Basketball Ireland was founded as the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland in 1947.

It runs National Leagues and Cups for both Men and Women, enters International Competition at a number of levels. Runs Local Leagues (13 Area Boards), Colleges and Schools Competitions, Junior Leagues at a local level as well as National Playoffs. Wheelchair Basketball, 3×3 Basketball also come under their banner.

Also included here will be Netball, Korfball (a Dutch variant of Basketball or Netball) and Mixed Basketball and Netball (Independent Leagues).

Below you will find links to the index pages & sub-pages to National Basketball competitions in Ireland & International Competitions Ireland have entered:

Basketball National Leagues

Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League & Division 1 (1993-present)
Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League & Division 1 (1997-present)
Irish Basketball Association Men’s Division 1 & Division 2 (1973-1993)
Irish Basketball Association Ladies Division 1 & Division 2 (1978-1997)

Basketball National Cups

Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League & Division 1 National Cups (2003-present)
Basketball Ireland women’s Super League & Division 1 National Cups (2003-present)
Irish Basketball Association Men’s & Ladies National Cups (1984-2003)
National Intermediate Cup Competition (Men’s & Women’s) (2016-present)
Basketball Ireland Under 20 & Under 18 National Cups (2003-present)
Irish Basketball Association Under 19 National Cups (1984-2003)
Wheelchair Basketball National Cup

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland 1947-1979

All-Ireland Senior & Minor County Championships (1953-1973)
Ladies all-Ireland Blitz (1971-1978)
Men’s National Basketball Cup (1965-1973)
All-Ireland Blitz (Men’s) (1953-1964)
Leinster Senior County Championships (1950-1973)
Connacht Senior County Championships (1950-1973)

International Basketball

Eurobasket Men’s Qualifying (2005-2009)
European Champions Cup (1961-1986)
Federation Cup (1980-1983)
Roy Curtis Trophy (1971-1996)

Wheelchair Basketball

Irish Wheelchair Basketball League (2015-present)

3×3 Basketball

FIBA Europe Qualifying (Men’s & Women’s) (2017)

For Regional Area Boards see: Basketball Area Boards

For Schools, College & Underage Basketball see: Underage & Colleges Basketball

Basketball National Leagues

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”.

The first Ladies National Basketball League was also formed around this time in the late-1970s. After a few seasons both Men’s and Ladies added a second division.

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.

In 1991, the Ladies League also got a slight name-change to the Women’s National Basketball League and in 1997 Divisions 1 & 2 were merged into one Super League. Below the Super League was a Women’s Regional League, playing 2-3 games a weekend for each team in the one venue.

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.

National Basketball League | Men’s Level 1

National Basketball League Men’s Level 1 (Decade / Era Overviews)

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland | National League | Division 1 1975-1979

Irish Basketball Association National Basketball League Men’s Division 1 1979-1991

Irish Basketball Association Budweiser Men’s National League 1991-1993

Irish Basketball Association | Men’s Super League 1993-2003

Basketball Ireland | National League | Men’s Super League 2003-2013

Basketball Ireland | National League | Men’s Premier League 2013-2016

Basketball Ireland | National League | Men’s Super League 2016-2019

Irish Basketball Association |National Basketball League | Men’s Division 1 1979-1991 (Seasons):

1990-91

Irish Basketball Association | Men’s National Basketball League (Seasons):

1991-92 1992-93

Irish Basketball Association | National League | Men’s Super League (Seasons):

1993-94 1994-95 1995-96

Basketball Ireland | National League | Men’s Premier League 2013-2016:

2014-15 2015-16

Basketball Ireland | National League | Men’s Super League 2016-2020:

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

National Basketball League | Women’s Level 1

National Basketball League Women’s Level 1 (Decade / Era Overviews)

Irish Basketball Association Ladies National Basketball League 1979-1991

Irish Basketball Association | Women’s National League Division 1 1991-1997

Irish Basketball Association | Women’s Super League 1997-2003

Basketball Ireland | National League | Women’s Super League 2003-2013

Basketball Ireland | National League | Women’s Premier League 2013-2016

Basketball Ireland | National League | Women’s Super League 2016-2019

Irish Basketball Association | National Basketball League | Ladies Division 1 1979-1991 (Seasons):

1990-91

Basketball Ireland | National League | Women’s Premier League 2013-2016 (Seasons):

