Squash clubs are providing opportunities for children, teenagers and adults to take part in sport within their local communities across Ireland every day, playing an important role in the growth of Irish sport. But there is one common challenge behind every successful squash club: facilities.
Existing infrastructure for many clubs is under increasing pressure due to growing membership numbers, increased participation among women and girls, outdated lighting systems, limited training provision, accessibility challenges and shared facility pressures.
For this reason, the upcoming Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) is an important opportunity for squash clubs across the country as the round is said to be one of the most accessible funding rounds to date.
According to updates from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, no match funding is required at the application stage, there is no lease or land ownership requirement at the initial application stage and there is a strong encouragement for collaboration with schools and communities.
A new online application platform has replaced OSCAR, simplifying the document upload and application processes and the message from the Department is a clear “apply for something”, not only major developments but also smaller strategic facility upgrades.
Clubs do not need to have every element fully finalised before beginning preparations, as the key priority at this stage is planning. That includes governance documentation, constitutions and compliance, tax clearance status, land or facility arrangements, membership trends and waiting lists, school/community partnerships, project cost estimates and facility masterplans.
“The Community Sports Facility Fund provides an opportunity for affiliated squash clubs to secure much-needed and potentially very significant funding to upgrade facilities and purchase sports equipment,” said Squash Ireland CEO Scott Graham.
“Last time round, the maximum amount available for local club projects was €200,000, so if you have a project in mind, big or small, now is the time to look seriously at it. The message is very clear for this round of the Community Sports Facility Fund: every eligible squash club in the country should consider applying for something.
“We all know of clubs that could benefit from the refurbishment of their squash courts, more modern changing facilities, improved insulation, heating and lighting, or even an additional squash court, either indoors or potentially a new outdoor squash court. There is also the opportunity to apply for funding for vital equipment such as rackets, balls, and gym equipment.
“Having a modern, warm, and welcoming squash facility improves the member experience and will help us grow the game and welcome more people into our clubs.
“I would encourage every club committee to meet to discuss the Community Sports Facility Fund opportunity and to be prepared when the application process opens in the coming weeks. Reach out to your Local Sports Partnership or to Squash Ireland for advice and support.”
What has emerged from Department discussions is that collaboration is seen as increasingly important and clubs should consider engaging with schools, local authorities, community organisations, disability groups, recreational activity groups and neighbouring sports clubs.
Squash has an advantageous ability to engage players from across all age groups, from juniors through to masters, and this community impact will matter greatly within funding applications.
Key considerations for making a strong funding application will include a clear community need, strong governance structures, evidence of participation demand, long-term sustainability, collaboration and partnership, strategic planning and realistic project delivery models.
Examples of projects a squash club could realistically seek funding for include:
What was not funded in 2023 (please note this list may change):
To help with planning, clubs are invited to watch back Squash Ireland’s 2into3 Community Sports Facility Funding Information Webinar – CSFF – Google Drive.
One of the requirements to make an application is the need for a quotation. For court build or upgrade quotations, including new flooring, glass backs and related works, please contact: [email protected]
For an Access Court indoor or outdoor court quotation tailored to your club’s needs, click here.
2023 Guide available here: scep-2023-guide-to-making-an-application-c23265e9-1ebe-4120-b9c8-21d017473ee6.pdf
OSCAR – Online Sports Capital Register – Oscar
The future success of squash in Ireland depends heavily on the strength of local clubs and the facilities available within communities. Now is the time for clubs to plan, engage locally and prepare.
A delicious squash treat is in store in Galway from Tuesday, when a quality line-up featuring 20 top men’s players from around the world and four leading Irish players take part in the five-day $15K PSA West of Ireland Open.
Heading the 24-strong list of stars to watch out for is Samuel Osborne-Wylde, the event’s top seed and current PSA No.57. He was part of the title-winning England team at the 2022 Junior World Championships in France.
Also featuring at the Galway Lawn Tennis Club in Salthill will be Rowan Damming, the 2022 junior world champion. The Netherlands player is the PSA No.74.
Dillon Huang, the newly crowned USA national champion and PSA No.106, is also flying in for the West of Ireland Open, which also has a variety of rising professionals from other places such as Malaysia, Canada and New Zealand.
Sam Buckley, the Irish No.1 and the PSA No.98, heads up the Irish contingent that also includes Conor Moran, Michael Creaven and Alex Smith. Buckley, Moran and Creaven were part of the Ireland team that recently won the Division 2 title at the European Championships in Amsterdam.
All matches at the Garavan’s Bar-sponsored tournament will take place on court one at the Threadneedle Road venue and aside from free entry for all fans, some of the professional players will also run a series of clinics for local junior players.
