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Basketball Ireland

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]

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 National Cups

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Men’s Level 1 National Cup

IBBA Men’s Senior Cup 1984-1994; IBA Men’s Senior National Cup 1994-2005; BBI Men’s Super League Cup 2005-2013; BBI Men’s National Cup 2013-2017; BBI Men’s Pat Duffy National Cup 2017-2019

Basketball Ireland Men’s Pat Duffy National Cup (Level 1) 2017-2019

Basketball Ireland Men’s National Cup 2013-2017

Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League Cup 2005-2013

Irish Basketball Association Men’s Senior National Cup 1994-2005

Irish Basketball Association Men’s Senior Cup Finals 1984-1994

BI Men’s Pat Duffy National Cup (Super League Cup) 

2019-20 2018-19 2017-18 

BI Men’s National Cup (Super League Cup) 

2014-15

IBA Men’s Sprite National Cup : 

1998-99  1997-98

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Women’s Level 1 National Cup

IBBA Women’s Senior Cup 1984-1994; IBA Women’s Senior National Cup 1994-2005; BBI Women’s Super League Cup 2005-2013; BBI Women’s National Cup 2013-2018.

Basketball Ireland Women’s National Cup 2013-2018

Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League Cup 2005-2013

Irish Basketball Association Women’s Senior National Cup 1994-2005

Irish Basketball Association Women’s Senior Cup 1984-1994

BI Women’s Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Super League Cup) 

2019-20 2017-18 

BI Women’s National Cup (Super League Cup) 

2014-15

IBA Women’s National Sprite Cup: 

1998-99 1997-98

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Men’s Level 2 National Cup

BI Men’s Senior National Cup 2005-2013; BI Men’s President’s National Cup 2013-2019

Basketball Ireland Men’s President’s National Cup (Level 2) 2013-2019

Basketball Ireland Men’s Senior National Cup (Tier 2) 2005-2013

BI Men’s President’s (Senior) Cup (Division 1 Cup) 

2017-18

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Women’s Level 2 National Cup

BBI Women’s Senior Cup 2005-2013; BBI Women’s senior National Cup 2013-2019.

Basketball Ireland Women’s Senior National Cup (Level 2) 2013-2019

Basketball Ireland Women’s Senior Cup (Tier 2) 2005-2013

BI Women’s Senior Cup (Division 1 Cup) 

2017-18

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Men’s Level 3 Intermediate National Cup

BBI Men’s NICC 2015-2019.

Basketball Ireland Men’s National Intermediate Cup Competition (Level 3) 2015-2019

BI Men’s National Intermediate Cup Competition (Area Boards): 

2017-18

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Women’s Level 3 Intermediate National Cup

BBI Women’s NICC 2015-2019

Basketball Ireland Women’s National Intermediate Cup Competition (Level 3) 2015-2019

BI Women’s National Intermediate Cup Competition (Area Boards): 

2017-18

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Men’s Junior (Underage) National Cups

BBI Men’s U20 National Cup 2007-2018; IBA Men’s Junior U19 National Cup 1984-2006.

Irish Basketball Association Men’s Junior U19 National Cup 1984-2006

Basketball Ireland Men’s Under 20 National Cup 2007-2018

IBA Sprite U19 Junior National Cup (Seasons): 

1998-99 1997-98

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Women’s Junior (Underage) National Cups

IBA Women’s Junior U19 National Cup 1984-2006; BBI Women’s U20 National Cup 2007-2018.

Irish Basketball Association Women’s Junior U19 National Cup 1984-2006

Basketball Ireland Women’s Under 20 National Cup 2007-2018

IBA Sprite U19 Junior Women’s National Cup (Seasons): 

1998-99 1997-98

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Men’s Junior (Underage) Level 2 National Cups

IBA Men’s Junior B National Cup 1989-1997; BBI Men’s U18 National Cup 2007-2018.

Irish Basketball Association Men’s Junior B (Under 19) National Cup 1989-1997

Basketball Ireland Men’s Under 18 National Cup 2007-2018

IBA Junior Men’s Regional Cup (Seasons):

1997-98

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Women’s Junior (Underage) Level 2 National Cups

IBA Women’s Junior B National Cup 1989-1997; BBI Women’s U18 National Cup 2007-2018.

Irish Basketball Association Women’s Junior B (Under 19) National Cup 1989-1997

Basketball Ireland Women’s Under 18 National Cup 2007-2018

IBA Women’s Junior Regional Cup (Seasons):

1998-99 1997-98

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Basketball Ireland League Cups

BBI Men’s Division 1 League Cup 2016-2019; BBI Women’s NLC Champions Trophy 2017-18.

BI Men’s Division 1 League Cup (Seasons) 

2018-19 2017-18 2016-17

BI Women’s NLC Champions Trophy (Seasons): 

2017-18

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.

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ABAI County Championships 1952-1973

ABAI Senior County Championships; ABAI Junior County Championships; ABAI Minor County Championships;

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland County Championships (Overviews):

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland All-Ireland Senior County Championships 1952-1973

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland All-Ireland Junior County Championships 1959-1972

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland Minor (Overviews):

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland All-Ireland Minor County Championship 1953-1974

ABAI All-Ireland Senior County Championships (Seasons):

1963

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ABAI Club Championships 1950-1978

ABAI All Ireland Senior Blitz 1950-1964; ABAI Ladies All-Ireland Blitz 1968-1978; ABAI National Basketbal Cup 1970-1973.

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland Club (Overviews):

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland All Ireland Senior Blitz 1950-1964

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland Ladies (Overviews):

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland Ladies All-Ireland Championship 1968-1978

ABAI National Basketball Cup (Seasons):

1971-72 1970-71

ABAI All-Ireland Blitz (Seasons):

1961 1960 

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ABAI Provincial Championships 1951-1973

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Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland Provincial Championships (Overviews):

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland Connacht Senior Championship 1952-1973

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland Leinster Senior Championship 1951-1973

Basketball Tournaments

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International Basketball Tournaments

Roy Curtis Trophy (Corinthians); Lota Tournament (Neptune).

Roy Curtis Trophy (Corinthians – Seasons):

1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1988 1984 1971

Lota Tournament (Neptune – Seasons):

1968 1966 1965 1964 1963

Glen Abbey Tournament (St. Vincent’s – Seasons):

1972

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Basketball Ireland National League Tournaments

Pat Clarke Women’s Tournament; Anglo-Irish Bank Ladies Tournament; Drimnagh BC Invitiational Tournament.

Pat Clarke Women’s Tournament (Meteors):

2012

Anglo-Irish Bank Ladies Tournament (UCD Marian):

1990

Drimnagh Basketball Club Invitational Tournament (Ladies) (Seasons):

1990

Basketball 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 Teams

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Irish Basketball Teams

Ireland National & Representative Teams; Men’s National Basketball League Teams

All-Time Record [ Season Results & Roster ]

Ireland 1 Women’s Basketball Teams Special Olympics (Editions): [ Los Angeles 2015 ]

Hibernia EuroBasket Men’s NBL Representative Team [ 2015-16 ]

Blue Demons 1979-1993

St. Vincent’s Killarney 1979-1987

Galway Democrats [ 1991-92 ]

Notre Dame 1992-2003

Basketball Players

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Irish Basketball Players

BBI All-Star Teams

Basketball Ireland All-Star Teams (Seasons):

2017-18