2015-16

Basketball Ireland | National League | Women’s Super League 2016-2018:

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

National Basketball League | Men’s Level 2

National Basketball League Men’s Level 2 (Decade / Era Overviews):

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland | National League | Division 2 1977-1979

Irish Basketball Association | National Basketball League | Men’s Division 2 1979-1991

Irish Basketball Association | National Basketball League | Men’s Division 1 1993-2003

Basketball Ireland | National League | Men’s Division 1 2003-2013

Basketball Ireland | National League | Men’s Division 1 2013-2019

Basketball Ireland | National League | Men’s Division 1 2013-2020:

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

National Basketball League | Women’s Level 2

National Basketball League Women’s Level 2 (Decade / Era Overviews):

Irish Basketball Association | National Basketball League | Ladies Division 2 1982-1991

Irish Basketball Association | National League | Women’s Division 2 1991-1997

Basketball Ireland | National League | Women’s Division 1 2003-2013

Basketball Ireland | National League | Women’s Division 1 2013-2019

Irish Basketball Association | National Basketball League | Ladies Division 2 1979-1991 (Seasons):

1990-91

Basketball Ireland | National League | Women’s Division 1 2013-2020:

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

National Basketball League | Under 20 Men’s

Basketball Ireland | Under 20 Men’s National League (Seasons):

2019-20

Basketball National Cups

National Cups (Finals):

Men’s Level 1 National Cup:

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

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

Basketball Ireland | Men’s Super League Cup 2005-2013

Basketball Ireland | Men’s National Cup 2013-2017

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

Women’s Level 1 National Cup:

Irish Basketball Association | Women’s Senior Cup 1984-1994

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

Basketball Ireland | Women’s Super League Cup 2005-2013

Basketball Ireland | Women’s National Cup 2013-2018

Men’s Level 2 National Cup:

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

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

Women’s Level 2 National Cup:

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

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

Men’s Level 3 Intermediate National Cup:

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

Women’s Level 3 Intermediate National Cup:

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

Men’s Junior (Underage) National Cups:

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

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

Women’s Junior (Underage) National Cups:

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

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

Men’s Junior (Underage) Level 2 National Cups:

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

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

Women’s Junior (Underage) Level 2 National Cups:

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

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

National Cups (Seasons Results):

Basketball Ireland | Men’s Pat Duffy National Cup (Super League Cup):

2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

Basketball Ireland | Women’s Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Super League Cup):

2017-18 2019-20

Basketball Ireland | Men’s President’s (Senior) Cup (Division 1 Cup):

2017-18

Basketball Ireland | Women’s Senior Cup (Division 1 Cup):

2017-18

Basketball Ireland | Men’s National Intermediate Cup Competition (Area Boards):

2017-18

Basketball Ireland | Women’s National Intermediate Cup Competition (Area Boards):

2017-18

Basketball Ireland | League Cups:

Basketball Ireland | Men’s Division 1 League Cup (Seasons):

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

Basketball Ireland | Women’s NLC Champions Trophy (Seasons):

2017-18

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland 1947-1979

About the ABAI

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.

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 Club (Overviews):

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

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland Minor (Overviews):

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

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland Ladies (Overviews):

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

ABAI All-Ireland Senior County Championships (Seasons):

1963

ABAI National Basketball Cup (Seasons):

1970-71

ABAI All-Ireland Blitz (Seasons):

1960 1961

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

International Basketball

FIBA Europe Mens Competitions:

FIBA Europe | Eurobasket | Division B Qualifying Round (Senior Men) (Seasons):

2005 2007 2009

FIBA Europe: Senior Men Celtic Clash (Seasons):

2017

FIBA Europe: U18 Men European Championships (Seasons):

2017

FIBA Europe: U15 Men Friendlies (Seasons):

2017

FIBA Europe Womens Competitions:

FIBA Europe | Eurobasket Women | Division B Qualifying Round (Senior Women) (Seasons):

2005 2007 2009

FIBA Europe: Senior Women Friendlies (Seasons):

2017

FIBA Europe: U17 Women Friendlies (Seasons):

2017

FIBA Europe: U16 Women Friendlies (Seasons):

2017

FIBA Europe: Club Competitions:

FIBA Europe Club Competitons (Overviews):

