Theresa Walsh became the 24th president of Basketball Ireland at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday. She is the second ever female president of the organisation and the first since Mary Baneham served as President from 1985-1989.
She has over 30 years involvement in basketball through schools and with St. Patrick’s and Kilkenny Stars basketball clubs. She is a long serving member of the Kilkenny and South East Area Board as well as the National Area Board. Courtside, she has been involved as a Coach, Referee, Table Official and Commissioner.
Walsh believes Basketball Ireland’s Strategic Plan for 2015-2025 is the right roadmap to drive on the development of the sport:
“The development of clubs is of vital importance, as we need strong clubs at the core of our sport. Implementation of our new Strategic Plan can bring this about. I look forward to working with the Board and Council of Basketball Ireland as well as staff to make this happen.”
“We all want to be part of a good flourishing organisation with all strands of the sport working together to achieve an organisation that we are all proud of ,” she said.
Theresa Walsh is originally from Kilkenny City where she attended Loreto Convent. She has worked as an administrator with the HSE for over 30 years. Her husband Seamus and daughters Natalie and Emer are both heavily involved in basketball.
Walsh replaces Gerry Kelly who steps down after four years at the head of the organisation, a time that has marked a massive turnaround in fortunes for the sport.
“Looking at the increase in registration shows where some of our success has been,” he said.
“We’re capturing people in all 32 counties and the turnover in Council shows further development because not one council member has the same role they had four years ago. We should continue with succession planning and the spirit that people should move on regardless of how successful they’ve been in that position.”
“Quite honestly, it’s a very exciting time for the sport. What once was a black period turned grey and now we’re facing into a bright future.”
“My personal highlight has to be the reaction of volunteerism throughout the country. When I took over, there was negativity and a disbelief. I believe that through my presence on the ground throughout on the country on a continuous basis, I led people to believe that it was going to change.”
Kelly was joined in his departure from the highest level of management of the sport by Jackie Dunne who was also stepping down as Chair of Basketball Ireland.
“A key objective of mine and my fellow directors was to reduce the financial debt in a timeframe that would allow reinvestment back to our sport sooner. This is ongoing but significant achievements have been made.”
For Dunne, the return to prominence of the green jersey in Irish basketball has also been a sign of growth. “We are now back to our full complement with currently 12 international squads training,” she says. “The widening of the base for the International development squads means that we are exposing more players to this level and we will see the benefits of this as time passes.
“Currently we have in excess of 250 players playing and training at this elite level. This summer we will have eight teams competing in Europe.”
“The Strategic Plan was driven by the sport as a community getting involved and embracing what the sport needed,” she added.
“The plan and pillars are defined and approved, now the most important part of any strategy begins – the implementation. I have every faith it will be delivered upon.”
Basketball was a sport in serious trouble a few short years ago but has turned the corner under the leadership of Kelly, Dunne and Secretary General Bernard O’Byrne. With a new partnership with UCC announced on Friday and the European Congress of the World Governing Body held in Dublin last month things are looking as though the future under the Presidency of Walsh will be brighter still.
