DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER W.A.T.C.H. Club send thoughts to valued member Sean Page 4
Brendan’s Over-40s Club continues to raise funds for charity
Page 8
Cllr Fisher calls for portion of Apple Tax to be made available locally Page 10
Wednesday, 22nd January, 2025. Vol. 18, Issue 4 • 9A, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth Tel: 042 932 0888 | Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
Ravens Fly High to win All-Ireland title By Paul Byrne
DUNDALK Ravens made history as they defeated defending champions Limerick Celtics 71-63 after overtime to win the U20 Men’s National Cup at the National Basketball Arena on Sunday. It is a first National Cup title for the Dundalk club which was founded almost twenty years ago by Fu and Triona Faapito in 2007. Tríona, who is originally from Dundalk, and Fu, who is from Samoa, met each other while living and studying in California. They both knew that their passion and experience for both basketball and youth would be well utilised in creating and sustaining a club.
With the support of their local community sports centre in Muirhevnamór where they both worked at the time, they were able to create a junior club and enter teams into the NEBB league for the first time. From small beginnings where the club had just a handful of players the Dundalk Ravens now boast over two hundred players and twelve teams including the victorious U20 men’s team which is coached by Triona and Fu’s son Elijah When asked how he felt having led the U20’s to victory, Elijah was quick to pay tribute to his parents for all their hard work which has led to this All-Ireland success. Continued on Page 2
Dundalk Ravens U20’s won the Men’s National Cup for the first time after an epic game against Limerick Celtics last Sunday in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.