Latest news with #Kildare-based
Irish Independent
31-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Kildare animal rescue calls on Justice Minister to investigate garda handling of dog seizure
A Kildare-based animal rescue centre is calling on the Justice Minister to open a 'full and independent investigation' into the garda handling of a dog seizure.
Irish Examiner
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Inside Kerry's All-Ireland final prep: recovery vans, suit fittings, and hotel chess
Just as it was absent after their stunning All-Ireland quarter-final win over Armagh, the Kerry team bus wasn't near their dressing room following the semi-final victory against Tyrone. Instead, parked outside the door of it under the Hogan Stand beside trusty kit man Colm Whelan's van was a truck with C11 Recovery emblazoned along the side. Eagle-eyed viewers of The Open Championship in Portrush last week may also have noticed it in the players' area. On Instagram, would-be champion Scottie Scheffler and former Masters winner Jon Rahm were pictured outside it. For the past few seasons, Kerry have been using the Kildare-based mobile recovery unit, which features Avantopool ice baths and compression boots. Cork GAA, Munster Rugby, Basketball and Cricket Ireland are among its founder Ryan Casey's other clients. 'For the last number of years, any time we would have got to Croke Park, a recovery guy comes in,' Kerry selector of the previous three seasons Mike Quirke told the Irish Examiner football podcast last month. 'There would be ice baths in the shower area. As soon as that quarter-final is over, the boys goe straight in there for the next day. 'It's a great service and you know what it's a nice thing for players as well because you're saying, 'The recovery guy is booked because we're going to be here in two weeks' time.'' Psychologically, it is most certainly a boost and almost as self-fulfilling and prophetic was something that occurred across Jones Road last Saturday week. Outside of All-Ireland finals in GAA HQ, Kerry have their post-match meal in the Croke Park Hotel but there they were also fitted for their All-Ireland final suits. A couple of hours after qualifying for the final and they were already dealing with the frills and fuss that come with the day. This month three years ago, Jack O'Connor spoke of the distractions around All-Ireland final day. 'They have to understand that this is about performing on the big day and not getting carried away with any sideshows or tickets and looking after their partners the night before and all this. There are a lot of sideshows. 'Getting measured for suits, tickets and accommodation for their partners and all that, you have to absolutely park all of that stuff and concentrate on the performance because it will be well forgotten about if we can't get over the line now.' The logistics and other non-management backroom members pride themselves on their diligent levels of preparation. As they did for the last two games, Kerry will stay in Dunboyne the night before the game with Donegal also expected to spend Saturday in Meath in Enfield (Kerry's banquet is the Clayton Hotel Burlington on Leeson Street and Donegal's takes place in The Radisson Hotel in Golden Lane). Kerry's bookings had been arranged for months – Donegal stayed in the Burlington hotel when they won the 2012 final but Kerry were there when they beat them two years later. For last month's quarter-final, Kerry had heard Armagh attempted to book into the regular Dunboyne base. The result mightn't have gone the team's way but for the final group game against Meath in Tullamore last month, they had organised their accommodation in Mullingar weeks before Glenisk O'Connor Park was confirmed as the venue. In 2022, Kerry made an advance payment on their hotel for an All-Ireland quarter-final assuming they would beat Limerick in the Munster final. The pre-paid booking saved them around €7,000. Last year, accommodation costs for Kerry totalled €165,436 compared to €177,302 in 2023. When Kerry beat Dublin in the following semi-final that year, they hadn't a hotel booked for the night after the final. The team they had vanquished no longer needed their sleeping partners The Gibson Hotel and took their place. There may have been some confusion about April's training camp in Portugal. Last November, treasurer Paudie Healy told local media it would not be taking place only for that decision to be reversed. 'Sure we're going anyway,' smiled O'Connor about the board agreeing to the trip after Kerry claimed the Division 1 title. Like other counties realised, going abroad worked out cheaper than a camp at home but for Kerry who had played seven games in eight weeks it was also a chance to work on two-pointers. 'It's a skill getting the right kickers on it and creating the space, so we had a bit more time starting with the training camp to work on stuff like that,' he recalled earlier this month. 'That was the real practical reason.' A total of 25 in their eight SFC games compared to 11 in the same amount of league fixtures would suggest the work done on two-pointers on the break was money well spent.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Punters scratching heads as Jessica Harrington has 50/1 winner with only runner
Punters were left scratching their heads after Jessica Harrington trained a 50/1 winner at Ayr on Saturday. The Kildare-based trainer sent a single horse to the Scottish track over the weekend for a listed fillies' race over five furlongs. But if the fact that Harrington was only sending Saratoga Special, a daughter of Mehams, was a tip in itself, it was seemingly lost on most punters. Having opened at 20/1, the three-year-old filly drifted all the way to be the 50/1 outsider by the time of the off for the £50,000 listed race. Ridden off the pace by Keithen Glenn Doyle Kennedy, the filly flew home in the final furlong to win by half a length. The 50/1 winner was Harrington's first since 20 June when she saddled Billie Be Quick to win a handicap at Down Royal.
