As reported in the Westmeath Independent, Athlone Squash Club have been given the go ahead to their ambitious plans for a new state-of-the-art squash centre. The new centre will be based close to Athlone Regional Sports Centre (ARSC) and will consist of three indoor squash courts, changing facilities, storage, toilets and an outdoor padel court.

In migrating to this new hub from the currently used Clara Sports and Leisure centre, Athlone SC hopes that the squash clubhouse could be a turning point and a magnet for the Midlands region in terms of the revival of the game. It is hoped that this new facility will attract many young people in the wider area by increasing its visibility to the public on such a prominent and well used site. 

The exciting new facility can house hundreds of players with an option to expand if demand requires. 

The project has been part funded to date by the Rural Development Programme, 2014 to 2020, and the club is also extremely thankful to Westmeath County Council and Westmeath Community Development for getting the project to this stage.

Irish Squash would like to wish everyone involved a massive congratulations and the best of luck for the future success of the project.

Check out this virtual tour of the proposed centre!  Athlone SC state of the art centre virtual tour

As we enter our new season the time has come to renew each club’s membership affiliation with Irish Squash. It is encouraged that clubs complete the affiliation renewal at the earliest possible date.

Irish Squash have already alerted clubs about the upcoming renewal and have begun processing some clubs’ membership. The process follows a similar pattern as last year, whereby the club provides Irish Squash with a list of players names and completes affiliation payment on their behalf to Irish Squash. Our staff in Irish Squash will then work through each club and process the members and their membership type per the list provided by the club.

Why is affiliation so important?

Players

• Affiliation is crucial as it provides insurance for affiliated members. All members are covered by Irish Squash’s Personal Accident Policy when engaging in squash activities, including playing in non-affiliated clubs and playing abroad. Without affiliation, players are not covered by Irish Squash insurance, there are no exceptions to this. 
• Affiliation is compulsory to become eligible to compete in all Irish Squash approved tournaments and events.
• Only affiliate members are eligible for Provincial and National Team selection.
• Affiliate members gain access to WSF coaching and referee programmes.

Clubs

• All affiliated clubs are covered under Irish Squash’s Public Liability insurance Policy. 
• Affiliate clubs will have access to funding opportunities from Sport Ireland and other government sources which can only be applied for through the NGB
• Affiliate clubs will have access to WSF qualified coaches and coaching courses, alongside access to WSF referees and referee courses for their members.
• Sporty HQ. Affiliated clubs have full access to Sporty HQ, an IT platform which clubs can use to help manage membership fees, court booking system and run club events as well as, running tournaments, and connecting the squash community. 

As we enter our new season the time has come to renew each club’s membership affiliation with Irish Squash. It is encouraged that clubs complete the affiliation renewal at the earliest possible date.

Irish Squash have already alerted clubs about the upcoming renewal and have begun processing some clubs’ membership. The process follows a similar pattern as last year, whereby the club provides Irish Squash with a list of players names and completes affiliation payment on their behalf to Irish Squash. Our staff in Irish Squash will then work through each club and process the members and their membership type per the list provided by the club.

Why is affiliation so important?

Players

• Affiliation is crucial as it provides insurance for affiliated members. All members are covered by Irish Squash’s Personal Accident Policy when engaging in squash activities, including playing in non-affiliated clubs and playing abroad. Without affiliation, players are not covered by Irish Squash insurance, there are no exceptions to this. 
• Affiliation is compulsory to become eligible to compete in all Irish Squash approved tournaments and events.
• Only affiliate members are eligible for Provincial and National Team selection.
• Affiliate members gain access to WSF coaching and referee programmes.

Clubs

• All affiliated clubs are covered under Irish Squash’s Public Liability insurance Policy. 
• Affiliate clubs will have access to funding opportunities from Sport Ireland and other government sources which can only be applied for through the NGB
• Affiliate clubs will have access to WSF qualified coaches and coaching courses, alongside access to WSF referees and referee courses for their members.
• Sporty HQ. Affiliated clubs have full access to Sporty HQ, an IT platform which clubs can use to help manage membership fees, court booking system and run club events as well as, running tournaments, and connecting the squash community. 

