Naas Serpents Basketball Club celebrate 30th anniversary

Naas Serpents launched their 30th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, September 28 and look forward to what the future brings for Basketball locally.

In attendance were Mayor of Naas, Fintan Brett, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. and her husband Deputy Francis Noel Duffy T.D. along with Senator Vincent P. Martin, local school principals, representatives from other sporting bodies & clubs, invited guests & friends.

The origins of organized basketball in Naas can be traced back at least 65 years through the local schools and in particular to the army Apprentice School, Devoy Barracks, which is now the seat of local government at Aras Cill Dara.

However Joe Clancy pioneered schools basketball locally. In 1982, having moved to Naas some years earlier, Joe began coaching in St. Mary's College and soon achieved success at school girl cadet level, culminating in an All-Ireland title. He also coached underage teams in community games basketball competitions & tournaments. 

In the mid-nineties, coinciding with the completion of the first two school gymnasiums in St Mary's & Naas CBS, a small cohort of local basketballers formed men's and ladies senior teams initially but which have since grown into a 300 strong inclusive club catering for all ages.

The name “Naas Serpents” is derived from the Serpentine symbol seen in crests associated with the town. Indeed the serpentine symbol is found in the crests of many local clubs, schools and societies across the town. The Naas Vipers & Cobras volleyball & Naas Pythons Special Olympics club, with which the Naas Serpents have very close links, adopted similar appropriate names.

The Serpents initially successfully competed in a midland league, but soon migrated back to play in Dublin based competitions. In the early years it was not always plain sailing as clubs from outside the Pale had to nominate a gym like the National arena, Tymon Park or the Oblate hall, Inchicore as a home base, thus stifling our local support and development.

The ladies’ squad has blossomed under experienced senior club coach, John Clancy, who has taken up the mentoring mantle from his father. 

Yet, both senior squads have been surpassed by the exponential growth of underage basketball locally. In 2017 the club started a grassroots development programme and now boasts 11 teams from U11 to U20 age groups, along with two senior ladies teams, one men's team and many coaches, referees and supportive parents. This growth has been facilitated by the local schools and the Serpents would like to thank the principals & staff of St. Marys, Meanscoil Ignoid Ris, Naas Community College & Pipers Hill college along with local sponsors who have supported the clubs  expansion.

The growth of the club has also coincided and not coincidentally with success at school level. St Mary's College winning a midland final and getting to An Ireland Final. Naas Community College winning an All Ireland Cup final at U16.

As well as competing in underage competitions the club has participated in basketball camps and a novel basketball exchange with Harry S. Truman High school in the Bronx, New York.

During Minister Martins visit it was brought to her attention that, in the week that major Capital Sports funding has been allocated to sports clubs nationally including 8.3 million euro in Kildare alone, there are many so-called minority Sports clubs that don't possess a permanent home and are not eligible to apply for similar funding. 

The club wishes to pay tribute to Kill resident Gerry Wren who passed away earlier this year. Gerry, his wife Barbara & family made a huge contribution locally right the way through from underage basketball to senior level.