Featured Member: Basketball Ireland

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Basketball Ireland

Basketball Ireland (B.I.) is the national governing body for the sport on the island of Ireland.

Part of FIBA Europe, the European Governing body, and of FIBA, the World Governing body, B.I. is responsible for the promotion and administration of basketball throughout Ireland and for Irish international participation.

Membership

Basketball Ireland has 16,000 members registered at club level.

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2012 Highlights

In 2012 Basketball Ireland introduced a successful new registration database with allowed the governing body to accurately capture membership numbers.

Both the 2012 National Cup and League  Finals were televised by Setanta Ireland in front of a capacity crowds at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght. Basketball Ireland have formed a positive partnership with Setanta Sports, with a monthly magazine show on Setanta Ireland airing on the first Sunday of every month at 6.40pm.

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Looking Forward to 2013

Basketball Ireland has just completed their National Cup Semi Finals and Final. The Semi-Finals were held in Neptune Stadium and the Parochial Hall, Cork the weekend of 11^th-13^th January. The matches drew great crowds throughout the weekend and a sold out Neptune Stadium for the Men’s SuperLeague game between Neptune and UCC Demons.

The National Cup Finals took place in the National Basketball Arena from Friday 25^th – Sunday 27^th January. Once again the Men’s and Women’s SuperLeague finals were televised live by Setanta Ireland in front of a capacity crowd, while the remainder of the finals draw great crowds over Saturday and Sunday.

The All Ireland Schools Cup Finals took place in the National Basketball Arena from Tuesday 22^nd January to Friday 25^th January. Twelve great games took place, with the arena filling out on a number of occasions throughout the week, as some schools closed for the day to come to the Arena to support their team. In addition, Setanta covered two days of the schools cup finals to be included in this month’s magazine show. This was a hugely positive step for schools basketball and it continues to grow throughout Ireland.

A Men’s SuperLeague Select team has already travelled to Birmingham to play England before Basketball England’s National Cup Finals on the 13^th January, with Ireland winning by three points, 80-83.

Looking forward to the rest of 2013, Basketball Ireland will increase the number of underage teams competing on the international stage from four to eight. Basketball Ireland are looking forward to a number of key events including; the National League Finals,  the Ireland All Ireland Schools League Finals and the All Ireland Club Championships.

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Calendar of Events

Basketball Ireland National League Finals	March 2013
Basketball Ireland Schools Leagues Finals	March & May 2013
Basketball Ireland College Intervarsitites	April 2013
Basketball Ireland All Ireland Club Championships	April 2013
Basketball Ireland National Area Board Intermediate Championships	May 2013

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How to Get Involved

People interested in getting involved in basketball can check out the Basketball Ireland website where they have a handy club finder facility. This provides a map of the country and people can locate their nearest club.

Alternatively, you can contact Basketball Ireland HQ on (01) 4590211 or info@basketballireland.ie and they can help people get involved.

Basketball is a sport for life, and if people want to get involved as referees, table officials or commissioners they can also contact Basketball Ireland HQ. Basketball Ireland cater for all ages and can find a role for anyone within the sport. We’d love to have you!

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