“It’s a great way to end the season,” enthused David Noone, the Ireland coach who has helped build interest and participation in squash from his Galway base.
“It’s the week before the Irish Open in Dublin as well, which is exciting. This event in Galway holds its own merit, and it has a rich history of winners.
“We have had people like Ali Farag, one of the greatest players of all time. This was his first PSA title many years ago. We had Simon Rösner, who went on to become the world No.3.
“We had a lot of high-quality previous winners, which means it’s quite cool when you look at the cup. It’s a rich, rich history of past champions.”
It’s a history that now awaits its 2026 champion. “A massive thank you to Garavan’s Bar for their generous sponsorship of this event,” continued Noone, whose recent coaching duties included the Ireland men’s and women’s senior teams at the European Championships and the juniors at the U17 & U15 European Mixed Team Championships.
“The main goal of the tournament is to inspire the youngsters in the Galway club. We have a great community of players in the club, and we are going to get in the local schools and have a celebration of squash and showcase the club.
“Galway is a great club, and we are also going to be running junior clinics with some of the pro players as well. That’s high on the agenda.”
The qualification system for squash’s debut at next year’s European Games in Istanbul (June 22nd-26th, 2027) has been announced by the European Squash Federation following approval by member nations at its AGM in Amsterdam.
The 2027 European Games is one of the five Continental Games which forms part the Olympic qualification system for the squash competition at the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LA28). The event will also double up as the 2027 ESF European Individual Closed Championships.
The men’s and women’s squash gold medallists in Istanbul will guarantee qualification in the 16-player Olympic draw in LA (subject to meeting conditions in the Olympic qualification guidelines).
The squash competition at the European Games will consist of 24 players per gender and shall be composed as follows:
The 21 places per gender allocated via the PSA world rankings on April 19th, 2027, will be subject to the following national allocation rules:
Further details can be found here.
Qualification tournament (to take place May 6th-9th, 2027):
The full European Games qualification guidelines are available here.
European Squash Federation president Thomas Troedsson said: “We are thrilled to announce these qualification criteria for what is an eagerly-awaited occasion as squash makes its debut in the European Games.
“For the two gold medallists in Istanbul, it will be the realisation of a dream to be part of squash’s Olympic debut at LA 2028. With such high stakes, the European Games is set to be one of the most exciting squash competitions ever staged.
“I’d like to thank colleagues at the European Squash Federation, World Squash, the PSA, the European Olympic Committee and the 2027 European Games Organising Committee for their support during this process.”
Mihai Covaliu, the chair of the EOC coordination commission for the 4th European Games Istanbul 2027, added: “The inclusion of squash at Istanbul 2027 marks an important milestone for both the sport and the European Games.
“We are proud to provide a platform where Europe’s top players can compete at the highest level, with the added incentive of a direct pathway towards qualification for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. This is a significant step in showcasing squash on the continental stage and supporting its continued growth.”
Oisin Logan has predicted a bright future for the Ireland men’s team following their European Championships promotion back to Division 1.
The No. 1-seeded Irish were too good for the opposition they faced last week in Amsterdam, defeating Slovakia, Norway, Austria, Sweden and Israel to clinch the Division 2 title success and secure top-flight squash at next year’s tournament.
The 30-year-old Logan was chuffed with the success and his contribution can’t be underestimated, especially his exploits in last Saturday’s final.
With Sam Buckley having put Ireland 1-0 up on an adjacent court in Amsterdam, Logan brilliantly pulled through in his match which was being simultaneously played.
That put Ireland into a commanding 2-0 lead and the fixture was soon conceded by the Israelites when they realised that they couldn’t win enough games to take the title, as Conor Moran had gone 2-0 up in his match and Michael Creaven was at 1-2 in his.
The victory resulted in a great outpouring of joy, with Logan delighted with a super week’s work. “It was great, great vibe as always across the team,” he said.
“Myself and a few of the lads have been on the team since 2019, so we have been up. Started in Division 2, up to Division 1. Unfortunately relegated last year, but great to be back in Division 1 and a convincing win this year. Happy with how it went.
“It’s looking really good for the Irish team over the next three-to-five-year stretch,” he continued. “The likes of Sam, Conor and Mick are all 24, 25 and you have the lads in the US; that will only improve it every year.
“We’re looking really good. We should be really comfortable in Division 1 and pushing on from there, so prospects are very high for the team.”
Logan very much hopes Amsterdam wasn’t his last rodeo. “I’ll take a couple of weeks off, then get to work in the summer and train away and try and represent my country next year, which is always the goal,” he enthused.
