Students from Coláiste Bhríde’s U19 Girls basketball team celebrated an outstanding achievement of becoming the All-Ireland winning Ladies Basketball team after defeating Kilrush Community School, Co. Clare recently.
The team were welcomed back to the school gym in Coláiste Bhríde with a guard of honour of crowds of students, parents and teachers cheering and supporting the team. The achievement was celebrated with great pride and has been remembered as a significant moment for basketball at the school.
Following the success, the U19 Girls Basketball team have been announced as the Grand Marshals for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. Carnew Town Team who are organising the event said it was only fitting they “take the spotlight after all their hard work.”
Principal Anna Gahan shared her delight with the team’s success and said it has been many years in the making to take home the All-Ireland trophy. “It’s been the culmination of about seven or eight years of work up until now.
“We’ve always had basketball in the school – I even played when I was a student myself here, but we didn’t have the level we currently have,” Anna added.
Colaiste Bhride Carnew Ladies under 19 All Ireland Basketball Champions with their coach Mr. Jonathan Gleeson. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench
The win represents the first time the school has taken home an All-Ireland trophy in the basketball discipline. “We haven’t scooped an All-Ireland title in basketball so we’re so proud of the girls but also of the fact that the standard has been elevated through years, because they’re bringing each other on.
With the team making their way up through the ranks over the years, Anna praised coach Mr Jonathon Gleeson for helping the team take home the win. “He has played basketball himself at a high level outside of school, so when he joined the school as a member of staff, he started to have significant input school sports and put a structure on training,” she said.
She added that the success has shone a light on a promising future for the team as they continue to train and excel. “It’s hard work and it proves that hard work pays off,” Anna added.
Colaiste Bhride Carnew Ladies under 19 All Ireland Basketball Champions arrive to a guard of honour. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench
Anna further said there has been a significant growth in interest and wins in school sports for the female students and said it’s great to see hard work paying off. “I’m not at all putting down the boys, but just we seem to be in a particular growth era for ladies’ sports in the school.”
Anna thanked students and parents for their support with the girls’ basketball team and attending the special homecoming ceremony and gave special thanks to Mr Gleeson.
“This just doesn’t happen with the odd training session, you know. They’re training at weekends and all of that as well and after school.”