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.

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]

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland / Irish Basketball Association Division 1

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”

Irish Basketball Association / Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League

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.

Irish Basketball Association Ladies / Women’s Division 1

Irish Basketball Association / Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League

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.

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 Ladies / Women’s Division 2

Basketball Ireland Women’s Division 1

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 Championmships, 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 & Universities

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).

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)