Official results from last weekend’s gala in Tralee are now up on the website or use this link.

The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art night takes place tonight in The Malton.  If you are going, please buy your ticket through the Club as we are one of this years beneficiaries.  All proceeds from tickets bought through the Club will go directly to the Club.  Tickets can be brought from either Samantha O’Connor or Ann-Marie Galvin during training sessions this evening.  Doors open at 7:30pm and it usually finishes up at about 10pm.

Congratulations to our swimmers who took part in the Development Gala in Ennis on the 6^th of November.  This was a first gala for most of these young swimmers so there were plenty of nerves and long silences in the cars heading up to Ennis!  However, there was nothing to fear and all Killarney swimmers were superb on the day with some dazzling performances in the pool.

Under 10 girls – Well done to Ava O’Malley who won gold in the 50 metres breaststroke and bronze in the 50 metres backstroke.

Under 10 boys – Peter O’Doherty showed some real potential taking a gold medal in the 50 metres backstroke.

Under 11 boys – A classy performance by Ross Bowell produced two bronzes in the 50 metres freestyle and the 50 metres breaststroke.

Under 12 boys – Some very fast finishing by Nathan O’Connor resulted in a matching pair of silver medals in the 50 metres butterfly and the 50 metres freestyle.

Under 13 girls – It was a busy day in the pool for the Killarney girls in this age group with Caitlyn O’Connor finishing up with a gold in the 50 metres breaststroke and silver medals in both the 50 metres freestyle and the 50 metres butterfly.  Hannah O’Leary won a beautiful gold in the 50 metres butterfly while Kerry Lynch took a silver in the 50 metres backstroke following that up with a bronze in the 50 metres breaststroke.  Meanwhile, Emma O’Sullivan won a hotly contested bronze in the 50 metres backstroke.

Under 13 boys – Ben Flavin was a man on fire on the day winning a gold in the 50 metres freestyle, another gold in the 50 metres breaststroke and then rounding off a wonderful day for Killarney Swimming Club by winning a third gold in the 50 metres butterfly.

Special mention also for Cathal Coffey, Laura Fleming, Jack McGuire, Sarah McAuliffe, Saoirse Sweeney and Sarah Schreiber who displayed some marvellous bursts of speed in the pool and are certainly names to watch out for in the future.

Particular thanks go to our coach, Betty McGuire, who has been an absolute rock star with this squad and gave huge support and encouragement to all our swimmers.  Thanks also to all parents for travelling.

Finally, we have been getting fantastic support from parents in the sale of tickets for the Rotary Wine and Art Night which takes place in The Malton this coming Thursday night.  In fact, there are very few tickets left but, not to worry!  We have managed to get our hands on a some more so, if you are planning on going, or just want to support the Club, please buy your tickets through Ann-Marie Galvin or Samantha O’Connor over the coming days.

Every good wish to our Head Coach, Niamh O’Sullivan, who completed her last training session this morning ahead of taking up her new post with Sport Ireland. In her short time with Killarney Swimming Club Niamh has become an invaluable asset, appreciated by both coaches and swimmers for her advice and guidance garnered from her experience as a high performance trainer with Swim Ireland.  While she will be sorely missed by us all, we are delighted that Niamh has agreed to continue her association with the Club and, with Niamh, we hope to organise some clinics for interested swimmers in specialised areas of competitive swimming over the coming months.

We are also delighted to announce that Killarney Swimming Club has been chosen as one of the beneficiaries for this year’s Killarney Rotary Club “Wine & Art” evening to be held in the Malton Hotel on Thursday the 24^th of November.    Admission is €20.00 and for every ticket sold through Killarney Swimming Club, we will be given a substantial donation – in fact, we will get the entire €20.00!!   So, if you are thinking of going, or are in a position to sell a ticket (or tickets) to friends or family, please contact either your Squad Leader or Brian O’Connor to get tickets.  Remember, tickets must be purchased through the Club for us to get any benefit, not at the door on the night!!  This is a huge opportunity for the Club to raise funds so all support is appreciated.  If you feel wine and art is a bit high-falutin’, there are also beer and cheese stalls laid on!

Congratulations to all our swimmers who took part in the Grade III gala in Askeaton (see above) on Sunday the 23^rd of October.  There were substantial improvements by our swimmers on their own “personal best” times for events and a fine haul of medals.

Under 11 Girls – Alison Butler won a wonderful set of gold medals in the 100 metres freestyle and the 50 metres breaststroke and also collected a bronze for the 50 metres freestyle.  Jocelyn Hickey was in flying form taking silver in the 50 metres freestyle and a bronze in the 100 metres freestyle while Seodhla O’Donovan, our youngest competitor, showed some real class by taking bronze in the 50 metres backstroke.

