Back to where we belong...on the court!
⭐ Our Killester stars shine as brightly as the sun ⭐
during our first training session outdoors
You could not dampen the smiles of our Killester athletes, as they returned to training for the first time in 14 long months on Saturday, May 29th at our new outdoor home in Holy Faith, Clontarf. The Committee have been working hard behind the scenes, to ensure a safe return to training, and with the help and cooperation of our wonderful athletes, we pulled it off! Even the weather was on our side, with the best sun shining day anyone could ask for.
Our Mens teams trained first in their pods, under the guidance of Coaches Martin, Eugene and John. They got straight to work on shooting, passing and dribbling drills. Our Ladies followed, getting back into the swing of things, with fundamental movement, passing and shooting drills. As you can see from the photos, everyone had a blast and were delighted to be reunited with their teams.
The Committee is so thankful for the effort of our athletes and their families, following COVID protocols and maintaining distance on the court to develop a new normal of training. Huge appreciation must also be expressed to Holy Faith, who have given us a new temporary home for our return to training. It is such a beautiful facility, we are very lucky to have the use of it for the next few weeks.
Our Mens teams trained first in their pods, under the guidance of Coaches Martin, Eugene and John. They got straight to work on shooting, passing and dribbling drills. Our Ladies followed, getting back into the swing of things, with fundamental movement, passing and shooting drills. As you can see from the photos, everyone had a blast and were delighted to be reunited with their teams.
The Committee is so thankful for the effort of our athletes and their families, following COVID protocols and maintaining distance on the court to develop a new normal of training. Huge appreciation must also be expressed to Holy Faith, who have given us a new temporary home for our return to training. It is such a beautiful facility, we are very lucky to have the use of it for the next few weeks.
While we are not in a position to welcome all of our athletes back just yet, we are hopeful, that with the consistent easing of restrictions, we will all be back together soon. For now, we will continue to schedule zoom sessions on Fridays for those who cannot return before the summer.
Return to Activities Update
May 19th, 2021
We are delighted to announce that we will be in a position to return to a limited schedule of activities outdoors under strict Special Olympics and Government Guidelines. Coaches have been in contact with all teams who can be facilitated at present with details.
For return to activities information, please click here
For return to activities information, please click here
Online Social and Training Sessions
Some of our teams are currently keeping in touch through online sessions using Zoom. Contact is made through the team coach, and sessions are confirmed via text. If you would like to attend these sessions, contact your team coach directly.
🥳🎂
Our Mens C Athlete Philip celebrated a very special birthday recently
Click here to read all about it
IMPORTANT NOTICE
To all athletes, parents and guardians, all basketball (training and matches) has been cancelled until further notice.This recommendation has come from Special Olympics Ireland.
Meanwhile we hope you keep safe and well and will look forward to seeing all athletes back in action as soon as it is safe to do so.
Meanwhile we hope you keep safe and well and will look forward to seeing all athletes back in action as soon as it is safe to do so.
Killester Coaches would like you to keep as active as possible while spending time at home.
Click here for some suggestions to keep you moving
Welcome to Killester Special Olympics Basketball Programme
Killester Special Olympics Basketball programme was set up in 2003, following the World Games in Dublin. It has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with now over 50 athletes attending team training and skills level.
Killester Special Olympics Basketball Programme is an integral part of Killester Basketball Club
Killester Special Olympics Basketball Programme is an integral part of Killester Basketball Club
Women's Super League National Cup win
Click on the picture above to see all the photographs
Last Friday night two of the Killester Women's Super League team, Michelle Clarke and Adella Randle El, arrived with their coach, Karl Kilbride, and the National Cup which they had won the previous Sunday, 26th January in a thrilling final against Brunell of Cork.
Lots of photographs of our athletes with the Cup were taken. Just click on the picture above to view them.
Many thanks to Michelle, Adella and Karl from Killester Special Olympics Basketball for getting to share in your win.
Lots of photographs of our athletes with the Cup were taken. Just click on the picture above to view them.
