In Ireland there are both Fastpitch Softball Leagues (National) as well as Slowpitch Softball Leagues (Provincial). Softball Cups are organized on a National basis for Provincial League teams, and the Champions of each province can compete for the Softball Ireland National Club Championship (SINCC). The SINCC Champions have the opportunity to represent Ireland in the European Club Championships. In addition there have been a number of Weekend Softball Leagues for Slowpitch teams which give players and teams the chance to compete against other teams from outside their own Provincial League.
Here are links to various Softball Ireland Competitions:
Fastpitch Softball
Fastpitch Softball is basically a Women’s Competitive version of Baseball, and differs from the Coed / Mixed version of Softball played in Ireland since the 1980s, as the pitching is fast and not in a soft arc, as in the recreational version of the sport (hence the name softball). There are 9 players in a Fastpitch Softball team, like in Baseball as opposed to 10 in Co-Ed (Mixed) Recreational Softball.
The Fastpitch Ireland programme dates from the early 2000s, when two Women’s teams were created, and then in the 2010s, the Softball Ireland National team (who played in both the World Championships and European Championships) was started.
In 2019-20 the first Softball Ireland Irish National Fastpitch League began, playing all its matches on the turf pitch at the National Indoor Arena in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Unlike the earlier Fastpitch Softball in Ireland, this is Coed / Mixed, with an equal representation of Men to Women (5:5).
Here are links to various Fastpitch competitions in Ireland and Internationally, involving Ireland teams:
Fastpitch Softball Leagues
Softball Ireland Cups
The Softball Ireland National Club Championship (SINCC) is the Premier Slowpitch Softball Competition in Ireland, played between the winners of the Regional Leagues. The Brian Walshe Cup (Previously the ISA Cup) is second on the Order of Merit and the Irish Open Softball Trophy (IOST) third. Below this are the Regional (Provincial) Leagues. [Reference: 1]
References: [1] The Baseline – Irish Softball Community | Facebook Group (2020) Colum Lavery’s [Softball Ireland President]Reply to Post by Enda Mulcahy, 12 January 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2272568132795300/permalink/2870358163016291/ [Accessed 12 January 2020]
The Softball Ireland Brian Walshe Cup is the Premier Cup Competition in Ireland, played since 2008, and preceded by the Softball Ireland / Irish Softball Association Cup (1995-2007), the Irish Baseball & Softball Association / Federation Softball Championship (1990-1994) and the Aughinish All-Ireland Challenge (1986-1988).
Irish Softball Cup
SI Brian Walshe Cup 2008-Present; SI Cup 1995-2007; Irish Softball Championship 1990-1994; Aughinish All-Ireland Challenge 1986-1988
Softball Ireland Cups (All-Time Overview)
Softball Ireland Cups 1986-Present
Softball Ireland Cups (Decade / Era Overview)
Aughinish All Ireland Challenge (Softball) 1986-1988
Irish Softball Championship 1990-1994
Softball Ireland Cup 1995-2007
Softball Ireland Brian Walshe Cup 2008-Present
ISA Championship (Seasons): 1990 1991
IBSA Cup Championship (Seasons): 1992 1993
IBSA 6:4 Cup Competition (Seasons): 1997 1998
International Softball
Ireland enters teams into the World Baseball-Softball Confederation (WSBC) Women’s World Softball Championships, European Softball Federation (ESF) European Softball Championships (both Fastpitch) as well as the Coed (Mixed) and Men’s Slowpitch European Championships. Club teams also enter the Coed Slowpitch Club Championships.
Here are links to various International Softball competitions involving Ireland teams and Irish Club teams:
European Softball Federation
ESF
Women’s European Softball Championships (Fastpitch) : 2017
Coed Slowpitch Softball | National Teams:
European Softball Federation | European Coed Slowpitch Softball Championships 2011-2019
European Softball Federation | European Coed Slowpitch Softball Championships 1998-2010
Coed Slowpitch Softball | Club Teams:
European Softball Federation | European Cup Coed Slowpitch 2007-2012
European Softball Federation | European Coed Slowpitch Super Cup 2014-2018
American Softball Teams in Ireland
American Softball Teams in Ireland
American Softball Teams in Ireland:
International Softball – USS Fresno 20 USS Johnston & USS Rush 5 – Croke Park Dublin 1948
Weekend Softball Leagues
From time-to-time brief Provincial Leagues or Challenge matches involving teams from Connacht, Munster and Leinster outside of Dublin; as well as Dublin (SL Weekend League and ISA Inter-County Tournament) have been organized. These Leagues, Tournaments or Friendly matches have been separate from the Leinster and Ulster Softball Leagues which have been running since 1990 (LSL) and 2008 (USL) and the brief attempt at a Munster Softball League (2010-11). There has also been Weekend Leagues in Dublin (Gemstorm Winter League) and the Female Slowpitch League (Dublin).
Softball Leinster Weekend League
The latest attempt at a League involving teams from outside Dublin – the Softball Leinster Weekend League involved Galway as well as five Dublin teams.
Cork-Galway-Limerick-Kerry Softball Friendlies
This attempt at organizing regular matches outside Dublin involved Galway Tribes and Cork Hammerheads meeting each other twice a year (home and away) for two matches per weekend. A team from Tralee (Kerry Green Sox ?) joined them in 2009, after which the Munster Softball League including Cork, Galway, Limerick Originals and West Clare Dolphins was established (see https://eirball.ie/munster-softball/ for more details)
Inter-County Softball Leagues
The Inter-County Tournament was the first real attempt at organizing a Softball League outside Dublin – teams included Galway Tribes, Galway Hookers, Cork Pirates, Cork Buccaneers, Longford Triads, Bray Allsorts (Wicklow) and two business teams from Dublin (MBNA Mavericks and Japan Bytes Sluggers)
Dublin Bay Challenge Series
The Dublin Bay Challenge Series was a small three-team (originally intended to be four team) Weekend Softball League featuring teams around Dublin Bay.
Weekend Softball Leagues
Dublin Bay Challenge Series; Gemstorm Winter League; ISA Inter-County Tournament; Galway-Cork-Limerick-Kerry Friendlies; Softball Leinster Weekend League
Softball Leinster Weekend League
5 Dublin teams and Galway
Softball Leinster Weekend League (Seasons):
West Coast Softball Friendlies
Galway, Cork, Tralee, Limerick and West Clare teams
West Coast Softball Friendlies (Seasons):
Cork-Galway Softball Friendlies (Seasons):
Inter-County Tournament
Galway, Cork, Longford, Bray, and two Business Teams from Dublin
Irish Softball Association Inter-County Tournament (Seasons):
Dublin Bay Challenge Series
Three teams from around Dublin Bay.
Dublin Bay Challenge Series (Seasons):
Softball Business Leagues
Businesses and Corporations have been involved in Irish Softball since the first Leagues in the 1980s, with teams such as Fat Cats made up of american Businessmen. In the 1990s, Computer Companies got involved in a big way, and since the 2000s, there has been a separate Business House League or Corporate League in the Area. (see the Leinster Softball page on Eirball for more on the Leagues in the 1980s and 1990s: https://eirball.ie/leinster-softball/
The Business House League was run directly by Softball Ireland in the 2000s, and then, the Corporate League as it was now known, was run by Softball Leinster in the 2010s.