Federation Internationale de Basket Europe | European Champions Cup 1961-1986

British & Irish Basketball Federation | Federation Cup 1980-1983

British & Irish Basketball Federation | Roy Curtis Trophy (Seasons):

1971 1984 1988 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Basketball Ireland | National League Tournaments:

Pat Clarke Women’s Tournament (Meteors):

2012

Anglo-Irish Bank Ladies Tournament (UCD Marian):

1990

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

1990

Wheelchair Basketball

Irish Wheelchair Basketball League (Overviews):

IWA | Irish Wheelchair Basketball League 2015-2018

IWBL (Seasons):

2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

IWBL National Cup (Seasons):

2016-17

3×3 Basketball

FIBA Europe | 3×3 Europe Cup | Mens Qualifiers:

2017

FIBA Europe | 3×3 Europe Cup | Womens Qualifiers:

2017

FIBA Europe | 3×3 Europe Cup | U18 Mens Qualifiers:

2016

Basketball Clubs

Men’s National Basketball League Teams (History)

Blue Demons 1979-1993

St. Vincent’s Killarney 1979-1987

Irish Basketball Clubs (Season Reports & Rosters):

Galway Democrats | Irish Basketball Team | Season 1991-92

Basketball Players

Basketball Ireland | All-Star Teams (Seasons):

2017-18

Underage & Colleges Basketball

A number of different Underage & Schools & Colleges Basketball Competitions are held in Ireland:

Third Level Institutions

Colleges Basketball (Universities & Institutes of Technology – there are two main Competitions: the Intervarsities, held over one weekend in a host College, and the National Basketball Colleges Cup, a League played over a number of Rounds throughout the College year)

Second Level Schools:

All-Ireland Schools Basketball Finals (The Finals of both the All-Ireland Schools Cup & League)

All-Ireland Schools Basketball Cup (A Knockout (single elimination) tournament played on an All-Ireland basis from the first round)

All-Ireland Schools Basketball League (The All Ireland Series of the Schools Basketball Leagues, which are played in Regional Leagues before Christmas before the All-Ireland Finals – played in groups followed by Knockout Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals & Finals)

Dublin Schoolgirls Basketball (The Regional League for Dublin Secondary Schoolgirls Basketball – the winners qualify for the All Ireland Schools League Playoffs)

Primary Level Schools:

Mini Basketball (modified rules for Primary School Children – played in County Leagues only)

Community Games Basketball:

Community Games Basketball (Community Games in an All-Ireland Organisation running summer sport activities for teenagers and primary school age children during the school holidays. There are dozens of activities from sports to art that the children can take part in, with competitions played on a County basis followed by Provincial & All-Ireland Finals):

Colleges Basketball

Basketball Ireland Varsities

Basketball Ireland | Varsities Men’s A (Seasons):

2017 2019

Basketball Ireland | Varsities Women’s A (Seasons):

2017

Basketball Ireland | Varsities Men’s B (Seasons):

2017

Basketball Ireland | Varsities Women’s B (Seasons):

2017

National Basketball Colleges Cup

Basketball Ireland | National Basketball Colleges Cup | Men’s Division 1 (Seasons):

2016-17

Basketball Ireland | National Basketball Colleges Cup | Men’s Division 1 (Seasons):

2016-17

All-Ireland Schools Basketball Finals

Schools Basketball Association of Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Finals (Seasons):

1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03

Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools | All-Ireland Schools Finals (Seasons):

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

All-Ireland Schools Basketball Cup

Schools Basketball | All-Ireland Cup Finals (Overviews):

Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U19 A Boys 1992-2018

Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U19A Girls 1994-2018

Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools | All-Ireland Schools Cup U16 A Boys 2001-2018

Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools | All-Ireland Schools Cup U16 A Girls 2001-2018

Basketball Ireland | U19B Boys All Ireland Schools Cup Finals 1994-2019

Basketball Ireland | U19B Girls All Ireland Schools Cup Finals 1994-2019

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U19 A Boys (Seasons):

2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U19 A Girls (Seasons):

2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U16 A Boys (Seasons):

2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U16 A Girls (Seasons):

2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U19 B Boys (Seasons):

2017-18 2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U19 B Girls (Seasons):

2017-18 2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U16 B Boys (Seasons):

2017-18 2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U16 B Girls (Seasons):

2017-18 2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U19 C Boys (Seasons):