Many thanks to Michelle, Adella and Karl from Killester Special Olympics Basketball for getting to share in your win.
Skills Athletes In Training
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Our Skills Athletes work every bit as hard on improving their basketball skills as do our teams. From dribbling to passing the to shooting are all practiced on Friday nights from 7pm to 7.45pm.
Some athletes go one-on-one with the coaches and some take part in the C Team training and, by the end of the season, they all make great progress. It is from this group that athletes progress on to teams which is always great to see. |
Killester Ladies A Team V Swords
Friday 17th January 2020
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On Friday the 17th January the Ladies A Team had a match against Swords. We had to be there for 7.30pm to get changed and warmup. We enjoyed the match seeing our friends on the Swords team. We unfortunately lost 12-13. Niamh got two baskets. Our coach Brian was saying that our defence was so much better in the second half. At the end of the match we shook each other's hands and we did a hands-in. We did a cheer for our old coach Marcella and the Swords team did a cheer for the Killester Ladies. Natasha also scored some baskets.
From Niamh and Natasha |
Ladies B take on the first Tip Off of the New Year
Strong defensive play on show as they take on SC15
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ALPS Update
Ashwin spent the holidays visiting family in India.
Click here to read about his trip.
If you would like to join us for the first time, click here for our contact details.
CHRISTMAS PARTY 2019
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One of the main events of the year, The Christmas Party, was held last Friday night and, once again, another great night! There was a great turnout of athletes from the skills athletes to members of all the teams.
We were joined, as usual, by National League players from both the Ladies and Mens teams. Also, coaches and volunteers came along to take part, in what was a night to remember. It all kicked off with a series of matches between National League players and our athletes which were made up of mens and ladies teams at all the different levels from skills upwards. Despite some very challenging play from the National League players, once again our athletes came out on top! To end the night on a high note, Santa arrived with a sack-full of gifts. Everyone was delighted with their Killester Special Olympics personalised water bottles and with the ever trusty selection box each! The committee would like to thank the Killester National League players and coach who kindly came down on the night and made it such an enjoyable night for the athletes. |
A selection of photographs with Santa Claus!
Mens A Team V Swords
Friday 6th December
It was the first match of the season for the Mens A team and it started with some early baskets for both teams. By the end of the first quarter Killester were ahead. It was an exciting game to watch with attack and counter-attack from both teams. By the end of the third quarter, Killester were well in the lead but Swords made a comeback in the fourth quarter and scored some good baskets. However, it wasn't enough to catch-up. Congratulations to Killester for the win and to both teams for a well-played match.
Mens C Team V Southside Shooters
Friday 22nd November, 2019
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This being the first match of the new season, it got off to a flying start with each team getting an early basket.
It was a hard fought, fast passed game throughout. The Southside Shooters took an early lead and, despite the Mens C Team having plenty of shots on the basket, it was not their night! The game was played in a great spirit on both sides with supporters cheering them on. Congratulations to the Southside Shooters. |
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SuperValu Bag-Pack
Last Saturday, 28th September, athletes, families, volunteers and committee members participated in bag-packing in SuperValu Killester to raise much needed funds for the club.
Fundraising events in the community are a great way for our athletes to meet people and share their stories, while also giving back.
Everyone enjoyed their time and the generosity of the customers was fantastic.
The Committee would like to thank the Management and Staff of SuperValu Killester for being so welcoming and our athletes and all other bag packers who were so generous of their time on the day.
Fundraising events in the community are a great way for our athletes to meet people and share their stories, while also giving back.
Everyone enjoyed their time and the generosity of the customers was fantastic.
The Committee would like to thank the Management and Staff of SuperValu Killester for being so welcoming and our athletes and all other bag packers who were so generous of their time on the day.
NEW SEASON 2019-2020
Friday 13th September
The first evening session of the new season starts next Friday at 7pm and, hopefully, everyone, coaches as well as athletes, have had a good summer and plenty of rest. Looking forward to seeing all athletes back again and ready for some new challenges! There is a Newsletter on the 'Newsletter' tab at the top of this page giving the training times for skills athletes and all the teams for the first two weeks.