In line with our strategic plan, Connecting the Dots (2022 – 2027), Irish squash have rolled out several coaching courses over the past few months to facilitate the uptake of squash coaches in Ireland.

In the last 4 months, 29 coaches have successfully graduated the level-1 course. These freshly graduated coaches will receive WSF & Sport Ireland coaching certificates highlighting their achievement. These courses have taken place right across Ireland including Sligo, Belfast, Cork & Dublin, ensuring that this qualification is not restricted by geographical vicinity. Indeed, Irish Squash are hoping to commence rolling out level-2 courses in the near future for any coach wishing to progress their qualifications one step further!

Growing our coaching tree is a very positive step for the organisation and for the sport of squash in our nation. With that in mind, Scott Graham, Irish Squash CEO, said ““Coaching is a key pillar within our Strategic Plan, and I am delighted to see so many newly qualified coaches”. Scott hailed the work carried out by Coach Education Officer, Eddie Murphy, saying “Eddie has been leading our Coach Development and Education program and recently succeeded in establishing the Irish Squash Level 1 Coaching Qualification on the Sport Ireland Coaching Framework. This is a welcome endorsement of the course’s quality and a testament to the hard work of the volunteer workforce that has driven this initiative forward”.

Eddie himself  noted that he is delighted with the progress, with his ultimate goal being to have at least one level-1 qualified coach in each club. Going forward, Eddie is excited about continuing his good work and rolling out the level-2 courses.  This was echoed by Scott, saying “Next, we turn our attention to increasing the number of coaches so that every club has access to a qualified coach, in addition to developing the Level 2 Qualification and ensuring its recognition on the Sport Ireland Coaching Framework”. Scott further added, “Alongside the formal qualifications, we are hosting what I hope will become an annual National Coaching Conference on September 9th. This promises to be a great opportunity for continuous professional development and a chance to meet and share ideas with other coaches. The level of interest from coaches around the country is really encouraging to see.“

A massive thank you must be given to Eddie Murphy, our coach education officer and all 4 tutors who deliver these coaching courses on a regular basis. 

In line with our strategic plan, Connecting the Dots (2022 – 2027), Irish squash have rolled out several coaching courses over the past few months to facilitate the uptake of squash coaches in Ireland.

In the last 4 months, 29 coaches have successfully graduated the level-1 course. These freshly graduated coaches will receive WSF & Sport Ireland coaching certificates highlighting their achievement. These courses have taken place right across Ireland including Sligo, Belfast, Cork & Dublin, ensuring that this qualification is not restricted by geographical vicinity. Indeed, Irish Squash are hoping to commence rolling out level-2 courses in the near future for any coach wishing to progress their qualifications one step further!

Growing our coaching tree is a very positive step for the organisation and for the sport of squash in our nation. With that in mind, Scott Graham, Irish Squash CEO, said ““Coaching is a key pillar within our Strategic Plan, and I am delighted to see so many newly qualified coaches”. Scott hailed the work carried out by Coach Education Officer, Eddie Murphy, saying “Eddie has been leading our Coach Development and Education program and recently succeeded in establishing the Irish Squash Level 1 Coaching Qualification on the Sport Ireland Coaching Framework. This is a welcome endorsement of the course’s quality and a testament to the hard work of the volunteer workforce that has driven this initiative forward”.

Eddie himself  noted that he is delighted with the progress, with his ultimate goal being to have at least one level-1 qualified coach in each club. Going forward, Eddie is excited about continuing his good work and rolling out the level-2 courses.  This was echoed by Scott, saying “Next, we turn our attention to increasing the number of coaches so that every club has access to a qualified coach, in addition to developing the Level 2 Qualification and ensuring its recognition on the Sport Ireland Coaching Framework”. Scott further added, “Alongside the formal qualifications, we are hosting what I hope will become an annual National Coaching Conference on September 9th. This promises to be a great opportunity for continuous professional development and a chance to meet and share ideas with other coaches. The level of interest from coaches around the country is really encouraging to see.“

A massive thank you must be given to Eddie Murphy, our coach education officer and all 4 tutors who deliver these coaching courses on a regular basis. 

