Kilrush Basketball Club was reinvented in 2007. It was born out of the legacy of the Convent of Mercy, two All-Ireland titles in 1992 and many other successes seen in that era. Huge credit needs to go to teacher and coach Mr Joe Heneghan for inspiring the love of basketball in the West Clare capital. It was also shaped by the tremendous effort put in by Coach Martin Russell. He brought the town to All-Ireland youth club titles as well as numerous Clare Community games titles in the 90s. Without these two men our club would not have the legacy it has today.
With the forming of the CABB (Clare Area Basketball Board) in the early 2000s, Kilrush rejuvenated its basketball history and entered a girls U14 team and managed to get to the county final. We now have over 200 members and train both boys and girls from 9 to 18 years. The club is a very inclusive, local and welcoming group of players and coaches, who pride themselves on participation for all. With that we have some great successes and many county titles. It's great to see basketball thriving in West Clare!
With the forming of the CABB (Clare Area Basketball Board) in the early 2000s, Kilrush rejuvenated its basketball history and entered a girls U14 team and managed to get to the county final. We now have over 200 members and train both boys and girls from 9 to 18 years. The club is a very inclusive, local and welcoming group of players and coaches, who pride themselves on participation for all. With that we have some great successes and many county titles. It's great to see basketball thriving in West Clare!
Meet our Coaches
Coach Susan Bermingham
Level One Basketball Ireland Coach KBC Chairperson |
Coach Paul Mc Gibney
Level One Basketball Ireland Coach |
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The driving force behind all of our basketball - she has a hand in the sport since the beginning in 2007 and has played at all levels of the sport. She is a National title holder more than once and played at International level - amongst many other sports she is involved in. She is well known throughout Clare and Munster and Kilrush basketball would not be here today only for her relentless passion for the game and great ability to get people working together....and for convincing people that they can coach!!
Susan is mainly involved with the U12 Girls & Boys and only in 2019 did we see one of her own children hit the courts...and she has a few more behind him too! Not content with training she also is a player in a West Clare Basketball Ladies team and is also very keen (when she is old enough) to play in the Masters events nationally... |
After teaching sailing & outdoor activities for over 12 years Paul has turned his attentions to his favourite sport of basketball - initially roped in by Susan Bermingham to coach his sons team of U12 Boys and has stayed on and upskilled himself - he now can be seen coaching any team from Academy right up to and including U18 Girls Teams. Hasn't played competitively himself since his late teens but keen to some day return to a masters event – Watch this space!
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Coach Kevin Clancy
Level One Basketball Ireland Coach |
Coach Grace Howard
Level One Basketball Ireland Coach |
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Also roped in by Susan Bermingham to coach his son's team in conjunction with Paul & Grace and ended up staying..upskilled to now hold Level one Coaching License and has coached U14 & U16 Boys teams - and hopes to continue to U18 when his son gets to that level.
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A great player in her day and was only one of a few players picked for the West of Ireland Team many moons ago! She too was drafted in by the Chair to coach her son in U12 Boys and has since coached many of the younger teams in both Boys & Girls - namely our Youth Academy; and next season will be hopefully coaching her daughter as she follows her path in KBC Basketball.
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