Killester Special Olympics
FUN DAY
Saturday, 18th May 2019
Winning Ways!
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On Friday night there was a welcome break from training as some club mates from the Killester Basketball Men's Superleague team came with the National Cup they had won on January 26 by 66-63 in a cliffhanger final with UCD Marian in the National Basketball Arena.
All our athletes got a chance to hold the Cup and have their pictures taken with the members of the Superleague team. A few 3-on-2 games were played also between our athletes and the Superleague players! Many thanks to team members, Alan Casey, Ciaran Roe, Keith Anderson and Royce Williams, who took the time to bring the National Cup to share with our athletes. |
ALPS Award
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Congratulations to David of the Mens A team who was awarded the Bronze medal in ALPS (Athletes Leadership Programs) on Wednesday, 11th April. Well done from everyone at the club.
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Killester Super 6 v Palmerstown Wild Cats
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Venue: The National Basketball Arena
Occasion: Half-time of the President's Cup between Ballincollig and Killorgan with Killester and Palmerstown playing an exhibition match. Basketball Ireland asked Special Olympics Ireland to provide two teams to play a half-time exhibition match at the President's Cup final in The National Basketball Arena. A mixture of A and B team players made up the Killester team. Both teams were announced on to the court to great applause and the game began. It was an exciting and fast-paced but short game with both teams giving their all but Wild Cats winning in the end. Well done to both teams who provided a very positive impression of Special Olympics basketball to the wider Irish basketball community. |
ALPS Day Report
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Last Saturday, bright and early three of our athletes along with Christina and Oonagh made their way out to the Special Olympics Ireland headquarters near Blanchardstown for a day of workshops for the athletes David McG, Hugh and David C. ALPS stands for Athletic Leadership Programme and is open to all athletes to take part in along with a mentor.
The day included a workshop on public speaking run by members of Toastmasters who made the workshop fun and enjoyable. A workshop on keeping fit and healthy through the food we eat and exercise. Another workshop on the ALPS awards and how it works. There are 3 levels of award, bronze, silver and gold. Each award sets out a number of challenges and tasks based around the cornerstones of ALPs to be completed and encourages athletes to learn new skills and put what they have learned into practice. The fourth workshop was on TaiChi run by a group called TaiChi Your Way and it was all about learning how to stay relaxed and become confident through TaiChi movements which are skills we could all do with!. It was a full but enjoyable day for the athletes. During lunch the soccer team that represented Ireland in the last World Games, including Nathan and Matthew from our mens A team, were presented with their Ireland caps by the FAI. |
Are you a registered volunteer?
As we are affiliated with Special Olympics Ireland, we must abide by their guidelines for athlete to volunteer ratio's (4:1) to run all training and events. This has proved challenging during our new Saturday sessions. We would welcome parents who are registered volunteers to help us to fulfil this requirement. If you are registered and available to attend, please pass on your Volunteer ID number to a member of our committee. If you are not registered, but would like to become a volunteer with Special Olympics, please speak to a member of our committee.
John
John
ATHLETES IN TRAINING
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Now that the new season has started and we are three weeks into training what better way to see what is going on than through pictures!
Starting with a selection of pictures from the Skills group and team photographs of the Ladies Team and the Men's C Team. In another week or two the other teams will be added. There is also a new Newsletter with dates for the first matches of the season for all teams. It also has important dates on training over the Halloween break and the date of the Christmas party to put into your calendar. For those athletes who are taking part in the National Games there is some information on that also. To see the Newsletter, just click on the Newsletter link at the top of the page. |
Volunteers Wanted
As we tip off for the new season, we are looking for eager volunteers to join our team.
Prior basketball experience is not essential, but you need to be a registered volunteer with Special Olympics Ireland. If you would like to get involved, drop us an email.
Click here for our contact, training and venue details
Click here for our Gallery Page for some photos from past events
Killester Special Olympics is affiliated to Special Olympics Ireland Eastern Region
