Press Release
Marsh, Hayes, Gillick and Burke inducted into Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame
Deora Marsh, Jillian Hayes, Sheila Gillick and Tony Burke were formally inducted into the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dublin on Saturday, 18th May.
The awards laid out ahead of the evening
Deora Marsh, who arrived in Ireland in 1982, was one of the finest players to have played in Irish domestic basketball. He led both North Monastery Cork and Ballina to Super League promotion, while winning two National Cups (1991 and 1996) and the Super League (1992) with the Mayo club.
Jillian Hayes won six Super League titles with Waterford Wildcats (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).
Jillian Hayes in attendance
Hayes played 67 times for Ireland across the age-groups, including captaining the senior team to a Four Countries title in the mid-nineties.
Sheila Gillick was part of the first Irish women’s basketball team in 1973, defeating Scotland in an exhibition game, before creating history while competing at the 1974 FIBA European Championships in Poland. Gillick also made her mark in administration with the Dublin Ladies Area Board and also served as General Secretary of Basketball Ireland and on several appeals committees, before becoming President of Basketball Ireland.
Tony Burke, who played with Corinthians and Killester, made his mark as a referee, being particularly renowned for his knowledge of the rules and exceptional communication with, and empathy for, players. As well as officiating countless national finals, Burke would go on to be an outstanding FIBA referee and commissioner, as well as a national appointments officer.
Tony Burke presented with his award by Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan for his induction into the 2024 Hall of Fame
Donal Walsh, Ger Tarrant and Kitty and John Glavin were honoured with a Presidents' Lifetime Achievement Awards at the ceremony.
Among the other winners were Griffith College Éanna duo Josh Wilson and Darren McGovern, who won Men’s Super League Player of the Year and Men’s Super League Coach of the Year respectively, after the club clinched their first ever InsureMyVan.ie Super League title.
Pyrobel Killester, who lifted their first MissQuote.ie Super League title in 44 years and lift the MissQuote.ie Champions Trophy, saw Claire Melia claim the Women’s Super League Player of the Year, while Mark Grennell took Women’s Super League Coach of the Year.
In total - there were 58 categories being presented on the night, with the addition of Social Media Club of The Year for the first time, won by Moy Tolka Rovers.
Tolka Rovers were presented with their award for ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ at last night's awards ceremony ๐ฅ
— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) May 19, 2024
The first year the award has been presented, it recognises the efforts made by the club digitally across their social media channels.… pic.twitter.com/Loewomncp5
Award Recipients
2024 Hall of Fame
Deora Marsh
Jillian Hayes
Sheila Gillick
Tony Burke
2024 Presidents’ Lifetime Achievement Awards
Kitty and John Glavin (Donaghmore Club Cork)
Ger Tarrant
Donal Walsh
Referees
NBRA Referee of the Year – Canice Kelly
NBRA Most Improved Referee – Ali Fagan
NLOP Senior Referee Development Award – Brendan Markey
NLOP Young Referee of the Year – Sean Butterly
CTOC Awards
Table Official of the Year – Adrianne Prendergast
Young Table Official of the Year - Marta Preieto
Primary Schools Mini-Basketball National Committee
Primary School Appreciation Award - Patricia Phelan
Primary School of the Year - Castle Park School Dalkey, Dublin
Post-Primary Schools
Tom Collins Award - Tommy O'Mahony
Boys A School of the Year - Coláiste Éanna, Dublin
Girls A School of the Year - Virginia College, Cavan
Girls B School of the Year - Coláiste na Carraige, Donegal
Boys B School of the Year - Summerhill College, Sligo
Girls C School of the Year - Naas Community College
Boys C School of the Year - Kildare Town Community School
Girls D School of the Year - Coláiste Chú Chulainn, Dundalk
Boys D School of the Year - Ennis Community College
Male U19 Schools Player of the Year - Harry Scully, Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip
Female U19 Schools Player of the Year - Emma Tolan, Virginia College
Male U16 Schools Player of the Year - Adam McCarthy, Coláiste Éanna
Female U16 Schools Player of the Year - Abbey and Anna Nealon, Mungret Community College
Girls School Coach of the Year - Liam Culloty, Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee
Boys School Coach of the Year - Hillary Netsiyanwa, Coláiste Éanna
Colleges
Div 1 - Male Collegiate Player of the Year - Evan Blackmon, Griffith College
Div 1- Female Collegiate Player of the Year - Emma Glavin, University of Galway
Div 2 - Male Collegiate Player of the Year - Elijah Faapito, DBS
Div 2 - Female Collegiate Player of the Year - Jiselle Thomas, Griffith College
Div 3 - Male Collegiate Player of the Year - Daniel O'Sullivan, Mary Immaculate College
Div 3 - Female Collegiate Player of the Year - Grainne O'Reilly, Mary Immaculate College
IWA
Irish Wheelchair Basketball Women's Player of the Year - Sophie Denieffe, South East Swifts
Irish Wheelchair Basketball Men's Player of the Year - Conor Coughlan - Rebel Wheelers
National League
Men's Super League Player of the Year - Josh Wilson, Griffith College Éanna
Men's Super League Young Player of the Year - Rapolas Buivydas, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors
Men's Division One Player of the Year - Jonathan Jean - UCD Marian
Men's Division One Young Player of the Year - Elijah Faapito, Moy Tolka Rovers
Men's Super League Coach of the Year - Darren McGovern, Griffith College Éanna
Men's Division One Coach of the Year - Ioannis Liapakis, UCD Marian
Women’s Super League Player of the Year - Claire Melia, Pyrobel Killester
Women's Super League Young Player of the Year - Sarah Hickey, SETU Waterford Wildcats
Women's Division One Player of the Year - Jensen Caretti, iSecure Swords Thunder
Women's Division One Young Player of the Year - Emma Tolan, McEvoy's Cavan Eagles
Women’s Super League Coach of the Year - Mark Grennell, Pyrobel Killester
Women's Division One Coach of the Year - James Fleming, St. Paul’s Killarney
National Area Boards
Area Board Club of the Year - Brunell BC
U18 Male Player of the Year - Harry Scully, Dublin Lions
U18 Female Player of the Year - Grace Prenter, Meteors
U20 Male Player of the Year - Matthew Barry, Limerick Celtics
U20 Female Player of the Year - Sarah Hickey, Waterford Wildcats
Underage Coaches
Men’s Underage Coach of the Year - James Martin, Phoenix
Women’s Underage Coach of the Year - Jillian Hayes, Waterford Wildcats
Basketball Volunteer of the Year 2024
Basketball Volunteer of the Year 2024 – Munster - Trish Kelly
Basketball Volunteer of the Year 2024 – Leinster - Helen O'Duffy
Basketball Volunteer of the Year 2024 - Connacht - Joseph Coughlan
Basketball Volunteer of the Year 2024 - Ulster - Graham Tolan
Governance
Club Mark Award - Limerick Celtics
Media Award
Social Media Club of The Year - Moy Tolka Rovers
FIND US
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Tymon Park, Dublin, Ireland
D24 N449 (map)
T: +353 1 459 0211
E: info@ireland.basketball