This article is from page 29 of the 2007-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 29 JPG
WHAT was once nothing more than a distant memory, is now becoming a reality in North Clare as basketball is once again capturing the imagina- tion of the whole region. This week, hundreds of people, young and old, have been taking to the court in dif- ferent events as the big ball once again takes hold.
Gone are the heady days of the 80’s and National League Basketball but in their place the Clare Cascaders are beginning to emerge.
The reformed junior club has gone from strength to strength over the last two years and now boasts more than 120 members drawn from all over the north Clare area.
“We started in mid September with an introductory coaching course, some teachers and some parents. For
the first time this year we participate in the north Munster League at U-12 and U-14 boys and girls. We have six really dedicated coaches who put an awful lot into the club,’ said coach Mary Gleeson.
“The are coming from Inagh, La- hinch, Lisdoonvarna and Kilshanny down as far as Corofin and Kilnaboy. There is huge potential for clubs to be set up all over Clare. A group of kids from Kildysart came to us won- dering how to go about setting up a club. We helped them as best we could and they have now secured a hall that they can play in. We would like to encourage clubs to be set up all over the county and to help in whatever way we can.
“There is a great social element to the club as well. We have run a few teenagers disco which have been hugely successful. We’ve never had
any bit of trouble from any of the kids. Not at discos, not on trips away. They are involved in every part of the club. They have a real ownership of the club.”
After weeks of competition, the Cascaders emerged victorious over the Leopards in the final of the Lor- can O’Connor Cup which took place on Friday.
Meanwhile, the 15th Annual Frank Gallery Memorial Basketball Tour- nament will take place this weekend at the Ennistymon Community Cen- tre. The tournament commemorates the memory of Frank Gallery, who was a pivotal member of the Clare- mont Admirals national league club in the 80’s.
The initiation of the Frank Gallery tournament in 1992 has helped to keep alive the relationship between former team-mates and the memory
of Frank who died tragically in a car accident.
The clubs juvenile section will play for the Frank Kilkenny Memorial trophy on Saturday, for which former players will return from Poland, Ro- mania, Lithuania, Latvia, England, Canada and Australia.
The action will begin at 12.30pm and will be followed by a presenta- tions and buffet at the Falls Hotel.
Anyone interested in starting a club in their own area can telephone Stephen Leigh at 065 7071729.