Squash Ireland has reiterated its call for clubs from around the country to nominate members for the Federation of Irish Sport 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards. Entries close on December 15th, with an awards ceremony to follow in Dublin in February.
Dave Broderick, the Squash Ireland club and community development officer, said: “At this time of the year, the sporting community in Ireland pauses to recognise our fantastic volunteer base without whom our many and varied sports simply would not work.
“As a squash community, the Federation of Irish Sport 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards is our chance to turn to our own volunteers and say, ‘Thank you. Tremendous job this year!’
“We invite all clubs and provincial associations to participate. As a smaller sport, this is a big opportunity for squash to highlight itself positively and for volunteers in our sport to be thanked for their tireless and selfless work promoting and delivering squash activity day-to-day, week-to-week, year in and year out.
“Our sport has its heroes – and we’d like you to tell us who they are. Category winners will be invited to the awards reception in February and all clubs that nominate a volunteer will be entered into a draw for a €250 voucher as a way of saying thank you for supporting this initiative.”
Squash Ireland is calling on clubs to nominate their best volunteers for the 2025 Volunteers In Sport Awards, hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport.
It’s believed that 460,000 volunteers are involved in all sport across the island of Ireland, with a fair chunk assisting the participation, growth and promotion of squash.
Nominations are now open until December 15th for the latest annual volunteer awards, with a celebration function to follow in Dublin on February 26th. The hope is that squash will feature strongly on the day.
A Federation of Irish Sport statement read: “The 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards will bring together individuals from all 32 counties to celebrate their commitment to fostering participation and ensuring that sport is accessible to all.
“Their contributions not only inspire communities but also enable clubs and organisations to thrive, supporting social cohesion and well-being across Ireland. Without their dedication, many sporting opportunities simply would not exist.
“A new addition to the 2025 awards is the launch of a brand-new award – the Club/Community Sport Organisation award.
“This award recognises a volunteer-led sports club, community organisation, or group that has made an outstanding contribution to promoting sport, physical activity, and community well-being. It celebrates excellence in inclusion, participation, leadership, and positive impact through sport.
“In every corner of the country, from city centres and suburbs to rural villages, over 460,000 volunteers work tirelessly each week to bring sport and physical activity to life for people of all ages.
“Over 250,000 coaches volunteer one million hours a week to Irish Sport. The impact of their work is profound, providing multi-generational opportunities to engage in sport, build communities, and promote healthy lifestyles. The economic value of their contribution is estimated to be worth €1.5bn to the Irish economy.
“There are also two closed categories of Outstanding Achievement award and the addition of a Lifetime Achievement award. These prestigious awards are not open for public nomination.
“Recipients are selected by the judging panel from entries received from the county volunteers, based on outstanding merit, impact, or long-term contribution.”
Mary O’Connor, the FIS CEO, said: “The goodwill and work of volunteers cannot be taken for granted.
“These awards are our chance to say thank you and, in acknowledging the incredible efforts volunteers make, ensure that we continue to encourage more people to get involved and safeguard the future of sport in the country.”
Squash Ireland will host a free information webinar on November 3rd to help clubs access Sports Capital Grant funding. The SCG fund, which is now known as the Community Sports Facilities Fund, provides financial support for strategic projects out of financial reach for clubs around the country.
Squash Ireland have engaged the services of 2into3, the professional funding consultant organisation, for the 90-minute online presentation that will navigate the application process and provide winning strategies.
Dave Broderick, the Squash Ireland club and community development officer, said: “We encourage all squash clubs that have identified a structural or equipment development need within their club that is currently out of financial reach to send one or more attendees to this information session.
“Squash Ireland are also happy to receive questions and scenarios in advance that will be provided to 2into3 for pre-assessment so that robust discussions take place during this information session and in the follow-up process.
“This information session is at no cost to clubs and at no point is a club under any obligation to proceed in any direction. Treat this opportunity as a free consultation with an expert group that understands the Sports Capital Grant scheme inside out – thresholds, projects, bids, what is not allowed, where opportunities lie etc.
“Please save the date and start thinking about questions you would like to pose to our consultants before the session. No scenario is too complicated for some straight and hopefully valuable answers.
“2into3 are specialists at supporting sports federations and sports clubs to navigate the Sports Capital Grant (now called the Community Sport Facilities Fund) process and are happy to demonstrate practical winning strategies for making successful applications under this fund.
“2into3 have also offered its services to make applications to the CSFF scheme on behalf of clubs across sport in Ireland, although direct management will incur a percentage-based fee.”
This week’s Erasmus+ coach shadowing project in Amsterdam for 10 Irish grassroots coaches has been “impactful” and “eye-opening”.
Applications closed in June for the European Commission-funded initiative focused on coach education and inclusion in the Republic of Ireland.