2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U19 C Girls (Seasons):

2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U16 C Boys (Seasons):

2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U16 C Girls (Seasons):

2019-20

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U15 A Girls (Seasons):

2016-17

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U15 B Boys (Seasons):

2016-17

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U15 B Girls (Seasons):

2016-17

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools Cup | U15 C Girls (Seasons):

2016-17

All-Ireland Schools Basketball League

Basketball Ireland | All-Ireland Schools League

Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools Finals (Overviews):

Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools | All-Ireland Schools League | U19A Boys Finals 1995-2019

Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools | All-Ireland Schools League | U19A Girls Finals 1995-2019

Schools Basketball Association of Ireland Era

Schools Basketball Association of Ireland | All Ireland Schools League | U18A Boys (Seasons):

1993-94

Irish Schoolgirls Basketball Association Era

SBAI | All Ireland Schools League | Senior A Girls (Seasons):

1990-91 1993-94

SBAI | All Ireland Schools League | Senior B Girls (Seasons):

1990-91

SBAI | All Ireland Schools League | Senior C Girls (Seasons):

1990-91

SBAI | All Ireland Schools League | Cadette A Girls (Seasons):

1990-91

SBAI | All Ireland Schools League | Cadette B Girls (Seasons):

1990-91

SBAI | All Ireland Schools League | Cadette C Girls (Seasons):

1990-91

Basketball Ireland Post-Primary Schools Era

BIPPS | All-Ireland Schools League | U19 A Boys (Seasons):

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

BIPPS | All-Ireland Schools League | U19 A Girls (Seasons):

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

BIPPS | All-Ireland Schools League | U19 B Boys (Seasons):

2016-17

BIPPS | All-Ireland Schools League | U19 B Girls (Seasons):

2016-17

BIPPS | All-Ireland Schools League | U16 A Boys (Seasons):

2017-18

BIPPS | All-Ireland Schools League | U16 A Girls (Seasons):

2017-18

BIPPS | All-Ireland Schools League | Minor B Boys (Seasons):

2016-17

Schools Basketball Inter Regionals

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.

Irish Schoolgirls Basketball Association | U-18 All Ireland Inter Regionals (Seasons):

2000-01 2002-03

Irish Schoolgirls Basketball Association | U-15 All Ireland Inter Regionals (Seasons):

2000-01 2002-03

Dublin Schoolgirls Basketball

Secondary Schoolgirls Association | Dublin Regional Basketball League (Overviews):

Secondary Schoolgirls Association | Dublin Regional Basketball League | U19 Premier Finals 2009-2018

Secondary Schoolgirls Association | Dublin Regional Basketball League | U16 Premier Finals 2009-2018

Secondary Schoolgirls Association | Dublin Regional Basketball League | 2nd Year Premier Finals 2009-2018

Secondary Schoolgirls Association | Dublin Regional Basketball League | 1st Year Premier Finals 2009-2018

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).

Roscommon Primary Schools Mini Basketball Finals (Seasons):

2019

Longford Primary Schools Mini Basketball Finals (Seasons):

2016

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.

Clare Community Games | Basketball (Seasons):

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Mayo Community Games | Basketball (Seasons):

1994 1995

Basketball Area Boards

Almost every County in Ireland has had its own Area Board at some stage or other, governing amateur competitons at both adult & underage levels for Men, Women, Boys & Girls.

These competitions form a level 3 or below in the Irish Basketball system, with the Basketball Ireland National Leagues forming the top two levels (Super League & Division 1)

There is no automatic promotion or relegation to and from the National Leagues and the Area Boards, with teams wishing to move up to National League level applying for a license and being assessed on a number of factors not just on the results on court.

Below you will find links to index pages for the results & tables of various Area Boards:

Connacht / North West:

Galway Area Basketball Board

Mayo Area Basketball Board

Shannonside / LonLeitRos Area Board (Counties Longford, Letrim & Roscommon – LonLeitRos / Westmeath, Longford, Leitrim, Roscommon – Shannonside)

North West Area Board (Sligo & Donegal)

Leinster:

Dublin Ladies Basketball Board

Dublin Men’s Basketball Board

North East Basketball Board (Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Cavan & Monaghan)

Midlands Area Basketball Board (Kildare, Laois & Offaly)

Kilkenny & South East Area Basketball Board (Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow & Waterford)