LETTERKENNY Institute of Technology has been named as a Basketball Ireland Centre of Excellence.
In March, NUI Galway and Ulster University in Jordanstown were the first two Centres of Excellence announced with LYIT and Waterford IT now added.
LYIT player Luke Cassidy, centre, and Irish U18 international Maria Kealy, left, at the announcement of LYIT as a Basketball Ireland Centre of Excellence, along with, from left, Helen Kennedy, LYIT Sports Centre Manager, Rory McMorrow, LYIT Student Student Services Manager, Michael Murphy, LYIT Head of Sport and Niall McDermott, Basketball Ireland North West Development Officer in Letterkenny, Donegal. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Basketball Ireland plans to have 8-10 Centres of Excellence rolled out nationwide.
Each Centre of Excellence will provide access to expertise, such as strength and conditioning, sports medicine, sports psychology, diet and nutrition, sports management and administration, coach development and training.
They will also have media and meeting facilities.
The Centres of Excellence will be used for national training camps for international sides, along with Basketball Ireland academies. There will also be the ability to host international fixtures, national senior competitions, intervarsity competitions, as well as local schools cups and blitzes.
Michael Murphy, Letterkenny Institute of Technology Head of Sport, said: “Letterkenny IT is delighted to be partnering with Basketball Ireland in the provision of a Centre of Excellence for the region.
20 May 2021; Michael Murphy, LYIT Head of Sport at the announcement of LYIT as a Basketball Ireland Centre of Excellence in Letterkenny, Donegal. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
“This partnership strengthens our existing relationship and will contribute to the continued growth of the sport, both locally and nationally.
“By choosing LYIT as a base for its Centre of Excellence, Basketball Ireland recognises the sporting expertise and facilities available at LYIT to support basketball at all levels.
“This Centre of Excellence will build upon the great work of Basketball Ireland Development Officer, Niall McDermott, in developing the sport at LYIT and in the North West.”
20 May 2021; Irish U18 international Maria Kealy, centre, and LYIT player Luke Cassidy, left, at the announcement of LYIT as a Basketball Ireland Centre of Excellence, along with, from left, Helen Kennedy, LYIT Sports Centre Manager, Rory McMorrow, LYIT Student Student Services Manager, Niall McDermott, Basketball Ireland North West Development Officer and Michael Murphy, LYIT Head of Sport in Letterkenny, Donegal. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Basketball Ireland CEO, Bernard O’Byrne, added “We are delighted to have both Letterkenny IT and Waterford IT on board as Basketball Ireland Centres of Excellence.
“Both institutions have great pedigrees in basketball and this reaffirms their commitment to the sport. We’ve pledged from the very start of this project to have Centres of Excellence the length and breadth of the country and we will have further announcements in the coming weeks.
