Basketball Ireland Open Day

1st pic: Mike Murray Basketball Ireland, James Kilkenny Galway Sports Partnership, Louise Burke Sport ireland, Caroline Walsh East Galway Celtics Basketball team, Senator Aisling Dolan, Helen Cawley Hymany Curragh Park Residents Association, André Esker Fields resident.

A fun-filled day of basketball was held locally  recently for the opening of regenerated courts at Hymany Park/Esker Fields. Basketball Ireland hosted the open day, and national basketball players were in attendance.

​The aim of the project is to establish Basketball as a mixed sports for after school hours . Senator Aisling Dolan stated “It was great to see 30 or more children and students out enjoying basketball. This event is funded through government investment by Sport Ireland in the Ballinasloe area last year. Evie Day from Doire Beg also shows how everyone can make a difference, with her cousin Fia she started a petition to have access to a basketball court after school hours in Ballinasloe and I was able to raise this with Galway Sports Partnership.”

“Credit is due to the residents in Hymany Curragh Park who wanted more activities for children in the area clearing up this area and working with Esker Hills & Seamus Goldrick in Galway County Council to rejuvenate the basketball court,” Dolan added.
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The project was a cross collaboration between the Galway Local Sports Partnership, the Housing Department of Galway County Council, OMW suppliers and Basketball Ireland, the national governing sports body who all supported the opening day.
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James Kilkenny of Galway Sports Partnership was in attendance on the day and thoroughly enjoyed it: “It was great to work with Mike Murray from Basketball Ireland who brought players from the NUI Galway team Mystics organising games for children with a few professional basketball tips in there too.”

Louise Burke, from Sport Ireland added: “This is an incredible opportunity to get so active and there is a fantastic atmosphere here. Basketball is such an accessible sport for girls and boys and Sport Ireland supports initiatives with Sports Partnership groups across the country to achieve our goal of 60% of people in Ireland to be physically active and enjoying sport in their local area. I look forward to seeing a basketball club start in the Ballinasloe area.”

The hope in the future is to get enough interest to start up a Basketball Club for the area for boys and girls of all ages. Galway Sports Partnership are planning to hold a second event in June, check their Facebook Page for updates. 

Evie Day from Doire Beg and her cousin Fia Hamill from Garbally Drive with their petition from local residents to have a basketball court in town which could be used outside of school hours.