee Bay Complex Special Protection Area which is important to a wide range of year-round and migratory birds including qualifying interests such as Oystercatcher, Sanderling and Ringed Plover.

Colleen Shannon, Annette Walsh, Gary Walsh and Mary Jo Quigley at the clean-up at the Lock Gates on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean

Brendan O’Brien from Tralee Tidy Towns said:. “The continued commitment by Tralee Chamber and members like AIB to supporting community-led environmental initiatives is heartening. We were delighted when Stephen [Stack] came to us with the idea of teaming up on an event for Earth Day and we were really motivated by the team effort displayed at this event.

“A large volume of plastic waste, including wet wipes and plastic bottles was removed from this important wildlife habitat by these volunteers and as, a Clean Coasts group,  we hope to keep an eye on this stretch of coastline from now on. As always, we’d also like to acknowledge Kerry County Council Tralee MD for picking up the bags for us – these large-scale clean ups would not be possible without them.”

The group at the clean-up at the Lock Gates on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean

Stephen Stack, President of Tralee Chamber and Senior Branch Manager at AIB, said: “We are delighted to mark Earth Day by organising a collaboration between Tralee Tidy Towns, Tralee Chamber and AIB to clean Cockleshell beach. We had a great turnout and many thanks to all who showed up from each of the three organisations and the local community.”

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New Marine National Park To Be Established In Kerry

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A NEW Marine National Park is to be established in Kerry.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD along with Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Kieran O’Donnell TD, have today confirmed the establishment of Ireland’s first Marine National Park – Páírc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí.

The new Páirc, which is centred around Corca Dhuibhne, will unite some of Europe’s most ecologically valuable places in celebration of nature across 70,000 acres of lands and seas.

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It brings together new acquisitions by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, such as the Conor Pass, the Owenmore River catchment, lands at Mount Brandon and the sand dune system at Inch Peninsula, along with sites already under State ownership, such as the limestone reefs of Kerry Head Shoals and the waters around the Blasket Islands.

The Ministers and local Minister for Education Norma Foley, announced that the Páirc’s heritage legacy would be further enhanced by the inclusion of lands on the Great Blasket Island, the globally significant UNESCO World Heritage property of Sceilg Mhichíl, and Derrynane House, Historic Park and Beach, which are managed by the OPW.

Further collaborations with BirdWatch Ireland, who manage Little Skellig and Puffin Island, and with the Commissioners of Irish Lights, who manage An Tiaracht Nature Reserve, ensure that these internationally important sites for seabirds are also an integral part of the Páirc.

Speaking at the launch in An Daingean, Minister Noonan said:  “With the iconic Conor Pass as the gateway, Ireland’s first Marine National Park brings mountains, blanket bog, heaths, rivers, coastal dunes, limestone reefs, sea cliffs and some of the wildest land and seascapes in the country together in celebration of nature.

“Alongside its seven sister parks, Páírc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí will be a flagship for the protection and restoration of these incredible places and the globally important array of wildlife that they are home to. The Páirc will also honour the island and coastal communities who live alongside it by ensuring that their unique tapestry of cultural and natural heritage is central to the future story of this special place.”

Minister O’Brien said:  “Bringing the Conor Pass and the lands at Inch into public ownership has enabled the creation of a wonderful Marine National Park, the first in Ireland’s history. This was a key commitment in the Programme for Government and today’s announcement delivers that commitment. It has been many years in gestation, and made possible through the Government’s renewed support of National Parks and Wildlife Service in recent years. I congratulate the NPWS on realising a national vision of global importance, and thank the Office of Public Works, the Commissioners of Irish Lights and all those who will have such an important role to play in the management of these sites that together form Páírc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí.”

Minister O’Donnell said: “As Minister for the Office of Public Works, I am delighted to confirm that the OPW-managed properties at Sceilig Mhichíl, An Blascaod Mór and Derrynane House, Historic Park and Beach are integral to Páirc Náisiunta na Mara, Ciarraí. They will continue to be managed by OPW. Sceilg Mhichíl, is one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Properties in Ireland and the most spectacularly situated of all Early Medieval island monastic sites. Together with An Blascaod Mór and Derrynane House, Historic Park and Beach, the three sites combine to bring an epochal spirituality and sense of our cultural history into a Páirc of immense environmental and cultural significance.”

Commenting on the announcement Local Minister and Kerry TD Norma Foley said:  “I am delighted that the astounding beauty of my home county and her pristine seas has been recognised today by the creation of a second National Park in Kerry; Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí. This will be an incredible amenity. It is a transformative moment for West Kerry and the entire county, allowing us to showcase the very best of our natural environment locally, nationally and internationally.”

A video introducing the new Park is available on the Department’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/jWQ-uZEzkU0

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