Celtics Club History

Limerick Celtics was set up in 2009 by Michelle Aspell and Tony Hehir. The club started with 20 players in its first season and had a weekly two hour Sunday morning session in Scoil Carmel Sportshall. Numbers began to grow significantly in 2011 and by 2013 the club had over 100 members competing in Kerry and North Munster leagues. Celtics added a Senior Men’s and Ladies section in 2014 and our underage boys and girls teams played their first season in the Cork Division One leagues.

Celtics Senior sections also began to grow quickly and in 2015 our ladies team and Mens teams entered the National Intermediate Cup. Our ladies team reached the National Final on back to back seasons while our Celtics Men reached the National Semi-final in their second year in this National Competition. In 2017 Celtics Men team made a big jump and entered into the Basketball Ireland Division One National League and were quickly followed by our ladies team who entered the National league in 2018. Numbers again grew significantly in these seasons and by 2018 Celtics had over 250 members and had won over 20 titles at local, Regional and National levels.

Celtics international trips on a yearly basis were also having a huge impact on the development of the club as teams continued to travel to International events such as Ghent Belgium, Barcelona & Girona Spain, Florida & Connecticut USA and Manchester UK. In 2019 Celtics under 16 boys and under 14 girls’ teams won the Glo Basket International Event in Spain. This was a very prestigious event with over 100 teams from 23 countries competing and an incredible achievement for our club.

Celtics numbers continued to grow and grow each season and by 2020 the club had over 350 members with 24 teams now competing in at Senior and Junior levels over 22 National, Regional, and local leagues each season. Our players have achieved great team and individual success with over 20 of our players representing their countries on Irish National teams and two of our players currently on International Scholarships in the USA. In 2017 Tony Hehir was awarded a National Sports Volunteer Award by the Irish Sports Council. In 2020 Michelle Aspell was inducted into the Basketball Ireland Hall Of Fame for her amazing contribution to basketball both as a player and coach at International, National and local level.

Celtics is now the Midwest’ biggest and most successful basketball club and the Celtics boys and girls Academy continues to develop players with great fundamentals each season. Celtics are immensely proud of their achievements to-date and we continue to work hard to improve our club and players daily. Celtics have club sessions now a weekly basis in St Munchins College in Corbally, Crescent Comprehensive College in Dooradoyle and LETSS Secondary School on the North Circular Road and caters for boys and girls from 5 years old to Senior National League Men and Women. If you are interesting in joining just send us an email to [email protected] or use our inquiry section on the website.

Some of the Club’s Achievements to-date:

• 2009 – 2020 Celtics have won over 150 North Munster league and Cup titles
• 2009 – 2020 Celtics have won 7 All Ireland Club Championship/National Shield Titles
• Michelle Aspell Basketball Ireland Hall Of Fame Inductee 2020
• Eve Nealon and Sabhbh Edwards Murphy currently on US Scholarships
• Jodie Waite Wheelchair Player of the Year 2020
• Boys Under 16 International Glo Basket Champions 2019
• Girls Under 14 International Glo Basket Champions 2019
• Players on Irish National teams in 2020 – Ruairi Cronin, Jack Golden, Issey Leahy and Lucey Devoy
• Tony Hehir Irish Sport National Volunteer Award in 2017
• In 2020 over twenty Limerick Celtics players were on Basketball Ireland Academies and BIPPSSC Regional School teams
• Twenty seven Celtics players have represented Ireland at International level