“There are good vibes across the board, especially for the younger lads who are pushing on and coming into their own now.
“Even just across the whole (European Championships) tournament, there is just excitement for LA28 and the European Games next year, having more events to play in, more opportunities to represent your country which is what it is all about at the end of the day.”
There wasn’t much time for Hannah Craig to bask in the glory of Ireland’s Division 2 European Team Championships success, which heralds a return to the top-flight for the first time since 2016.
The PSA women’s No.60 is due back on court this Saturday for her World Championship debut, so everything was quickly packed up in the Netherlands to ensure all was ready for Monday’s flight to Egypt.
Giza, just outside Cairo, was Craig’s port of call once she arrived in Africa and she will quickly be in the thick of it as she has been drawn against Sana Ibrahim, the Egyptian currently ranked No.19 in the PSA charts.
Making the start list for the first time at the tournament was no mean feat for the 27-year-old, as it is 12 years – when Madeline Perry competed at the 2014 Championships – since Ireland had a player qualify.
“I am really, really excited,” she enthused to europeansquash.com. “To get to do that for Ireland and represent Ireland on a world stage like that is an honour, so I am going to relish the opportunity and try and play my best squash.”
Craig has travelled well tuned up after winning four of her five matches at the Europeans to help the Ireland team – which also featured Breanne Flynn, Aimee McConnell and Lydia McQuillan – clinch the title last Saturday.
For a country that was playing Division 3 squash as recently as 2024, promotion to the top-flight after wins over Sweden, Slovenia, Italy, Portugal and Hungary was a massive achievement.
Describing the winning feeling as elation, Craig explained: “It’s an historic win for the women’s team and for the men to be able to get back to Division 1, so it speaks volumes to what squash is looking for in Ireland with all of the coaches and work being done behind the scenes.
“There are so many good things. The team that we have, the support that we have. Ten years ago, it was very different and Scott (Graham), the CEO, has turned things around.
“Amazing people are working with us, so very grateful for that support and it’s showing in the court over the past few years – and especially in Amsterdam with that win we have got.”
Being on a title-winning podium with Ireland at last week’s European Team Championships in Amsterdam wasn’t on Derek Ryan’s bingo card for 2026.
The former world No.7 still does a decent turn on court and represented Ireland less than a fortnight ago as part of the MO50 team that narrowly finished second behind England in the Aberdeen leg of this year’s Home Internationals.
However, when it comes to the pro circuit, his involvement since 2017 has been either to provide lead physio services himself at seven or eight tournaments annually or to arrange for others to attend.
For example, this would have seen him working at the start of April at the El Gouna International Open in Egypt, helping out the likes of Mostafa Asal, the current men’s No.1, and all the other leading stars.
However, away from the glitter, connections had been rekindled with Squash Ireland in recent times through his strength and conditioning tuition of teenagers involved in the first year of the Junior Performance Academy.
That relationship led to a call from CEO Scott Graham for help in an emergency. Senior team head coach Arthur Gaskin had suddenly decided to step back a few weeks ago due to increased commitments in America and assistance was needed in Amsterdam.
Ryan agreed to contribute to the coaching of the men’s and women’s team, along with junior performance coach David Noone, and also provide physio.
The arrangement worked a treat and after Ireland delivered a Division 2 title double last Saturday, he told europeansquash.com what the victories – and the promotions to Division 1 for next year – meant.
“It just gives everyone a boost in Irish squash,” he enthused. “They are two solid teams. There are a bunch of players that are on the tour in the women’s and the men’s team, and they have got a good bunch of young players that are studying in the US who are going to finish in the next year or two, who are hungry to go on the tour as well.
“So this is two solid teams that have back-up on the way as well. It’s nice getting promoted. They really wanted to get promoted and play with the stronger teams and they will hold their own next year, so it’s great all round.
“They’re hungry. Obviously, the Olympics in two years, they want to give themselves a place which would be amazing. The numbers are tight with the criteria, but they are a really hard-working, hungry bunch of players so they are great to work with, really easy to work with.”
Ryan added that he has been delighted with the rejuvenation of the sport in Ireland at all levels, not just at senior. “Definitely, the junior scene is healthy,” he continued.
“There are some good coaches that have come on board the last few years, working hard, working north and south of the border. All round, it is positive and the structure in Squash Ireland is good. Really good CEO, Scott Graham. There has just been a fresh impetus all round in the sport back home.”
Sam Buckley is loving life. He is flying it on the PSA circuit, recently getting back into the top 100 ahead of the two upcoming tournaments on his doorstep, next week’s West of Ireland Open followed by the Irish Open in Dublin.
