THE KARATE KIDS

After being invited to a demonstration by the Ringsend Karate Club which was held before Christmas in Sally O’Brien’s in Ringsend I was left shell-shocked.

I could not get over the professionalism of the trainers and members. For over one hour I was treated to all the moves and tricks which swept me off my feet.

The highlight of the demonstration night was 11 year old Karl Doyle, pictured above. He is currently a yellow belt and eats, sleeps and drinks karate! He represented Ireland in Essex and is a British Open Championship winner and also came third in the Irish Nationals.

When Karl decides to take a break from karate he likes to watch soccer and is an out-and-out Liverpool fan, with Steven Gerard being his favourite player.

Currently the Club has up to 20 members and new ones are more than welcome. There is a trial period of two weeks, Mondays and Wednesdays at 5.30 pm and if your son or daughter from the age of five onwards decides they want to join they can then become a member and from there onwards each session costs €4.00. For more information drop into Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre, Thorncastle Street.

The Club was founded in 1972 by Fran Nangle and he remembers the days when you couldn’t move in the Club with the amount of members. Nowadays, with the likes of PSPs, DVDs, Nintendo, Wiis, etc. the young people seem to have less spare time. The Club is run by Fran, Cheryl Kelly (who are both black belts) and Deirdre O’Connor.

Over the years the Club has been very successful. They travelled to Slovenia, Bosnia, Wales, Milton Keynes and all around Ireland and have just returned from Cardiff.

Anybody interested in sponsoring the Club should contact Deirdre O’Connor at Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre.

NEW LOOK IRISHTOWN OVER 35s

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cliff and staff from the Raytown Bar in Ringsend for their generous support and also for becoming the Club’s new main sponsor.

The backbone of the Club, Kevin Reynolds, Willie Cronin, David Greer and Damien Jenkins have recently appointed a new-look management team in Rod Lillycrab and ‘wealth of experience’ Ritchie Tiernan, a former manager and player of Ringsend Rovers and at the age of 50 years is still participating in the main squad.

After a conversation with Ritchie he informed me of high hopes for the coming season with the attraction of a couple of ex-League of Ireland players being linked with a move to the Club and would welcome any local ex-player to come and get themselves back into shape as they train in Ringsend Stadium Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Of course before you resume training with the Club, each player will be handed their personal diet sheet which must be upheld.

Surely after this there will be alarm bells ringing in Ballsbridge as they are their main rivals. All that can be said now is that recent results will be reversed.

For more information on the Club drop into the Raytown Bar and have a read of the Club’s noticeboard and even make time for a pint as well!!