Basketball Ireland

Basketball Ireland was founded as the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland in 1947, and after playing a County and Club Championship format for nearly 30 years switched to a National Basketball League based on clubs in 1973. This became professionalised with the import of American players during the 1979-80 season and the name of the organisation was changed to the Irish Basketball Association to reflect this. The IBA became Basketball Ireland in 2003 and organises National Leagues, Cups and Tournaments as well as entering International competitions.

Clicking on links in this page will bring you to the eirball.basketball subpage

National Basketball Leagues

This is the Eirball Index Page to the All-Time Results and Standings of the Basketball Ireland National Leagues. First founded in 1973-74 after 27 years of the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland All-Ireland Club and County Championshps, the National Basketball Leagues have two tiers in both Men’s and Women’s Basketball.

Header Picture Credit: [1] Folan, John | Irish Basketball Memories of the 80s And 90s Facebook Group (2020) Post to Page, January 27, 2020″Fantastic team loved going to see them play” [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/84031072_1023908997993251_8391839803976450048_n.jpg?nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=ca434c&_nc_ohc=eZjapq8zlu4AX9QUva&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=03447b305a695c8d4a572078f382a059&oe=5E9F44CB [Accessed 25 March 2020][Adjusted]

IBA / BINL Men’s Super League 1993-Present

In 1991 the Association merged the Men’s Divisions 1 & 2 into one National Basketball League, with two conferences: North & South. At the same time it reduced the number of paid American Imports from two to one, thinking the Irish playerscould make the step up. The fans lost interest, however, with just one American on the teams, and it is regarded as the end of the “Golden Era”. After two seasons under this format, the two division set-up was reinstated, with Divisions 1 & 2 now named the Super League & Division 1.

The Irish Basketball Association was rebranded in 2003 as Basketball Ireland, and the two Conference (North & South) model was again reintroduced, although the two Division (2 levels) set-up was retained. The Women’s 2nd Level was reinstated at this time also, although the Women’s Divisions never had North & South Conferences.

In 2013 the Super League underwent a name-change to the Premier League, as a drastic attempt was made to fix the National Leagues and the massive debt Basketball Ireland had built up.   In 2016 the Super League brand made a comeback and by 2019 it was stated on the Basketball Ireland website that the €1.4 Million debt was paid off.

ABAI / IBBA National Basketball League Division 1 1975-1993

The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland was formed in 1947. After 25 years of All-Ireland Championships based on a Club & County basis like in the GAA, the ABAI created the first National Basketball League based on clubs in 1972-73.

In 1979-80 St. Vincent’s Killarney brought in two paid American Imports, contrary to the rules of the ABAI, but after taking no action against them for most of the season, they relented having seen how many fans it was bringing in, and allowed paid imports, changing the name of the Association to the Irish Basketball Association to reflect this. This era, from 1980-1991 is regarded by many in Irish Basketball as its “Golden Era”

IBA / BINL Women’s Super League 1997-Present

IBBA National League Ladies / Women’s Division 1 1979-1997

Irish Basketball Association / Basketball Ireland Men’s Division 1

In 1993 the Men’s Budweiser League was again split between two levels, with the highest level being named the Super League and the second level Division 1.

Irish Basketball Association Men’s Division 2

The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland created a second level for Men’s Basketball in 1977-78, known as Division 2, which remained Division 2 after the re-branding of the organisation in 1979-80. For the 1991-92 season, both Divisions were merged into one Budweiser-sponsored League with North and South Conferences and American-style playoffs.

Basketball Ireland Women’s Division 1

Irish Basketball Association Ladies / Women’s Division 2

Basketball Ireland National Cups

All-Ireland Basketball Championships

From the formation of Basketball Ireland as the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland in 1947 until 1979, the Irish Basketball Championship was organized on a Club and County basis, with Provincial Championships preceeding the All-Ireland Championships. from 1980 onwards with the formation of the National Basketball League, the All-Ireland Championship and Regional Championship was reserved for Underage Competitions.