Under 11 Boys – Ian Coffey won a great gold medal in the 100 metres freestyle and then took a trio of silvers in the 50 metres backstroke, 50 metres freestyle and 50 metres breaststroke.  Meanwhile, Joshua Coffey went for one of each colour, winning gold in the 50 metres freestyle, silver in the 100 metres freestyle and then bronze in the 50 metres breaststroke.

Under 13 Girls – Chloe Whelan won a well-deserved and very stylish bronze in the 50 metres freestyle while Molly Whelan became the talk of Askeaton by winning a gold in every event – the 100 metres freestyle, the 50 metres freestyle, the 50 metres backstroke and the 50 metres breaststroke!

Under 13 Boys – Niall Coffey was another of those swimmers who decided he wanted a medal of each variety, taking gold in the 100 metres freestyle, silver in the 50 metres freestyle and a bronze in the 50 metres breaststroke.  Cian McAuliffe won a magnificently executed gold in the 50 metres breaststroke while Ben Schreiber laid down some markers for the future by winning a bronze medal in the 100 metres freestyle and a second bronze in the 50 metres backstroke.  Well done Ben.

Thanks to our coach, Vicky Dando, who gave wonderful support and encouragement to all our swimmers on the day.  Thanks also to all parents for travelling and for taking part in the timekeeping.

Also, congratulations to our senior swimmers who took part in the Munster Short Course Championships in UL over the weekend.  There were some remarkable improvements on times with Niamh Coffey knocking an incredible seventeen seconds off her best time in the 400 metres freestyle.  Seventeen seconds!  Also on fire on the day were brother and sister duo, Margaret and Robert O’Brien.  Margaret came second in Munster in the 200 metres butterfly while Robert came second in Munster in the 400 metres Individual Medley.  Well done to you both.

Swim Ireland is organising a Coaching Conference on Saturday the 26th of November 2016 at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown.  The link for anyone interested is https://www.facebook.com/events/566826320187604/ and any questions can be sent to David Stronge at edo@swimireland.ie

Congratulations to all our senior swimmers who took part in the Dolphin Open Gala held recently in the Mayfield Sports and Leisure Centre.  This was our first gala of the new swimming season and our swimmers excelled in the pool bringing home some tasty medals from Cork in the process.

Under 13 Boys – Charles O’Brien had a great day out continuing his fine form from last season by taking bronze in the 100 metres breaststroke.

Under 16 Girls – Well done to Niamh Coffey and Margaret O’Brien in this age group.  Niamh won a beautiful silver in the 100 metres butterfly while Margaret, who specialises in the long-distance events, took a silver in the 200 metres butterfly and a bronze in the 400 metres Individual Medley.

Under 17 Boys – Robert O’Brien was in flying form winning a superb silver medal in the very technical 100 metres breaststroke.

Over 18 Boys – As always, Shane Courtney turned on the style, powering his way onto the podium with a display of passion and strength which won him a bronze in the 100 metres butterfly – the hardest race in the toughest age group.

Thanks to our coach, Niamh O’Sullivan, who gave wonderful support and encouragement to all our swimmers on the day.  Thanks also to all parents for travelling and for taking part in the timekeeping.

Upcoming Swim Ireland Courses

Swim Ireland are organising the following courses, which may be of interest:

Official Courses:

Official Level 1 Time Keepers and  Official Level 2 Start and Turn Judge

• Saturday the 1^st of October Nenagh Swimming Pool 10:00-16:00
• Sunday the 2^nd of October Brookfield Leisure Centre Cork 11:00-17:00

If interested, please let Denise know.

Safeguarding courses:

Safeguarding 1 course(new name for Child Protection in Sport workshop) Sunday the 25^th of September 10:00-13:00 in Brookfield Leisure centre

Safeguarding 1 course(new name for Child Protection in Sport workshop) Friday the 30^th of September 19:00-22:00 in UL

Safeguarding 2 course(new name for Club Children’s Officers Course) Friday the 14^th of October 19:00-22:00 in Brookfield Leisure centre

To Book go to http://www.swimireland.ie/product-category/courses/ or

Contact David Stronge  at 01 6251158  or 086 7765901.

Congratulations to all our swimmers who took part in the Division II Irish Age Group finals at the University of Limerick last weekend. This is the ‘business end’ of the swimming season with the most talented young swimmers from all over the country taking part. 

Killarney was represented by Ethan O’Neill, Paul O’Leary, Niamh Coffey, Treasa O’Sullivan, Robert O’Brien and Margaret O’Brien.  All our swimmers recorded Personal Best times in the Olympic-sized pool which is a marvellous achievement. 

Margaret O’Brien carved out a name for herself on the national stage by winning a gold medal in the 400 metres Individual Medley.  Margaret also made the final in the 200 metres Individual Medley. 

