There are four Provinces in Ireland, each of which has or had its own Softball League, beginning with the Leinster Softball League which started in 1989, following on from the Dublin Softball League which played from 1982 to 1989. The Ulster Softball League started in 2009 and is still playing. The Munster Softball League played from 2011-2014, and the Galway Softball League (Connacht) started in 2020, growing out of the Galway Softball Trophy which played in the 2010s.
Softball Leinster
The Leinster Softball League is a Coed Slowpitch Softball League in Leinster Province, Ireland. It is currently at a 5:5 Male:Female Ratio although in its early days it was 9:1 Male:Female. There was a Female Slowpitch League from 1997-2002 which was League for Competitive Females from the top Divisions in the Leinster Softball League.
The most successful clubs over the entire history of the League have been Dodder Dynamoes (the oldest Softball team in Ireland) and Marlay Martyrs (both based in South Dublin suburbs – Marlay in Marlay Park, Rathfarnham (D14) and Dodder Dynamoes originally from Dodder Park, Dartry and now nomadic.
The League is Coed, originally 8:2 Ratio of Men:Women, until it levelled to 5:5 twice – in the late-1990s and in 2017.
This is a look at the Champions of each of the Levels of the Leinster Softball League with the winning record (W-L-Pts) for each year of the League Champions.
Softball Leinster Roll of Honour
LSL Level 1 1996-2019
Leinster Softball League | Level 1 Champions 1996-2019
Softball Leinster Team Line-Up (Seasons):
The Female Slowpitch League lasted five years from 1997 to 2002 (one year – 2001 – there was no league). After the League ended in 2002 two Fastpitch Teams were created although there is no evidence of any Fastpitch competitions or teams playing until the Fastpitch Ireland programme was started in 2015.
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Female Slowpitch League
Leinster Softball Association Weekend League 1997-2002
Links to Season Results & Reports
Irish Softball Association | Female Slowpitch League 1997-2002
Leinster Softball League History 1982-1989
The League started in 1982 as the Dublin Softball League with 5 teams – teams from the US Embassy Marines, Japanese Embassy Skinny Rats, the Fat Cats (American Businessmen), the Misfits (American Students, Irish Computer Workers and American Businessmen), and one from the Druid’s Chair, Killiney.
Leinster Softball League Level 1
Dublin Softball League 1982-1985; LSL Division 1 1996-1999; LSL Premier 1 Division 2000-2003; SI Leinster League Premier Division 2004-2011; Softball Leinster Premier Division 2012-2020
Leinster Softball League Level 1 (Standings)
Dublin Softball League 1982-1985
Leinster Softball League | Division 1 1996-1999
Leinster Softball League | Premier 1 Division 2000-2003
Softball Ireland Leinster League Premier Division 2004-2011
Softball Leinster | Premier Division 2012-2019
SI Softball Leinster Prem Division (Seasons): 2021 2020
SI Softball Leinster Premier League (Seasons):2019 2018 2017
SI Softball Leinster Premier Division (Seasons): 2016 2015 2014
Softball Ireland Leinster League Premier Division (Seasons): 2011 2010 2007 2006
ISA Leinster Softball Association Premier 1 League (Seasons): 2003 2002 2001 2000
Leinster Softball Association 1st Division (seasons): 1998 1999
IBSA Leinster Softball League Division 1 (Seasons): 1994
Dublin Softball League (Seasons): 1982
Leinster Softball League History 1990-1999
In 1990 the first Irish Softball Association was formed, which in 1992 became the Irish Baseball & Softball Association, adding a Second Division. A third Division was added in 1994, and a Fourth in 1996. In 1997 the Female Slowpitch League for Competitive Females was added.In 1998 the IBSA was renamed the Irish Baseball & Softball Federation.
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Leinster Softball League Level 2
LSL Division 2 1996-1999, LSL Premier 2 Division 2000-2003; SILL Division 1 2004-2011; SL Division 1 2012-2021
Leinster Softball League Level 2 (Decade / Era Overviews- Final Tables):
Leinster Softball League | Division 2 1996-1999
Leinster Softball League | Premier 2 Division 2000-2003
Softball Ireland Leinster League Division 1 2004-2011
Softball Leinster | Division 1 2012-2019
Softball Leinster Division 1 (Seasons): 2021
Softball Leinster Division 1A (Seasons): 2020
Softball Leinster Division 1B (Seasons): 2020
Leinster Softball League History 2000-2004
In 2000 a split occurred between the Baseball & Softball Federations, and The Irish Softball Association took over the running of Softball in Ireland. A fifth Coed Division was added that year and in 2001 a Seventh Level, the Men’s Non-Competitive League was added. 2002 was the last year of the Women’s Slowpitch League.
n 2004 the Irish Softball Association was rebranded Softball Ireland, and the number of divisions dropped to four, which were run directly by Softball Ireland.(Softball Ireland 2004-Present)
Leinster Softball League Level 3
Leinster Softball League Division 3 1996-1999; LSL Senior Division 2000-2003; SILL Division 2 2004-2011; SL Division 2 2012-2020
Leinster Softball League Level 3 (Decade / Era Overviews- Final Tables):
Leinster Softball League | Division 3 1996-1999
Leinster Softball League | Senior Division 2000-2003
Softball Ireland Leinster League Division 2 2004-2011
Softball Leinster | Division 2 2012-2019
Softball Leinster Division 2 (Seasons): 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Leinster Softball History 2012-Present
Softball Leinster was reformed in 2011 for the purposes of running the League from 2012 onwards, with the League dropping to three levels.(Softball Leinster 2011-Present)
Leinster Softball League Levels 4-7
LSL Division 4 1996-1999; LSL Junior Division 2000-2003; LSL Division 3 2004-2011.
Leinster Softball League Level 4
Leinster Softball League Division 4 1996-1999
Leinster Softball League | Junior Division 2000-2003
Softball Ireland Leinster League Division 3 2004-2011
Softball Leinster Division 2 (seasons): 2020
Leinster Softball League Level 5
Leinster Softball League | Minor Division 2000-2001
Softball Ireland Leinster League Division 4 2004-2007
Leinster Softball League Level 6
Leinster Softball Association 6th Division 1997-1998
Leinster Softball League Male Division
Aside from the Leinster Softball League there has also been Leinster Softball Knockout (elimination) Cups, such as the Leinster Championship in the early 1990s and the 5:5 Pennant in the late 1990s.
Leinster Softball Cups
Leinster Softball Association 5:5 Pennant
Leinster Softball Association | 5:5 Senior Pennant 1998-1999
Leinster Softball Association | 5:5 Junior Pennant 1998-1999