International

Nov 05 2021

TG4 to broadcast Ireland’s home FIBA EuroBasket November qualifiers

Basketball Ireland is pleased to announce that TG4 will broadcast live coverage of the upcoming FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 Qualifier against the Czech Republic on November 14th and the men’s FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers First Round game with Austria on November 28th.

It’s the first time since 2009 that Ireland will be competing in the top tier of European basketball and their first FIBA EuroBasket qualifier since 2003. Both games will tip off at 5pm at the National Basketball Arena, with TG4’s coverage starting at 4.50pm. Cispheil Beo will be presented by Galway sports broadcaster Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh, who willbe joined by a team of expert analysts.

Speaking at the announcement, Ireland senior men’s head coach, Mark Keenan, said: “It’s going to be great occasion having FIBA EuroBasket games at the National Basketball Arena and live on TG4 too. It will hopefully drum up extra awareness of basketball, that we’re at a higher international level and that will help drive the sport on.”

Ireland senior women’s head coach, James Weldon, also welcomed the news: “This is brilliant for our sport to have our home game in November live on TG4. It’s a major boost to the squad too, who have been working so hard to be in the best possible shape for the start our FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 qualifying campaign. We want our girls to inspire the next generation and being on live TV will help achieve that.”

 Ireland senior internationals Áine O'Connor, Dayna Finn, Sorcha Tiernan and Claire Melia at TG4 announcement

Basketball Ireland chairman, Paul McDevitt, said: “We’re really excited to partner up with TG4 once more, who have demonstrated their commitment to basketball over a long period of time with their excellent live coverage of the National Cup. To have our international sides on terrestrial TV will give everyone a chance to watch our wonderful international sides, who performed brilliantly during the summer, winning the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries and reaching the final of the FIBA Women’s European Championship for Small Countries.”

TG4’s Head of Sport, Rónán Ó Coisdealbha added: “TG4 has broadcast the National Cup finals from the National Basketball Arena for many years now, and we’re delighted to take this next step with Basketball Ireland and to have the opportunity to showcase our national teams as they start on their FIBA EuroBasket journeys. TG4 is delighted to make more basketball games available to the public on free-to-air television."

The Ireland senior women’s team are in Group I of the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers, alongside Belarus, Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Their opening game of the qualifiers is away against the Netherlands in a week’s time, on Thursday November 11th, with their first home game against Czech Republic taking place three days later, on November 14th.

Ireland senior internationals Neil Randolph, Kyle Hosford and Lorcan Murphy at TG4 announcement

Ireland senior men’s team are in Group A of FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers First Round, with Switzerland, Austria and Cyprus. Their opening game is away against Cyprus on Thursday November 25th, followed by their first home game on Sunday 28th November, against Austria. There are three groups in FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers First Round, with four teams – the three group winners and the best-ranked second-placed team – qualifying for the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers Second Round.

Tickets for Ireland women v Czech Republic can be purchased here

November Fixtures:

FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers

11th November 2021

Netherlands v Ireland, 1730, Sporthallen Zuid, Amsterdam, Watch here.

14th November 2021

Ireland v Czech Republic,  1700, National Basketball Arena, Dublin, LIVE ON TG4

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers First Round

25th November 2021

Cyprus v Ireland 1700, Tassos Papadopoulos Eleftheria SC, Nicosia, Watch here.

28th November 2021

Ireland v Austria, 1700, National Basketball Arena, Dublin LIVE ON TG4