Irish Independent
03-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Limerick homeowners attempt to cash in amid ‘record-breaking' Ryder Cup demand
Brian Higgins, accommodation manager for Accommodation For The Event, a Kildare-based booking tool, said: 'Some bookings began remarkably early, with the first home for the 2027 event reserved as far back as September 2022. 'That was a fully detached home about 25 minutes from the venue,' said Mr Higgins. Accommodation For The Event has been operating for over a decade, supporting Ryder Cup tournaments globally, including the upcoming 2025 event in New York. 'We pretty much dominate space internationally,' said Mr Higgins. 'Even pro golfers contact the office and Matt Fitzpatrick's company was on to us looking to book a property.' Some high-end homes have been listed at striking rates. One property in Clarina has been listed for €85,000. Still, the platform takes a measured approach to pricing oversight. 'If a property is uploaded above market value, we reach out to the homeowner and ask why,' said Mr Higgins. 'But we can't dictate the price. It's their home and they might include extras like airport transfers or food.' For the Clarina property, the large 5-bed home can sleep over 10 people. Included in the price is a large outdoor sitting area and transport to and from Adare Manor. According to Mr Higgins, listings undergo a review process within 24 hours, and homeowners must pay a registration fee, currently priced at €395, to activate their listing. ADVERTISEMENT 'There's a lot of work that goes into the security,' he explained. 'Payments are linked to credit or debit cards, and we verify every listing with a call.' The no-commission platform offers protections for both parties, including spam-filtered inquiry forms. 'The whole process is designed to protect the families and website users,' Mr Higgins added. Security is expected to tighten tremendously around Adare for the event. 'At the K Club Ryder Cup, people within a two-mile radius needed photo ID just to access their homes,' he recalled. Homes are for rent in Tipperary, Clare, Galway, and further afield.
The Citizen
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Acornhoek City FC nurtures young talent
LIMPOPO – Acornhoek City Football Club, a new soccer development team, officially began training three months ago with the goal of grooming young, skilled players. Though founded in July last year, the team, also known as Majita Ya Style, started training in March under the leadership of Sipho Dzimba, founder and chairman of SD Mabaya FC. The club currently has 47 players across three age groups: u/13, u/15, and u/17. Training sessions are held at the Acornhoek Police Station sports field. On Saturday, May 24, all three teams travelled to Shatale near Bushbuckridge to play friendly matches against Mandela Warriors Football Club, part of their ongoing development programme that includes both intensive training and competitive play. Dzimba said that although he is also building players for his Kildare-based SD Mabaya FC, Acornhoek City will operate as an independent club. 'Our goal is to identify and develop talented youth from this region and give them exposure to professional opportunities, including scouts from major teams,' he said. 'We're grateful for the support from parents so far. It's been a busy and promising start.' He emphasised the need for local community and business support to ensure the club's growth and sustainability. 'It's inspiring to see boys as young as nine eager to showcase their talent,' Dzimba said. 'But to succeed, we urgently need gear, jerseys, cones, soccer balls, water bottles, and boots. We welcome any donations, sponsorships, or partnerships.' Dzimba's other team, SD Mabaya FC, competes in the Ximhungwe County League hosted by the Bushbuckridge Local Football Association. For more information or to support Acornhoek City FC, contact 073 895 5190, 082 757 1335 or email arenaofsport@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