As autumn begins to close in on us, it is time to wave goodbye to summer and welcome new beginnings! Luckily, these new beginnings are fresh and exciting as September has finally arrived, meaning it’s time to get the ball rolling for the 2023/24 squash season! With so much in the pipeline on and off court, this season has the potential to be the best yet for squash in Ireland.

We have officially launched the season’s calendar on Sporty HQ, which is also available on our website. This season will see a plethora of highly competitive tournaments across the junior, senior and master divisions in Ireland, Europe and further afield involving Irish players.

In case you missed it, the Curragh Masters and the Kerry Senior Open kick-started our season last weekend and September will play host to several more tournaments at home and abroad including (see right)

Our feature event of the season, the Irish Open is set to take place between the 23rd and 27th April in Fitzwilliam LTC. It is important to note that clubs must ensure their club and members are affiliated with Irish Squash to ensure their members retain eligibility and can access these tournaments and events. See 2023/24 affiliation announcement for more information.

In December, our Men’s Senior Team will head to New Zealand to compete in the WSF Men’s Senior Teams World Championship, with everyone associated with Irish Squash hoping for the best and wishing them the very best. The team is undertaking fundraising activities and seeking sponsorship in order to fund the trip. Please reach out to [email protected] to learn more about the sponsorship opportunities or to support the team. 

Tournament Dates

• Killarney Senior Open 2023 (1st – 2nd Sept)
• European Individual Masters’ Championship 2023 (6th – 9th Sept)
• Welsh Junior Open 2023 (GP) (8th – 10th Sept)
• European Club Championships 2023 (13th Sept – 16th Sept)
• Mount Pleasant Junior Mixed Open 2023 (16th Sept – 17th Sept)
• Ulster Senior Closed 2023 (16th – 17th Sept)
• Connacht Junior Open 2023 – JUNIOR TOUR 1 (23rd Sept – 24th Sept)
• Belgian Masters Open 2023 (MO) (29th Sep – 1st Oct)

As autumn begins to close in on us, it is time to wave goodbye to summer and welcome new beginnings! Luckily, these new beginnings are fresh and exciting as September has finally arrived, meaning it’s time to get the ball rolling for the 2023/24 squash season! With so much in the pipeline on and off court, this season has the potential to be the best yet for squash in Ireland.

We have officially launched the season’s calendar on Sporty HQ, which is also available on our website. This season will see a plethora of highly competitive tournaments across the junior, senior and master divisions in Ireland, Europe and further afield involving Irish players.

In case you missed it, the Curragh Masters and the Kerry Senior Open kick-started our season last weekend and September will play host to several more tournaments at home and abroad including (see right)

Our feature event of the season, the Irish Open is set to take place between the 23rd and 27th April in Fitzwilliam LTC. It is important to note that clubs must ensure their club and members are affiliated with Irish Squash to ensure their members retain eligibility and can access these tournaments and events. See 2023/24 affiliation announcement for more information.

In December, our Men’s Senior Team will head to New Zealand to compete in the WSF Men’s Senior Teams World Championship, with everyone associated with Irish Squash hoping for the best and wishing them the very best. The team is undertaking fundraising activities and seeking sponsorship in order to fund the trip. Please reach out to [email protected] to learn more about the sponsorship opportunities or to support the team. 

Tournament Dates

• Killarney Senior Open 2023 (1st – 2nd Sept)
• European Individual Masters’ Championship 2023 (6th – 9th Sept)
• Welsh Junior Open 2023 (GP) (8th – 10th Sept)
• European Club Championships 2023 (13th Sept – 16th Sept)
• Mount Pleasant Junior Mixed Open 2023 (16th Sept – 17th Sept)
• Ulster Senior Closed 2023 (16th – 17th Sept)
• Connacht Junior Open 2023 – JUNIOR TOUR 1 (23rd Sept – 24th Sept)
• Belgian Masters Open 2023 (MO) (29th Sep – 1st Oct)

Irish Squash continues to introduce changes in our organisation that are consistent with the aims of our Strategic Plan, Connecting the Dots (2022 – 2027).