However, as electrifying as that individual progress is, upward mobility fuelled by last September’s move to Birmingham to become part of the Rob Owen set-up, nothing can still beat the buzz of being part of an Ireland team.
“My favourite thing to do – and always has been – is to represent Ireland,” enthused the 24-year-old. “Even as a junior, those weeks were the ones that meant the most to me, always.
“To have the chance to represent Ireland in the Olympics is huge, so I am just working hard every day, working hard to maybe put on a green jersey at the Olympics.”
First things first, his reflection on the major achievement that was Ireland beating all-comers in Amsterdam last week to win the Division 2 title at the European Team Championships and secure a swift promotion back to Division 1 following last year’s relegation.
Slovakia, Norway and Austria were all picked off with comfortable 4-0 Pool A wins, and the same margin of victory was achieved in the semi-final against Sweden to secure promotion and against Israel in Saturday’s title final. Sweet.
“Our target was to get promoted. We were all fairly devastated last year to get relegated, so we’re pretty happy to bounce straight back this year. It was nice. The group matches were fairly straightforward, but we knew the tests would come in the semi and final, so we’re just glad to get over the line.
“The vibe within the team is class,” he added. “Obviously all year playing in your own, PSA and stuff, to get together with pretty much a group of friends is great. We’re delighted to be in Division 1 and we’re not just happy to get in there just to take part; we want to get some wins and definitely get in the mix in the top eight.”
What helped Ireland to bounce back so quickly after relegation? “It starts with the federation being more professional, and that feeds into us and there are a couple of us playing full-time on tour.
“There is a good bit of professionalism, but even lads who aren’t playing full-time are so professional in what they do every day, so it’s a great team to be part of.”
Adding to the colour of the title-winning experience in the Netherlands was having David Noone, the junior performance coach, and Derek Ryan, the ex-world No.7, doing the coaching following the decision by the American-based Arthur Gaskin to step back from the head coach role.
“It’s been great,” said Buckley. “I have spent a lot of time with David over the years in the junior tournaments and it has always been great. He is great to have on these trips.
“But Derek, I hadn’t spent a huge amount of time with him in a squash sense, so to learn from him has been great. The physio (services which Ryan also provided) is a bit of a game changer, but to hear his stories and squash stuff has been really good.”
Buckley is tremendously ambitious about his squash. It was last December, having become the first Irish men’s player to break into the PSA top 100 in more than a decade, when he insisted to Squash Ireland: “I am definitely happy to do it and be the first person to do it in however many years, but I try not to dwell on it too much. I didn’t go pro to be the 99th best. I want to keep trying to be higher than that.”
It helps that, having finished a four-year TU Dublin course in property economics, he has been able to fully commit himself to squash. “Since September, I have made pretty big changes,” he explained.
“I am based now in Birmingham, training in the Rob Owen academy. It is definitely showing in my game, I feel like I am improving a lot, a lot fitter and a lot stronger. I have a pretty good understanding of the game, probably better than I had. I feel like I am getting better wins and I just feel better on court.”
His only wish is that more people in Ireland would realise what a fantastic sport squash is. “It’s a shame. There are still a lot of people in Ireland who, when you say squash, they’re like, ‘What’s squash?’ So it would be great to get it in the Olympics.
“It will be on TV and a lot of people will then know more about it. Even the juniors that are looking up to us, hopefully it will give them a bit of a pathway in the years to come and if squash stays in the Olympics, they have something to aim for.”
Ireland secured a gold double at the European Team Championships, with both men’s and women’s sides winning Division 2 titles at the tournament in Amsterdam.
Saturday was finals day, and it ended with the Ireland men’s team defeating Israel 4-0 and the women’s team overcoming Hungary 2-0, but there was plenty of other hard work put in across the four days.
The No.1 seeded men’s team of Sam Buckley, Conor Moran, Oisin Logan, Michael Creaven and Sean Conroy were pitted against Slovakia, Norway and Austria in Pool A and three 4-0 victories secured top spot.
Another 4-0 win over Sweden in the semi-finals secured promotion back to Division 1 following last year’s relegation, and the title was then clinched in impressive fashion versus the Israelis.
Wins by a 3-1 margin for Logan and Buckley put Ireland in a commanding lead and although Creaven was 2-1 down in his clash, the victory was confirmed when Moran went 2-0 up in his match.
With Ireland up 9-4 in games and knowing they could only get to a total of eight games if they somehow managed to win the matches against Creaven and Moran, Israel conceded at that point.