Featured Image Credit

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

All-Ireland Underage Club Cups and Championships

Underage Basketball Championships have been held in Ireland since the time of the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland (1947-1979) – then known as Minor Championships, they were based on the GAA system of County and Club Championships, with Provincial Championships preceeding the All-Ireland Championships.

After the ABAI was renamed the Irish Basketball Association in 1980 there was widespread restructuring within Irish Basketball, with the counties replaced by Area Boards, and a National League based on Clubs replacing the All-Ireland County and Club Championships. With this there were only Area Board Leagues for Underage grades and son a Playoff system was introduced for the winners of each. The Under 19 Regional Championships were played from the 1980s to early 2000s when again the Regional Championships were replaced by the All-Ireland Club Cups after the rebranding of the IBA as Basketball Ireland.

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland 1947-1979

The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland (now Basketball Ireland) was the organisation in charge of running Basketball in Ireland from 1947 to 1979 when it changed its name to the Irish Basketball Association. From 1953 to 1973 it was organised on a Club and County basis like the Gaelic Athletic Association.

The All-Ireland Blitz from 1953 to 1964 was the Club Championship, held on a Blitz basis over the course of a weekend in one venue. It was replaced by the National Basketball Cup, in which the top 16 teams from the four provinces played in four groups of four over the course of a year with semi-finals and final. In 1973 a National League based on clubs replaced the All-Ireland County Championships and National Basketball Cup.

Basketball Tournaments in Ireland

Basketball Ireland Teams

Neptune in Cork were the first ever Irish Civilian Basketball Team, founded just after World War II when the first gyms outside of Defence Force facilities were built. Reference: [1]

[1] Kieran Shannon (2022) “Hanging From the Rafters”.

Basketball Ireland Teams

Basketball Ireland Players

International Basketball

FIBA Europe Mens Competitions

FIBA Europe Womens Competitions

Olympic Games Basketball

With the London Olympic Games in close proximity, Ireland sent a Basketball team to compete in 1948, just one year after the foundation of the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland.

FIBA Europe Club Competitions

British & Irish Basketball Federation

Special Olympics Basketball

USA Basketball Teams in Ireland

American Basketball teams have been visiting Ireland for close to 80 years.

National Basketball Association

From the National Basketball Association (NBA) to the WNBA (Women’s), NBA D-Leagues (Development Leagues) to NBA 2K (E-Basketball) there is more to the NBA than most people know.

Women’s National Basketball Association

From the National Basketball Association (NBA) to the WNBA (Women’s), NBA D-Leagues (Development Leagues) to NBA 2K (E-Basketball) there is more to the NBA than most people know.

NBA Development Leagues

From the National Basketball Association (NBA) to the WNBA (Women’s), NBA D-Leagues (Development Leagues) to NBA 2K (E-Basketball) there is more to the NBA than most people know.

NBA World and Preseasons

From the National Basketball Association (NBA) to the WNBA (Women’s), NBA D-Leagues (Development Leagues) to NBA 2K (E-Basketball) there is more to the NBA than most people know. The National Basketball Association has played for decades around the World during preseason, and more recently has imaugurated the Showcase Cup where the Ciudad de Mexico Capitanes play alongside NBA G-League (Development League) teams in a short season.

Schools and Colleges Basketball

Schools and Colleges Basketball in Ireland is All-Ireland and includes the National Colleges Basketball Cup and Basketball Ireland Varsities (Colleges and Universities); All-Ireland Schools Cups (Post-Primary Schools with age grades ranging from Under 15 to Under 18); All-Ireland Schools Leagues (Leagues played on a Regional basis with All-Ireland Playoffs in age grades ranging from Under 13 to Under 18); All-Ireland Schools Championship (A previous version of the All-Ireland Schools Cup and Leagues played on a County Championship, followed by Provincial and All-Ireland Championships, as in the GAA); Schools Basketball Regions (Leagues for the Nine Schools Regions in Ireland plus the Inter-Regional Cups); and Mini-Basketball (A version of the sport for Primary School Children). Men and Women, Boys and Girls are more or less equally represented throughout.

