Ireland is to once again field a Senior Men’s Basketball team, for the first time since 2009. It will compete in the FIBA European Championship for small nations in 2016.
The breaking news this morning follows the reinstatement of the Senior Women’s programme in October.
Ireland last competed in what has become the European Championship for small nations in 1994 when they won the tournament hosted in Dublin. A decision on where the 2016 version of the biannual event will be held is due to be taken in February.
The Men’s programme, like all other Irish Basketball international side will be self-funded. This prudent step by step approach back to full international competition has seen the sport recover from dark days of financial mismanagement which resulted for a period of time in closer oversight from Sport Ireland (formerly the Irish Sports Council) than had ever been imposed on a sport.
Under the stewardship of Bernard O’Byrne who had previously served as Chief Executive of the FAI, the sport has made massive progress and this move back to full international competition comes just ahead of Ireland hosting the European General Assembly of the World Governing Body in May 2016.
Speaking about the announcement, Basketball Ireland Secretary General Bernard O’Byrne said: “This is a logical development following the ventures to China last summer and the Hibernia games. I am sure the players will rise to this next test and I wish them well.”
Ireland’s Senior Men were last active in 2009 with a side featuring current Men’s Premier League players Colin O’Reilly, Conor Grace, Jason Killeen, Isaac Westbrooks and Stephen King.
“The timing is right,” said O’Reilly. “It means a lot to players to stand for the national anthem and represent their country in their chosen sport.”
“There’s a lot of guys who have done it at underage and this is the right step at the right time.”
“If you bring the best players in the country together for sessions, fellas are going to improve,” he added.
“But there has to be a structure for elite players providing higher levels of training, strength and conditioning as well as more variety in coaching. We’re trying to build continuity but there will be guys coming in who weren’t available before. It’s a one-off tournament but that can’t be the end goal.”
In addition to the European Championships for Small Countries for Men and Women, Ireland will be competing at European Championships at U16, U18 and U20 levels in 2016. U15 and U17 development squads bring the total number of active International squads to 12.