In particular, we are focusing on becoming more professional in how we deliver support to the squash community. The recent appointment of Scott Graham in the new position of CEO is a significant advance and he brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as Operations Manager in Cycling Ireland. Tiernan Harris is our new full-time Office Administrator covering a range of duties, in particular SporthHQ and membership management. Paul Nugent remains in his COO role and his experience of working in the squash sector is invaluable to our expanded team.

Our focus now turns to how the organisation is structured from a governance perspective. Following a series of review meetings and legal input, the board recognises that the board itself needs to be restructured: reducing the number of directors, with representation being skills-based rather than geographic. Our constitution also needs to reflect the new executive process required following appointment of our CEO.

 An organisational review workshop will be held in Fitzwilliam LTC on Saturday 16th September (10am-3pm) to discuss the proposed new constitution with our members. We would like as many people as possible to attend so that we can hear your views in advance of an EGM (to be held later this month & details will follow shortly).  Please use the following link to register: https://forms.gle/xE9fHGRE2CPMF3v29

Finally, may I wish all our members an enjoyable and successful squash season ahead. 

Rosie Barry

President

Irish Squash

Irish Squash continues to introduce changes in our organisation that are consistent with the aims of our Strategic Plan, Connecting the Dots (2022 – 2027).

In particular, we are focusing on becoming more professional in how we deliver support to the squash community. The recent appointment of Scott Graham in the new position of CEO is a significant advance and he brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as Operations Manager in Cycling Ireland. Tiernan Harris is our new full-time Office Administrator covering a range of duties, in particular SporthHQ and membership management. Paul Nugent remains in his COO role and his experience of working in the squash sector is invaluable to our expanded team.

Our focus now turns to how the organisation is structured from a governance perspective. Following a series of review meetings and legal input, the board recognises that the board itself needs to be restructured: reducing the number of directors, with representation being skills-based rather than geographic. Our constitution also needs to reflect the new executive process required following appointment of our CEO.

 An organisational review workshop will be held in Fitzwilliam LTC on Saturday 16th September (10am-3pm) to discuss the proposed new constitution with our members. We would like as many people as possible to attend so that we can hear your views in advance of an EGM (to be held later this month & details will follow shortly).  Please use the following link to register: https://forms.gle/xE9fHGRE2CPMF3v29

Finally, may I wish all our members an enjoyable and successful squash season ahead. 

Rosie Barry

President

Irish Squash

Hello and welcome to our new monthly newsletter!

I joined Irish Squash as CEO one month ago. It has been an extremely busy yet enjoyable month and a pleasure to work with so many committed members of the squash community. Everyone is fully focused on delivering the objectives set out within the Strategic Plan and committed to modernising Irish Squash and developing the sport.

One of the key priorities for me in the coming months is the appointment of Development Officers. These officers will be tasked with supporting clubs in various ways, including setting up junior sections, initiating club development projects and identifying local funding opportunities, promoting membership, supporting clubs with their governance, and implementing participation programmes. I am proactively engaging with partners and stakeholders to secure the necessary funding to make this happen.

Another focus for me is to enhance communications and rejuvenate the Irish Squash brand to align with our new vision for the sport. The first step in this process is establishing this monthly newsletter. 

We have invited news submissions from the provinces and welcome any contributions you may have. Soon, we will initiate a consultation process and carry out a brand refresh for Irish Squash. I am also planning to revamp the website to make it user-friendly and reflective of the new brand identity we are developing.

A significant amount of excellent work is already underway, providing a strong foundation for further progress. This includes establishing a Level 1 coaching qualification on the Sport Ireland Coaching Framework, creating a single platform (Sporty HQ) for managing club memberships and event entries, and promoting vibrant tournaments and competitions.

As the National Governing Body, it is crucial that we remain accessible to offer support and guidance to clubs and members. If you require assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact Paul or Tiernan at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can reach out to me directly at [email protected].

Yours is sport,

Scott Graham

CEO

Irish Squash