Press Release

May 23 2026

Coughlan, Fahy, Westbrooks and Black inducted into Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame

Ken Black, Jerome Westbooks, Michelle Fahy and Shane Coughlan were formally inducted into the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame at the 2026 Basketball Ireland Annual Awards and Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held at the Osprey Hotel in Naas on Saturday, where the quartet took their place as the 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th members of the Hall of Fame.

Shane Coughlan is the first Irish men’s player to be inducted. The former Blue Demons player, who won six Pat Duffy National Cup titles and three Men’s Super League titles in a 17-year career, said: “It's an honour to be selected into Basketball Ireland’s Hall of Fame. It was something I would have never thought of or imagine. My dad is the first person who I think of, who sadly passed in 2018 and would have been extremely proud, as he was my inspiration. My mam kept the show on the road for all of us in the family, where we all played basketball. But it’s the tremendous coaching ,committee members and people of Blue Demons who this award is really for and without doubt I have played with lads who made our club and Demons successful, because they were superbly talented. This award symbolises all of them for the good success we have.”

Shane Coughlan became the first Irish men's player inducted into the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame at the 2026 Basketball Ireland Annual Awards and Hall of Fame.

Ireland international Michelle Fahy won six Women’s Super League titles and five Paudie O’Connor National Cup’s at Glanmire and UL Huskies, during a distinguished career, which also saw her playing NCAA D1 basketball with Iona College in New York.

Speaking at the ceremony Fahy stated: “It's a huge honour for my family and me. I take great pride in becoming part of Irish basketball history. I've met the most amazing people along my basketball journey and treasure the friendships I've made.”

Michelle Fahy presented with Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame award by Basketball Ireland CEO, John Feehan

Jerome Westbrooks, who came to Ireland in 1981 as Killester’s first ever American pro and went on to multiple Men’s Super League and Pat Duffy National Cup titles with the Dublin club and St. Vincent’s. Testament to his longevity he won the double with Killester in 2001, the Super League in 2007 and finally in 2007/08 - aged 51 - a Pat Duffy National Cup.

Speaking about his induction to the Hall of Fame Westbooks said: “When I received the news of the award I was just over the moon, chuffed, and as I got here tonight I had the same feeling. What was added to it was all the people who are special to me that are here, with the emotion that is connected to it as well, it’s just incredible. I am just trying to keep it together!”

Jerome Westbrooks presented with Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame award by Basketball Ireland CEO, John Feehan.

Ken Black, who won multiple Men’s Super League and National Cup titles with Neptune, as well as coaching Chanell College, Loreto Swords and Swords Basketball Club, was also inducted. He was unable to attend the ceremony due to ill health.

Ken Black receives a standing ovation in his absence, after being inducted into the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame at the 2026 Annual Awards and Hall of Fame Ceremony

In total, 57 awards were handed out, former Ireland men’s head coach Mark Keenan and decorated referee Maciej Nazimek were handed President’s Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Elsewhere Latavious Mitchell, who helped Ballincollig to a double, earned the Domino’s Men’s Super League Player of the Year, with Ballincollig’s head coach Ciaran O’Sullivan earning Coach of Year. Jewel Watkins received the Domino’s Women’s Super League Player of the Year, after finishing the league’s top scorer and helping them to the Domino’s Women’s Super League playoff final. Killester’s Mark Grennell earned the Domino’s Women’s Super League Coach of the Year, he led his side to a fifth Domino’s WSL National Cup last January.

Alex Carlisle from Limerick Sport Eagles was the Domino's Men's Division One Player of the Year, with Niall McDermott taking the Coach of Year prize, after claiming the league and cup double. In Domino’s Women’s Division One Limerick Sport Huskies’ Clara Gomez Santa was awarded Player of Year, while Cleveland Rockets head coach Breda Dick earned Coach of the Year, she led her side to a top spot in the regular season, as well as the finals of the league and cup.