Robert O’Brien, won silver in the 200 metres backstroke, bronze in the 100 metres backstroke and also made the finals in both the 200 metres Individual Medley and the 100 metres breaststroke – a very strong all-round performance by this young Killarney swimmer.

Ethan O’Neill also had a fantastic weekend and missed out on a place in the finals of the 100 metres breaststroke by milliseconds.  Barring injury, Ethan will be in contention for the medals next time out.

Thanks to our coaches Cathal O’Brien and Leontia Doody who gave huge support and encouragement to all swimmers over the weekend and who, over just four short years, have brought the club to the point where we are competing, and winning, at national level.  Thanks also to all parents for travelling.  A great finish to our Club’s year.

Well done to all our swimmers who took part in the “B” gala in Tralee recently.  This was a huge swimming event with races running from 9:30 am through to 6:30 pm and, being the last “B” gala of the current season, medals were as scarce as teeth in a hen but our squad did us proud winning far more than their fair share.

Boys under 11 – Ross O’Leary was in fine form winning gold in the 200 metres Individual Medley, gold in the 100 metre butterfly and a tidy little bronze in the 100 metres breaststroke.

Girls under 13 – Ellen Farndon was superb on the day, leaving the opposition in her wake with her classy tumble-turns.  Deservedly, she took home gold in the 200 metres Individual Medley and silver in the 100 metres backstroke.  Orlaith O’Sullivan won a truly magnificent silver medal in the 100 metres breaststroke.  Well done, Orlaith.  Meanwhile, in a tough, gruelling battle, Ellen O’Connor took a fantastic bronze in the 100 metres butterfly.

Boys under 13 – Charles O’Brien was in great form winning every colour medal available; gold in the 100 metres breaststroke, silver in the 100 metres backstroke and bronze in the 200 metres Individual Medley!  Normally this would be a fantastic haul for any club in this highly competitive age group – but not for Killarney, for we had Ethan O’Neill who had nothing but medals on his mind from the moment he hit the water.  Swimming in four races, Ethan took four medals – gold in the 200 Individual Medley, gold in the 100 metres backstroke, silver in the 200 metres freestyle and silver in the 100 metres breaststroke.

Boys under 15 – Another man on fire was Paul O’Leary who continued on his winning ways seizing a gold medal in the 100 metres backstroke, another gold in the 100 metres breast, a silver in the 200 metres freestyle and a silver in the 200 metres Individual Medley.

Girls over 16 – Emma Quirke had another great day in the water winning a well-deserved silver in the 100 metres backstroke and a second silver in the 100 metres breaststroke.

Thanks to our coaches, Cathal O’Brien and Leontia Doody, who gave huge support and encouragement to all swimmers and to our team manager, Samantha O’Connor who deserves to be nominated for Sainthood at this stage. Thanks also to all parents for travelling and assisting on deck.

As we approach the end of the swimming season, Killarney Swimming Club has had swimmers of every age and strength successfully competing in galas all over Munster with official results still coming in and more awaited.

First up, well done to all our swimmers who took part in the “A” gala in Mallow recently.  With the best swimmers in Munster competing, all at their optimum fitness level, we knew this would be a tough nut to crack.  However, our squad did us proud at all levels and brought home a fine haul of medals.

Girls under 11 – Pia Hickey, new to grade “A”, surprised everyone to take bronze in both the 100 metres backstroke and the 200 metres backstroke.  Congratulations Pia.

Girls under 13 – Treasa O’Sullivan turned on the style to win a bronze medal in an incredibly fast 200 metres backstroke race.

Girls under 15 – As always, Margaret O’Brien dominated the pool, easily winning gold in the 200 metres butterfly and following that up with a bronze in the 400 metres Individual Medley and yet another bronze in the 100 metres butterfly.  A stunning performance.

Boys under 17 – In this, the hardest category of them all, Killarney showed some real class with two of the club’s top swimmers in the pool.  Robert O’Brien saw off the best they could throw at him to win a precious gold medal in the 400 metres Individual Medley while Shane Courtney put in one of the best swims of the day to win gold in the 200 metres butterfly.  Finishing with a flourish, Robert O’Brien also grabbed a bronze in 100 metres butterfly.

Thanks to our coaches, Cathal O’Brien and Leontia Doody, who gave huge support and encouragement to all swimmers and to our team manager, Samantha O’Connor who, as always, was there to make sure everything went to plan.  Thanks also to all parents for travelling and assisting.

Finally, a reminder to everyone that our end-of-year outing takes place this Saturday the 28^th of May.  While great surprises are planned, we can tell you that it’s on in Castlegregory and that a pair of togs are essential!  Also, there is a new rule that all adults on the bus must sing on the way home, so a set of earphones might be a good idea!