Four months later, the October 5th-10th trip has proven invaluable in the upskilling of Irish coaches.
The aim is to strengthen grassroots development in the hope that they will return to their clubs and assist in building sustainable, inclusive participation programmes.
Jenny Dillion, the 2024 Squash Ireland coach of the year award winner, travelled to the Netherlands with the 10 coaches and they have been working with Rich King, a renowned and respected figure in European squash coaching.
On the Leargas-backed course, the grassroots coaches have been given real-world examples of inclusive programmes.
These include practical tools to support women in sport initiatives, teen and youth development ideas, and programmes for the elderly, LGBTQ+, rural communities and refugee/asylum seekers.
Oisin Logan and Lydia McQuillan upset the favourites at the Munster Senior Open, defeating the No.1 seeds in their respective men’s A and women’s finals at Highfield Squash Club.
The No.3 ranked Logan, the Sutton player affiliated to the Southgate Squash and Racketball Club in London, picked off the No.2 Sean Conroy, the Leinster CC player, 3-1 (11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3) in his semi-final. He then nailed a 3-2 title win over the top-seeded Michael Creaven of Sutton.
All the more admirable was the length that Logan had to go to secure the victory in the all-Dublin final, as he was 0-2 down after losing the opening games 12-14 and 8-11. However, he then reeled off a trio of 11-4 games to take the title in a 13-player event.
Six players took part in the women’s event, and victory in the all-Northern Ireland final went the way of the No.2 McQuillan of Lisburn and Belfast BC with a 3-1 win over the No.1 seeded Aimee McConnell of Ballynafeigh.
Similar to the men’s final, there was a comeback involved as McConnell took the first game 8-11 before McQuillan, the 2025 Italian Junior Open GU19 champion, came to the fore with 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 games.
The theme of top seeds missing out on titles continued in the other two Munster events as the men’s B No.1, Fawwad Sidduqui of Limerick, lost his first match 0-3 to the 16th-seeded David Sheehan of Thurles.
That upset paved the way for Nathan Walsh, the No.2 from Celtic, to come through the bottom half of the draw and take a 3-0 win in the final against the No.5 seed, Maciej Truchan of Gleneagle.
Victory in the men’s C category went the way of the No.2, Michael Bradley of Sunday’s Well. He was a 3-1 winner in his final against Jamie Ryan, the No.8 from Thurles.
World Squash Day is back on October 11th, and this year’s theme – ‘Bring a friend on court’ – has been welcomed by Squash Ireland.
Squash participation levels have been on the rise throughout the country in recent years, and this World Squash initiative is the latest opportunity for clubs to reach out to potential new members.
World Squash Day was founded in 2001 by Alan Thatcher and a group of squash-playing friends as a memorial to squash players who were killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York.
Since then, World Squash Day has grown to become the world’s biggest grassroots promotion of squash, with clubs, federations and players from all over the world celebrating an annual festival of the sport.
With the theme for October 11th now agreed, World Squash has encouraged every member of the global squash community to introduce a new face to the sport.
World Squash CEO William Louis-Marie said: “This is a great moment for our sport. World Squash Day is an incredible demonstration of the unity and diversity of the global squash community.
“On October 11th, squash enthusiasts worldwide will unite to celebrate the sport they love. From courts and clubs to communities, let’s invite a partner, a colleague, a friend, a member of your family and showcase how squash and squash57 is fun, enjoyable and helps you share amazing moments also off the court.
“World Squash, and the sport of squash as a whole, owes Alan a huge debt for the incredible work he has done for the sport, particularly in his tireless championing of World Squash Day for over 20 years, and our current partnership with Alan will provide greater momentum to this year’s World Squash Day and future editions.
World Squash Day founder Thatcher added: “World Squash Day gives the sport the perfect platform to build on its momentum following our inclusion in the Olympic Games.
“For many years, this event has brought the entire community together, fostering a sense of unity and shared passion. A prime example of this was in 2012 when we saw 40,000 players compete in a single global match.
“In the lead up to LA28, I’m convinced the 2025 edition will gain massive traction, capture the public imagination and celebrate everything that makes our sport great.
“We are excited about the potential for clubs worldwide to fly the flag for squash and we eagerly anticipate reaching new heights this October.”
In4Squash players won 13 medals at the recent LGBTQIA+ Squash European Open in Dublin, including three gold.
The two-day event was hosted by Sutton LTC in Dublin on September 19th/20th, and tournament organisers In4Squash took home three gold, five silver and five bronze medals.
The three players who finished on top of the podium were Lorcan Walsh (B Plate), Stephen Conlon (C Overall) and Joseph Orgin (D Overall).
