Burke, Gillick, Marsh and Hayes set to be inducted into Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame

Tony Burke, Sheila Gillick, Deora Marsh and Jillian Hayes will be inducted into the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame class of 2024. 

Their induction will take place at the Basketball Ireland Annual Award Ceremony later this year, when they will become the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th members of the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame. 

TONY BURKE

Tony Burke pictured (left) at Oblate Hall in Inchicore, Co. Dublin

Tony Burke is one of the most respected and outstanding referees and personalities in Irish basketball over the decades.

Although a fine player in his own right playing with Corinthians and later Killester, Tony would really make his mark as a referee, being particularly renowned for his knowledge of the rules and exceptional communication with, and empathy for, players.

As Paul Dempsey, the referee manager with Basketball Ireland, once observed, “He was able to diffuse any situation with the right word, look or even smile, at always the right time.” Or as Tony himself once remarked, “I never blew my way through a game but just tried to manage it by communicating with the players; in other words, by preventative refereeing.”

As well as officiating countless national finals, Tony would go on to be an outstanding FIBA referee and commissioner as well as our national appointments officer.

Read more about Tony here.

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Sheila Gillick

Sheila Gillick was one of the 1973 Ireland women's basketball team who were honoured on the 50th anniversary of the formation of the team in 2023.

Sheila Gillick is a transcendent figure in Irish basketball, leaving an indelible mark on all facets of the game she encountered.

Her relationship with basketball began in 1961 in the St. Louis School in Rathmines Co. Dublin. Gillick’s fledgling career coincided with a very successful period for the Dublin 8 school. She would go on to win an All-Ireland Schools Final, multiple Leinster Championships and represent Ireland at the European Schools Games during her six year stay.

Gillick transferred that success into her club career with Corinthians BC, where she was a key cog in a fantastic side that picked up international honours in 1971, as well as All-Ireland titles in 1972 and 1975. Not only willing to contribute on the court, Sheila got involved in coaching while still playing, taking on teams in Ballyroan BC and Corinthians BC, helping to teach the next generation of women’s basketball players.

Read more about Sheila here.

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Deora Marsh

Deora Marsh during his playing days for North Mon and Ballina. 

Deora Marsh is one of the most beloved and outstanding players to play in Ireland ever since first arriving here in the autumn of 1982.

After guiding North Monastery Cork to promotion to the top flight in his rookie season here, the native of Ashtabula County, Ohio who played D1 NCAA ball with the Southern Mississippi Eagles was then signed by Ballina who he would also inspire to promotion and then in subsequent seasons and even decades help establish as one of the most charismatic and followed and groundbreaking teams in national league history.

In the 1990s they would win two National Cups (1991 and 1996) and the league itself (1992); until Maree delivered the National Cup in 2023, no other side from Connacht had ever won top-flight national honours while Killarney in the early eighties and various Tralee teams over the past 20 years are the only other men’s sides from a provincial town to claim similar honours. Marsh starred and top-scored in all three finals, netting 30, 31 and 32 points respectively and being named MVP on each occasion.

Read more about Deora here.

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Jillian Hayes

Jillian Hayes coaching Waterford Wildcats U20 team during their InsureMyHouse.ie National Cup success in 2024. 

Jillian Hayes is roundly considered the outstanding Irish player of the 1990s, starring for the national team and propelling her beloved Waterford Wildcats to become the leading team of that era and one of the finest teams in Irish women’s Superleague history.

Renowned for her exceptional footwork in the post that would inspire future internationals from Michelle Fahy to her own daughters and current stars Sarah and Kate Hickey, Hayes won six Superleague titles (1995-1999, 2001), four National Top Four championships (1989, 1998-2000) and four league MVPs. Her record in the senior National Cup was also exceptional, reaching nine finals, the first in 1991 and the last in 2009, three of which she and Wildcats won (1998, 2000, 2001).

Although a self-confessed “big, awkward, lanky, uncoordinated kid” when taking up the sport as a first year in Our Lady of Mercy in Waterford, Hayes would blossom into a standout underage player, representing her country at U15 level and making her senior debut while only 17. She’d twice be named the Irish junior player of the year and would win underage national titles with both Wildcats at club level (1991 U19 Cup) and Mercy at schools (1988 league and Cup).
She would go on to be capped by her country 67 times across the age-groups, including captaining the senior team to a Four Countries title in the mid-nineties.

Read more about Jillian here.