Believe it or not but there are people who witness every ball hopping moment, every cheer and tear of the five, dawn to dusk, days of St. Mary’s Basketball Club’s Christmas Blitz – which is now just days into its 53rd year.
The Kerryman sports writer, Dan Kearney has been drafted into the position of PRO for the event and he’s applying his hallmark diligence and dedication to the job at hand.
I left the most of a week pass before I asked Dan to delve back into the bank of memories created by the latest in one of Ireland’s most enduring, indoor sporting festivals.
The following is Dan’s personal account of ‘The Blitz’ of 2023.
Meeting the Duke
I just happened to meet tournament director Donal Duke O’Connor on the morning of the fourth day of this year’s basketball blitz on the mart side at the back of St. John’s Hall.
It was raining cats and dogs at the time, but the great man was full of the boyish enthusiasm and charm that he has maintained over the 52 years of the competition.
The front page of that morning’s Irish Examiner had carried a big photograph of some action from one of the ‘Stars of the Future’ games and Duke was delighted.
A young academy player was pictured running with the basketball, and it was a fine image that stood out like a beacon. The Duke was in his element.
Mol an Óige…
The Duke, you see, knows the importance of the youth playing basketball in Castleisland and that is why he spends the first four days of the blitz in St John’s Hall. The old amphitheatre is where the lifeblood for the future of the blitz is encouraged and nurtured, and he sees the bigger picture. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.
The reality is that the Duke and his committee have everything sewn up before the first ball is thrown in on St. Stephen’s morning. It’s like clockwork now, and a lot of the hard yards are put in prior to the start of the competition. That’s why everything runs so smoothly.
Stone Mad for Live Sport
The five days of this year’s 52nd St. Mary’s Basketball Blitz was safely considered as the biggest
yet by people that know these things.
The crowds packed St John’s Hall and Castleisland Community Centre from St Stephen’s Day on, and it was great to see. The public are stone mad for live sport since our travails with Covid and the blitz certainly provides plenty of that.
There were 58 games played in St John’s Hall and a further 117 in Castleisland Community Centre.
That’s roughly 1450 players strutting their stuff. Starting at Junior National School level all the way to the elite of Premier Men and the fifty plus plodders in Division 5 Men.
Brilliance of Ryan and Labhaoise
We marvelled at the brilliance of Ryan Leonard with Tralee Warriors and Labhaoise Walmsley with St Mary’s. We sat with our mouths open as Currow NS scored three baskets in the last 30 seconds to claim victory over Scartaglen in the Junior NS final.
And we recognised certain stars of the future in the likes of Bella Clifford, Nessa McAuliffe, Reuben James O’Leary Griffin and Ronan O’Connor. These were only a few highlights that come to mind out of hundreds.
There were 22 finals played and it’s safe to say that the vast majority of them were thrillers.
The crowd started coming into Castleisland Community Centre at 8:40 am on the final day and it was a full house right to the end of the night. It was my second year involved with the St. Mary’s committee as the event PRO. When I say ‘involved’ I mean I turn up for the five days that the blitz is on.
Turning up for The Final
I’m kind of like the fellow that hasn’t been seen with the football team all year and then shows up for the final and gets a game.
When I called into Castleisland Community Centre on St Stephen’s day at 9am the basketball was already in full flow and the St Mary’s committee members were all in the middle of their designated jobs. The well oiled machine was purring along nicely.
And what a machine it is. Volunteerism at its finest where everyone knows their role and carries it out to the best of their abilities.
I have to admit that I am in complete awe of the St Mary’s committee and the way they run the Blitz.
Omelettes and Broken Eggs
Like every organisation I’m sure there would have been disagreements throughout the year; after all, you can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs.
But when it comes to the five days of basketball everything is put to one side in the interests of having a great tournament.
I am loath to single out any names really as there is a super band of workers involved in the running of the five day extravaganza. From the lads taking the tickets at the door to the shopkeepers, the administration side of the house, the referees, the score takers, the announcers, the jersey collectors and the cleaners, it is one huge operation.
Eamon Egan – An Early Bird
Eamon Egan is the St. Mary’s Club chairman so he’s the only one of the committee – with the Duke – that I’ll individualise.
Eamon used to arrive at Castleisland Community Centre every morning at 7am and spend the day there. He’d be the last to leave every night as well.
Then, when it was all over, he came down the very next day to remove all the sponsorship signs. “Well Holy God”, as Miley Byrne used to say.
When Olaf Michalczuk broke St Mary’s hearts in the last few seconds to win the Division One Men’s title for St Brendan’s in the very last game of the five days, a kind of a sadness came over me.
Not because St Mary’s were beaten, but I knew that this signalled the end of our Blitz adventure. What would we do now?
Go to the Pub
Well the obvious answer was to go to the pub, and we did. I can safely say that the first pint was as sweet as I’ve ever had. The drink was flying and the conversation as well.
We agreed that the Blitz is all about the players and as long as they keep turning up the wheels will keep turning.
Sponsors as well, they keep the show on the road and the generosity of the people of Castleisland and its hinterland should never be taken for granted.
Without sponsorship the Blitz wouldn’t take place and once again main sponsors: Munster Joinery; Den Joe’s Restaurants; Garvey’s SuperValu; Educate.ie and NOC Heating and Plumbing were hugely supportive.
Businesses Came up Trumps
A lot more businesses also came up trumps and once again we can’t reiterate enough how grateful we are for such amazing community spirit and generosity.
The final night of the Blitz is famous for the crowd that it brings to Castleisland. I met a fellow who told me that he was from Abbeyfeale and that he and some buddies had come into Castleisland especially for the craic on the finals night.
He’d heard about it and wanted to experience it at first hand. By his jib he was certainly getting into the flow of things. The media has been generous in their time once again for the 52nd Blitz. Many thanks to: The Kerryman, Kerry’s Eye, The Irish Examiner; The Maine Valley Post and Radio Kerry for all the publicity.
Likes and Shares Appreciated
And for those that have liked and shared social media content; it’s all much appreciated. Preparations have already begun for the annual and 53rd St. Mary’s Christmas Basketball Blitz.
Thanks to everyone that made the 2023 version so successful and a happy and peaceful 2024 to one and all.
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