Colleges Basketball

Schools Basketball Finals

All-Ireland Schools Basketball Finals

Irish Schools Basketball was reorganized in 1984, with the Championship, based like the GAA, on a regional knockout followed by All-Ireland knockout basis, with an All-Ireland League and Cup, with the League based along the lines of Regional Leagues, followed by All-Ireland Playoffs and Finals in the National Basketball Arena, in Tymon, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

The Irish Schools Basketball Association (Boys) and Schoolgirls Basketball Association of Ireland were brought together under one organisation: Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools in 2003. At the same time the Senior (Under 18) and Junior / Cadette (Under 15) grades were renamed Under 19 and Under 16 grades.

Schools Basketball Cups

All-Ireland Schools Cup

The All-Ireland Schools Basketball Cup is played on a National Level through all rounds, and is a straight knockout (single elimination) tournament played over a number of weekends.

Schools Basketball Leagues

All-Ireland Schools Basketball League

Irish Schools Basketball was reorganized in 1984, with the Championship, based like the GAA, on a regional knockout followed by All-Ireland knockout basis, with an All-Ireland League and Cup, with the League based along the lines of Regional Leagues, followed by All-Ireland Playoffs and Finals in the National Basketball Arena, in Tymon, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

The Irish Schools Basketball Association (Boys) and Schoolgirls Basketball Association of Ireland were brought together under one organisation: Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools in 2003. At the same time the Senior (Under 18) and Junior / Cadette (Under 15) grades were renamed Under 19 and Under 16 grades.

Schools Basketball Championship

All-Ireland Schools Basketball Championship

The Schoolgirls Basketball Association of Ireland and Irish Schoolboys Basketball Association organized the All-Ireland Schools Championship up until 1984, when it was reorganized on a League and Cup basis.

The SBAI and ISBA All-Ireland Championships were organized on a regional knockout basis, followed by an All-Ireland knockout stage much like in the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association).

Schools Basketball Regions

Regional Schools Basketball

The Schools Basketball Inter Regionals are a Representative Competition for the 9 Regions in the Irish Schools Basketball System. Players are selected to represent their region from the Schools within that region and the Tournament is used to select players for the Schools Basketball International Panel.

Secondary Schoolgirls Association Dublin

The Dublin Regional Basketball League is a Dublin-Area Schoolgirls Basketball League which qualifies schools for the All-Ireland League Playoffs.

South East Schoolgirls Basketball

The SESGB League was one of nine regional school leagues in Ireland, with the winners (and in some cases runners-up and 3rd place) qualifying for the All-Ireland League Playoffs. Leagues were divided into “A”, “B”, “C” and “D” based on the size of the school, and there were U19, U16, 2nd Year and 1st Year Grades. There was no “A” League in SESGB in 2015-16, therefore making the “B” League the highest level in the South East.

Schools Basketball Provinces

Munster Schools Basketball Association

The Schoolgirls Basketball Association of Ireland and Irish Schoolboys Basketball Association organized the All-Ireland Schools Championship up until 1984, when it was reorganized on a League and Cup basis.

The SBAI and ISBA All-Ireland Championships were organized on a provincial knockout basis, followed by an All-Ireland knockout stage much like in the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association).

East Coast Area Boards

East Coast Area Boards include Basketball Northern Ireland, North East Basketball Boards (Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Westmeath), Dublin Ladies Area Board, Dublin Men’s Basketball Board, Midlands Area Basketball Board (Westmeath, Offaly, Laois, Kildare), South East Basketball Boards (Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford), and Cork Basketball (Cork Ladies Area Board, Cork Men’s Basketball Board).

Basketball Northern Ireland

Basketball Northern Ireland covers the six counties of Antrim, Down, Armagh, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry.

