St. Joseph's Blazers Girls Basketball Teams

Two girls basketball teams from Duagh, (pro. DO-all) County Kerry, arrived in Pittsburgh on Friday, November 20th. Anne Scanlon, Head Coach of the St. Josephs' Blazers Basketball Club, brought the group of 32 people -- the girls ages 15 to 19, coaches, and chaperones to experience, explore, and play ball in Pittsburgh for the next ten days.

The girls will be playing various high schools including Oakland Catholic, Norwin / Plum and Bethel / New Castle. They will have the opportunity to scrimmage in the Palumbo Center at Duquesne University and meet with Suzie McConnell-Serio, Olympic medal winner and coach. They also will experience women's basketball at the college level with Duquesne Women vs. WVU. Plus they will see the Pitt Men play Youngstown State at the Peterson Event Center.

For most of the girls, this is their first time to America and some, on a plane. This trip will be an excellent educational opportunity for them, and who knows, maybe some of them may come back to Pittsburgh for further education, at a later point in time.

This past Sunday, Anne Scanlon and the Principal of St. Joseph's secondary school, Ned O'Callaghan, were guests on Echoes of Erin. We had a great chat; you can listen to the program by doing the following: Type http://www.wedo810.com/ in your browser; click on Program Guide; scroll down to Echoes of Erin; click it on; then click on Program # 1131, November 22, to hear the program.

Ned O'Callaghan, Principal, St. Joseph's Secondary School and

Anne Scanlon, Head Coach St. Joseph's Blazers Basketball Club

Both Anne and Ned were such delightful guests. As it turns out Ned was Anne's first basketball coach. She took what she learned, went to University, and brought back to the community her skills as a leader, motivator, a person of inspiration, and instilled in the girls at St. Joseph's the desire to achieve, and win. Anne has been coach for 20 years and is planning with the team and community to build a basketball hall in Duagh, something that has not ever been achieved before.


You can attend one of the basketball games and give the St. Joseph's Blazers team some Pittsburgh support. Friday, Nov. 27 they'll be a the Palumbo Center at 5:00 PM and Saturday, Nov. 28 they'll be at the Palumbo Center again at 5:00 PM.


In between basketball scrimmages and games, the girls will take in some of the adventure Pittsburgh has to offer with Ice Skating, Swimming, Shopping, and of course Thanksgiving Dinner.

So where ever you may see the girls, give them a great big applause and welcome them to Pittsburgh!