The No.2 seeded Ireland women’s team of Hannah Craig, Breanne Flynn, Aimee McConnell and Lydia McQuillan were just as efficient in their path to title victory.
Drawn in Pool B against Sweden, Slovenia and Italy, there were respective 2-1, 3-0 and 2-1 wins to secure a place in the semi-finals and a 2-0 win over Portugal secured promotion to Division 1 for the first time since relegation in 2016.
That left the title match to play, and success was quickly secured versus the Hungarians with Flynn and Craig both winning their matches 3-0 to complete an excellent week’s work and end a two-year stint in Division 2 following 2024’s Division 3 title win.
Ireland’s senior teams have targeted winning promotion to Division One at this week’s European Championships in Amsterdam.
Last year’s tournament in Wroclaw was unkind for the Irish, as the men’s team finished 11th in Division One and were relegated while the women’s team finished in third place in Division Two.
However, with eight of the nine players who featured in Poland back on deck for this year’s assignment in the Netherlands, hopes are high that a successful week is in store at the Frans Otten.
The No.1-seeded Irish men’s team have been drawn in Division Two Pool A and will play twice on Wednesday, taking on Slovakia and then Norway.
Their pool closing match is scheduled for Thursday versus Austria. A top-two finish would be enough to qualify for the semi-finals.
Ireland will arrive at the Championships with three players inside the PSA top 100 for the first time in 17 years.
Fresh from his run to the RC Pro Series semi-finals in St Louis, Sam Buckley, the top-ranked Irish men’s PSA player who jumped up to No.99 in the latest rankings update on Monday, will be joined in the Dutch capital by Conor Moran, Michael Creaven, Oisin Logan and Sean Conroy.
Switching to the women’s section, Breanne Flynn is back in the No.2-seeded Ireland team after missing last year’s tournament in Poland due to injury.
The new career-best PSA No.97 will line up with Hannah Craig, the PSA No.60, Aimee McConnell and Lydia McQuillan.
Their Division Two schedule begins with two matches on Wednesday, starting with Sweden and then Slovenia, before concluding their Pool B campaign with a Thursday meeting against Italy.
With Arthur Gaskin having stepped back as head coach in the last fortnight, former world No.7 Derek Ryan will assist David Noone with the coaching at the four-day tournament.
Michael Creaven is expecting last year’s Division One relegation in Wroclaw to fuel Ireland’s performance at the upcoming European Championships in Amsterdam.
The Irish side, consisting of Creaven, Sam Buckley, Conor Moran, Oisin Logan and Sean Conroy, is unchanged from 2025 in Poland when an 11th-place finish cost them their top-flight spot.
However, seeded No.1 and preparing to contest a Division Two pool with Slovakia, Norway and Austria, Creaven is feeling optimistic that promotion can be achieved when the music stops in the Netherlands next Saturday after four days of play.
“The draw this year is good,” he said. “We’re coming in at one seed and hopefully we’ll finish at one as well. We have got Slovakia, Norway and Austria in our group, so they’re good countries as well, it will be good games all the way.
“Last year we were up and down, started really well, but then towards the end of the tournament we fell off a little bit.
“We ended up getting relegated, unfortunately, but this year we are a bit stronger, we’ll have all improved a little bit and hopefully we will be back up to Division One for next year.”
The 24-year-old Sutton player was delighted with his latest Ireland selection. “It’s always nice getting the letter,” he smiled.
“We had a tough enough season. Everyone was close enough. It was probably four, five of us going for three spots, so it was a good battle across the whole year, and it was nice. The hard work paid off in the end.
“It [Team Ireland] is different from being on your own, to be fair. I prefer the team environment a little bit. You’re playing not just for yourself but for the lads as well, so it’s a bit more pressure, but it’s a good pressure as well. It’s good.”
Good too is Creaven’s form in 2026. “Third in the Nationals. I had a good tournament in Oporto towards the end of February. I won a Satellite there, my first Satellite win, so I was delighted with that.
“And then the week after, the final of the Limerick PSA Open. So, I was doing well and then played a competition against Oisin (in England). Oisin’s playing well. He got the better of me in that one, but I’m feeling good going into the Europeans. Hopefully, we’ll get back up to Division One.”
That would be a super reward for Creaven’s commitment to the sport as an athlete juggling the demands of a day job.
“I work Monday to Friday, but probably train twice a day on the weekends, and two times a week I try to do twice a day as well. It’s a big commitment, but it’s enjoyable as well. It’s fun, if you get me.
“I’m doing accounting at PWC, and I have to do exams. I’ll be finished them in two years so when they are done I can maybe look into it [going full-time in squash] then and see how we go.”