North East Basketball Boards

The North East Basketball Board covers parts of Counties Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Westmeath, Cavan, and Fingal (North Dublin)

Dublin Ladies Basketball Board

Dublin Men’s Basketball Board

Midlands Area Basketball Board

South East Basketball Boards

West Coast Area Boards

West Coast Area Boards include the Kerry Area Basketball Board; North Munster Basketball Boards (North Munster Area Board, Clare Area Basketball Board, covering Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary); Galway Area Basketball Board; Mayo Area Basketball Board; North Connacht Basketball Boards (Sligo Area Basketball Board, Shannonside Basketball League, LonLeitRos Area Basketball Board – covering Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford), and North West Basketball Boards (Donegal Area Basketball Board, Cavan Area Basketball Board, North West Area Board – covering Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Longford and Sligo).

Cork Basketball

Kerry Area Basketball Board

The Kerry Area Basketball Board is one of a dozen in Ireland, operating Ladies and Men’s and Boys and Girls Leagues and Cups in Co. Kerry. It is Level 3 in the Basketball Ireland system, below the two National League Divisions in both Men’s and Ladies, and the East Coast and West Coast Regional Leagues.

North Munster Basketball Boards

North Munster Basketball Boards include Clare Area Basketball Board, North Munster Area Board, Thomond Basketball Board, covering Clare, Limerick and Tipperary

Clare Area Basketball Board

Connacht Basketball Boards

Connacht Basketball Boards have included Galway Area Basketball Board, Mayo Area Basketball Board, LonLeitRos Area Basketball Board (Longford, Leitrim, Roscommon), Shannonside Basketball League (Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath) and Sligo Area Basketball Board.

North Connacht Basketball Boards

North Connacht Basketball Boards include Mayo Area Basketball Board, Sligo Area Basketball Board, Shannonside Basketball League, LonLeitRos Area Basketball Board, covering Counties Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and sometimes Longford and Westmeath

LonLeitRos Area Basketball Board

LonLeitRos Area Basketball Board covers counties Longford, Leitrim, and Roscommon.

Shannonside Basketball League

Shannonside Basketball League covered counties Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford and Westmeath

Galway Area Basketball Board

Mayo Area Basketball Board

North West Basketball Boards

North West Basketball Boards include the Donegal and Cavan Area Basketball Boards and the North West Area Board (Donegal and Sligo). They cover the Area of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Monaghan and Cavan.

North West Basketball Boards include the Donegal and Cavan Area Basketball Boards and the North West Area Board (Donegal and Sligo). They cover the Area of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Monaghan and Cavan.

Other Basketball

Other Basketball versions played in Ireland include Wheelchair Basketball, 3×3 Basketball (a reduced numbers version), Independent Mixed Basketball and Streetball. Independent organizations include Defense Forces Basketball, Garda Basketball, Community Games Basketball and Macra na Feirme Basketball (Farmers Basketball).

Wheelchair Basketball

3×3 Basketball

Defense Forces Basketball

The Defense Forces were the first places Basketball was played in Ireland, as the army Barracks were the only places to have Gyms prior to the end of WWII. Basketball in Ireland has been played in the Defense Forces since 1928, with the earliest Championships being played in Army Barracks, and continuing after WWII, the Defense Forces teams played in the All-Ireland Blitzes alongside civilian teams for many years

Macra na Feirme Basketball

Community Games Basketball

Community Games is an organisation in Ireland which runs sporting & other competitions for Children & Teenagers on a parish/community level throughout Ireland, with County Competitions followed by Provincial & All Ireland Finals.

Mini-Basketball

Mini Basketball is a version of Basketball for Primary School Aged Children, with shorter baskets, less time per quarter and less players on the court. There is also modified rules to make the game more inclusive (such as all players playing a minimum amount of quarters)

Mixed Basketball

Dublin Indoor Sports runs Mixed Basketball competitions on the Northside and Southside of the City.