Sifting through the five second-place finishers, John Ward was the pick of the list with his silver in the A Overall category. Other second-place players were Albert Dolan (B Overall), Mario Morales (C Plate), Steven Kelly (D Overall) and Ray Gath (D Plate).
Switching to bronze, the In4Squash medallists were Max Schorm (B Overall), Brett Stout (C Overall), Graham Pigeon (C Plate), Horacio Diaz (D Overall) and Thomas Wilson (D Plate).
Previously hosted in Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris, the Dublin event was the fourth edition of the LGBTQIA+ European Open.
The success of the MoveHome.ie-supported tournament in celebrating inclusion and bringing squash to a wider audience marked another milestone in the progress of the In4Squash club, which last year joined the Leinster League for the first time.
Squash Ireland is excited to announce a new partnership with SquashLevels. The collaboration aims to bring the SquashLevels global rating system to players throughout Ireland, offering them the opportunity to track performance, improve their game and connect with other players.
SquashLevels is dedicated to delivering deeper insights for players, making squash more accessible and engaging for everyone across Ireland.
As one of the leading player rating systems globally, SquashLevels provides players with a highly accurate evaluation of their playing level. Whether competing in leagues, tournaments, or playing casually at their local club, results will flow into the SquashLevels platform.
Using its advanced algorithm, SquashLevels calculates each player’s level based on several factors, including opponents’ levels, match scores, and behavioural modelling.
The system adjusts a player’s level based on their actual performance relative to expectations, rewarding those who outperform predictions. This offers a dynamic, evolving measure of progress that reflects a player’s development over time.
Jethro Binns, Co-CEO of SquashLevels, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Squash Ireland. This collaboration represents a fantastic opportunity to further extend our reach across Europe and bring the benefits of the SquashLevels platform to a new community of passionate players.
“We are excited to see how this relationship will enhance the squash experience in Ireland and contribute to our vision of a connected, global squash network.”
SquashLevels offers a free basic membership upon registration, with paid premium membership options available, providing advanced features such as head-to-head analysis, match history, match reviews, and club rankings.
Over the next 12 months, Squash Ireland and SquashLevels will work together to integrate the platform at all levels of the game, from local clubs to elite competition, bringing a digital revolution to the sport for players across the country.
About SquashLevels
SquashLevels is a results-driven ranking system that tracks and ranks players based on their match outcomes. As players compete in leagues, tournaments, or casual matches, their results automatically flow into the SquashLevels platform.
The unique algorithm processes these results to calculate a player’s level, making it one of the most advanced rating systems in the world of racket sports. Register for your free account today at squashlevels.com
Squash Ireland is inviting club members across the country to take part in an eight-week online Volunteer Development Programme in collaboration with Badminton Ireland and Table Tennis Ireland.
The initiative is a multi-week programme designed to create a learning environment where volunteers can grow their skills, confidence and leadership through a range of engaging and accessible sessions.
This free-of-charge programme is aimed at chairpersons, secretaries, treasurers, safeguarding officers, other club or committee members who are new to their roles, and anyone interested in taking on a volunteer role in the future.
The goal of the programme is to help people develop in their volunteer positions, which will improve the overall administration and experience of squash across Ireland.
Starting on October 16th, the programme’s focus areas include club leadership and governance, personal development, coaching, volunteering, diversity and inclusion.
Programme tutors include Stuart Garland of Volunteer Ireland, Blue Sky Training, Active Disability Ireland, ShoutOut, Dr Ciara Losty of SETU Waterford, DCM Learning, Dr Lee-Ann Sharp of UUJ and Dr Amanda Ni Gabhainn.
Squash Ireland has outlined ambitious club development targets in the project plan submitted to Sport Northern Ireland:
Club Development
Continue to aid and influence the growth of each of our existing clubs through individual club development planning support and the production of a published club development plan for 2025/26.
Expand upon the regional initiatives that have taken place to establish one newly formed club within NI by 2026.
“Our club development offering will have a major focus on increasing participation amongst some of our most underrepresented groups, including:
Program Development and Delivery
Increase the opportunity to access and participate in squash initiatives throughout Northern Ireland via the delivery of the brand new programmes across squash – Come & Try sessions (x3), 1-Wall Squash (x3) and Disco Squash for Teen Girls (x2).
Use the addition of these new programmes to provide a pathway into club membership, targeting a five per cent increase in club members by 2026.
“Our programme delivery project will target and impact new participants in our more rural communities within Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh.
“We will double our programme delivery from last year in relation to our disability squash offering across three separate regions of Northern Ireland (Belfast, Derry and Lisburn).
“Our involvement at the QUB PEC summer camp exposed children of all backgrounds to the sport of squash and promoted the sport within the local area.
“We will deliver three growth and retention initiatives across three of Northern Ireland’s most socially deprived areas.”
