Firhouse Basketball Club - About Us
History
Firhouse Notre Dame Girls Basketball Club in 1989 by a lady called Denise Brett. A local group of girls approached Denise to coach them as a team. The first team was made up of local girls who had brothers that played for the local boy’s team known as Notre Dame. Some of the first players included Molly Nolan, Bronagh Gallagher, Sorcha Daly, Jenny Byrne, Margaret Murphy, Niamh O Dwyer, Ann Behan, Michelle Kelly & Rita Byrne.
Next step:
This team was made up solely of girls and entered in the Dublin league and was an U17 (B) team. Some of the players were only 11 and 12 years of age at the time. The team played all its home games in Firhouse Community Centre, which eventually led to them incorporating Firhouse into the team name, becoming known as Firhouse Notre Dame.
After the first year it soon became clear that there was a huge interest in the area for girl’s basketball and it wasn’t long before many other teams were formed within the club. These teams were once again made up of friends and sisters of the boys club but also with the addition of some local girls from the Firhouse area. The second team was entered into the U13 Dublin league & the third into the U15 league. Denise Brett coached all three teams but it was time for new coaches to join to help expand and improve the club. Soon after Pat Gately and Sean Fallon joined to help coach the teams and Sean also acted as Club Chairperson for many years.
Pat was teaching in the local primary school, Scoil Treasa, and this proved very successful for the club as a tight link was formed between the two, which still exists today.
Expansion:
Once the first team was established there was no stopping the expansion and success of the club. After two years in existence, Firhouse Notre Dame won “club of the year.” The club also won the McDonalds Basketball Tournament which was a very prominent tournament for both clubs and primary schools at the time. In the 1991/92 season Firhouse Notre Dame U16 team won the All-Ireland Final in Mosney.
The team was coached by Pat Gately and the players included Emer Doyle (Captain), Claire Groarke, Sinead Groarke, Linda O’ Connell, Niamh Keohan, Edel McGreal, Jenny Ball, Suzanne Kenny, Leanne O Farrell & Tara Ryan. Five of those players are still playing with the club today and are currently competing at Senior 2 level. Jerome Howe coached the first senior team within the club.
Today and the future:
Presently the club has six competitive teams, all of which compete in the Dublin leagues, four underage teams including U14, U15, U16 & U18 and two senior teams, the Senior 2’s and Senior 4’s.
In June 2007 the club also set up a Junior Academy for players aged 6 – 12 years of age. This Junior Academy is to provide the foundations for the future of the club. It is open to all girls from 6 years of age and takes place in Firhouse Community Centre every Saturday. "The Academy has grown from strength to strength and hopes to be a building block for the future of the club. Our aim is to coach and develop a child's basketball skills from an early age, focusing on their technique, while all the time encouraging them to have fun and take enjoyment from the game" Head Coach, Vincent Homan.
The Academy helps young children to gain an appreciation for sport and physical activity, which will carry on with them throughout the rest of their lives.
"I would also like the academy to develop and promote the game of basketball within the community of Firhouse and to encourage other clubs to look long term at the future of the game, and not just at their own short term results" Head Coach, Vincent Homan.