Mounthawk was full of energy today as our Socia-Ball Blitz brought together women from St Brendan’s, Causeway, Lixnaw and two Tralee Magic teams for an afternoon of games played in a warm and fun atmosphere. With six games in total played in round-robin format, every team had the chance to meet each other on court, and there was a great sense of women enjoying the game for what it is meant to be at this level — a chance to play, to connect and to be part of something positive.

A sincere thank you to St Brendan’s, Causeway and Lixnaw for joining us in Mounthawk and helping to make the day what it was. Days like this rely on teams being willing to come together in the right frame of mind, and all of those clubs contributed to an afternoon that felt open, supportive and full of good humour. It was great to have them with us.

Proudly sponsored by Benners Hotel Tralee, the Tralee Magic Socia-Ball team continues to be a really valuable part of club life. It gives women a place in the game that is social, active and inclusive, and today reflected that beautifully. There was plenty of encouragement around the court all afternoon, with players supporting teammates and opponents alike, and a real sense of women enjoying each other’s company through basketball.

That made Adapt Kerry a very fitting charity partner for the blitz. Adapt Kerry provides vital support to women and children experiencing domestic violence and coercive control, and there was something very meaningful about a day centred on women coming together, supporting one another and raising funds for an organisation doing such important work in our community.

A raffle also formed part of the fundraiser, with a fantastic selection of spot prizes up for grabs. Sincere thanks to all of the generous sponsors who donated prizes, and to the Tralee Magic team members who put in the work behind the scenes to secure them.

Special appreciation is also due to Carolyn, Sharon and Carmel, who kindly volunteered their time to referee all of the games across the afternoon. Their contribution was greatly appreciated by everybody involved. Thanks as well to Brendan and Declan for covering the table and helping the event run so smoothly.

Overall, it was a hugely enjoyable day in Mounthawk, with €750 raised  with more donations still to come. For a volunteer-led club, that is a lovely result, but even more important was the tone of the afternoon and the people who made it what it was.