Basketball Ireland Annual Awards winners

Referees

NBRA Referee of the Year - Cathy Kilkenny

NBRA Most Improved Referee - Ronan Kelly

NLOP Senior Referee Development Award - Maciej Nazimek

NLOP Young Referee of the Year - Sam McEntee

CTOC Awards

Table Official of the Year - Catherine Bannon

Young Table Official of the Year - Michaela Buckley O'Riordan

Primary Schools Mini Basketball National Committee

Primary School Appreciation Award - Eileen Stapleton, Limerick Mini Basketball Board

Primary School of the Year - Bohermeen National School, Meath

Post-Primary Schools

Girls A School of the Year - Presentation College, Kilkenny

Boys A School of the Year - Coláiste Éanna, Dublin

Girls B School of the Year - St. Dominic's Grammar School, Belfast

Boys B School of the Year - Kildare Town Community School

Girls C School of the Year - Coláiste Chú, Chulainn

Boys C School of the Year - Dundalk Grammar School

Girls D School of the Year - Coláiste Éamann Rís

Boys D School of the Year - Rathdown School, Dublin

Male U19 Schools Player of the Year - Adam Charles

Female U19 Schools Player of the Year - Aoibheann Donnelly

Male U16 Schools Player of the Year - Ógie O'Leary Griffin

Female U16 Schools Player of the Year - Kayla Wall

Girls School Coach of the Year - Puff Summers

Boys School Coach of the Year - Hillary Netsiyanwa

Tom Collins Award - Adrian O'Neill

Colleges

Div 1 -Male Collegiate Player of the Year - Mikah Blackwell, Griffith College Dublin

Div 1-Female Collegiate Player of the Year - Hazel Finn, Trinity College Dublin

Div 2 -Male Collegiate Player of the Year - Luke Donnelly, Ulster University

Div 2-Female Collegiate Player of the Year - Aisling Marmion, Royal College of Surgeons

Div 3 -Male Collegiate Player of the Year - Eoghan McPartlan, Maynooth University

Div 3-Female Collegiate Player of the Year - Kate Kelly, Dundalk IT

IWA

Irish Wheelchair Basketball Women's Player of the Year - Kate Reddy, North East Thunder

Irish Wheelchair Basketball Men's Player of the Year - Jack Mangan, South East Swifts

National League

Domino's Men's Super League Player of the Year - Latavious Mitchell, Ballincollig Domino's Men's Super League Young Player of the Year - Ronan Byrne, UCD Marian

Domino's Men's Division One Player of the Year - Alex Carlisle, Limerick Sport Eagles

Domino's Men's Division One Young Player of the Year - Darragh Horkan, Limerick Sport Eagles

Domino's Men's Super League Coach of the Year - Ciaran O'Sullivan, Ballincollig Domino's Men's Division One Coach of the Year - Niall McDermott, Limerick Sport Eagles

Domino's Women’s Super League Player of the Year - Jewel Watkins, UCC Glanmire

Domino's Women's Super League Young Player of the Year - Hazel Finn, Trinity Meteors

Domino's Women's Division One Player of the Year - Clara Gomez Santa, Limierick Sport Huskies

Domino's Women's Division One Young Player of the Year - Caitlyn Gloeckner, Cleveland Rockets

Domino's Women’s Super League Coach of the Year - Mark Grennell, Killester Domino's Women's Division One Coach of the Year - Breda Dick, Cleveland Rockets

Area Boards

Area Board Club of the Year - Dublin Lions

U18 Male Player of the Year - Mykyta Hural, Dublin Lions

U18 Female Player of the Year - Laura Buckley, Limerick Celtics

U20 Male Player of the Year - Fortune Igbokwe, Titans

U20 Female Player of the Year - Abbie Lyons, Burnell

Underage Coaches

Men’s Underage Coach of the Year - Jack Considine, Titans

Women’s Underage Coach of the Year - Jodie Black, Brunell

Presidents’ Lifetime Achievement Awards

Presidents’ Lifetime Achievement Awards 2026 – Mark Keenan

Presidents’ Lifetime Achievement Awards 2026 – Maciej Nazimek