A new capital funding opportunity has just been launched under the CLÁR 2025 Programme, offering grants from €5,000 to €65,000 to support the development of community and sports facilities in areas experiencing population decline.
Areas targeted under the CLÁR Programme are parts of counties: Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, and Waterford, Westmeath, Wicklow and all of County Leitrim. A national map of CLÁR areas, together with individual county maps, is available hereIf your club is considering facility upgrades—such as renovations, building new courts, a club gym, improving access, improving energy efficiency, or completing other capital works, I would encourage you to review the eligibility criteria and the associated maps.
If you believe your club could benefit from this funding, I recommend exploring the map of eligible CLÁR areas and contacting your Local Authority to discuss the application process.
For assistance you can also contact a member of our Development Team or book an appointment – Club Development Officers contactsSquashLevels and Squash Ireland have developed a partnership and are excited to share the benefits it will bring to you as a player. SquashLevels is a global squash rating system that provides up-to-date ratings, rankings, seedings, and other valuable information for players at all levels.
With SquashLevels, you can track your progress over time, compare your performance with other players, and see where you stand in both global and national rankings.
To support this, we will be sharing members’ historic match results from Squash Ireland tournaments and leagues from the past season, as well as future results, with SquashLevels. This will enable them to calibrate and produce more accurate ratings and rankings.
Squash Ireland’s Data Protection Policy has been updated to reflect the sharing of results with SquashLevels, in the interest of providing improved services to our members.
For more on SquashLevels click here
Squash Ireland is proud to announce the launch of our comprehensive Club Governance and Development Toolkit, a pivotal resource designed to empower squash clubs across Ireland. This toolkit provides essential guidance and practical tools to enhance club operations, ensuring sustainable growth and effective management.
The toolkit covers topics from starting a club or a junior section, to managing finances, volunteers and members, from club committee and meetings, to marketing and communication.
This initiative aligns with Squash Ireland’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2027 “Connect the Dot” – strategic pillar for Participation and Growth – , aiming to modernise and professionalise the sport nationwide. By equipping clubs with these resources, we strive to create vibrant, multi-generational facilities that position squash as an accessible and healthy lifestyle choice for all.
Squash Ireland CEO Scott Graham promoted the delivery of a club development toolkit. “Clubs and volunteers are the engine room for the development and growth of sport.” Scott commented. “Through this toolkit, we aim to provide a range of resources that will benefit club committees and volunteers in their mission to get more people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds playing the great game of squash.”
We encourage all club administrators, coaches, and members to explore the toolkit and leverage its contents to foster a thriving squash community. Together, we can elevate the standard of squash governance and development across Ireland.
Information contained in the toolkit is provided on different pages on the website listed here below:
The Women in Sport Leadership programme, delivered over six weeks, empowered participants to develop essential skills in areas such as conflict management, self-awareness, effective communication, and decision-making. The programme concluded with an in-person session during which participants presented their personal leadership journeys, along with their short- and long-term goals.
This impactful initiative was expertly designed and facilitated by Sarah O’Shea of SOS Sports Consult, in partnership with Lisa Clancy of Clansult. It offered a dynamic and interactive learning experience, equipping participants with the training, guidance, and expertise needed to excel in leadership roles within the sporting landscape. The course comprised a series of comprehensive modules, featuring practical exercises, individual reflection, and collaborative group work. Participants were encouraged to fully engage with the programme, fostering both personal development and the creation of a strong, supportive network of aspiring women leaders in sport.
Squash Ireland Women In Sport Officer Maxine Strain participated in the last day of the programme, to support the candidates in their leadership journey and to present them with a certificate of completion. “Empowering women to step into leadership roles is not only essential for the growth of squash, but it strengthens the fabric of our clubs and communities.” – Maxine said. “Programmes like Women in Sport Leadership provide the tools and confidence needed to lead with purpose and resilience. At Squash Ireland, we are committed to supporting female leaders through opportunities, mentorship, and a clear pathway to progress. When women lead, the entire sport thrives.“
We extend our warmest congratulations to the following graduates:
Avril Cairns – Limerick Lawn Tennis Club
Ciara Davey – Mount Pleasant Lawn Tennis Club
Annabelle Diamantino – Sutton Lawn Tennis Club
Jody Hannon – Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
Ciara Moloney Doheny – Carlow Squash
Lydia McQuillan – Lisburn Rackets Club
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the clubs that supported each participant’s application and provided continued encouragement throughout the programme. Club’s commitment plays a vital role in shaping the future of our sport by nurturing strong, capable female leaders from within.
Avril Cairns – Limerick Lawn Tennis Club
Annabelle Diamantino – Sutton Lawn Tennis Club
Ciara Davey – Mount Pleasant Lawn Tennis Club
Ciara Moloney Doheny – Carlow Tennis Club
Jody Hannon – Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
Lydia McQuillan – Lisburn Rackets Club
The team event is always where passion runs highest and tension reaches its peak—and this year was no different. Our #TeamIreland – featuring Danny Lynch, Conal Jackson, Christian Dromgoole, Ella Erickson, Lydia McQuillan, and Ella Walsh – was eagerly anticipating it.
For the past few decades the team format was two boys and one girl, this year was the first with gender parity, two boys and two girls matches per tie. All matches were played on the same court and in the event of a tie, it would go to game count and then points count, if necessary then the tie would be separated by the winner of the first match played in the tie. The pool stages allowed for draws—but not so in the knockouts, a detail that, as it turned out, didn’t work in our favour.
Prague did a phenomenal job hosting—this is the only event in Europe that has this amount of squash fitted into 10 days. It’s a mammoth effort from all teams, players, and organisers.
Our Irish squad can be incredibly proud of their journey. The passion, resilience, and heart they showed was something special.
All results can be found at esf.tournamentsoftware.com .
Ireland’s pool included defending champions and tournament favourites, France, alongside strong squads from the Netherlands, Italy, and Denmark. While other pools had four teams, ours had five.
Ireland opened against France and, despite showing some strong squash, the result went as expected: a 4–0 loss.
We bounced back with a determined 4–0 win over Denmark, needing to dig deep for that one.
Next came the Dutch—a seriously tough contest. Danny Lynch reached his highest performing level of the week against a strong Robert Linder, pushing hard but falling just short. Lydia also put up a fight but couldn’t get the result. Ella Erickson’s opponent was ruthlessly impressive, consistently hammering left-handed forehand winners. Christian’s match was a fiery and entertaining battle—a common occurrence for the charismatic young Irishman—but he too came up short, with the Dutch taking it 4–0.
Ireland then faced Italy. After splitting the matches 2–2, our team won on games countback, which felt like a huge moment. But heartbreak followed: since the Italians had taken a match off the Dutch and Ireland hadn’t, they finished ahead of us in the group. Gutting for our players not to get the chance to battle for a top-10 finish as per their expectation, but the numbers didn’t agree.
Ireland’s first knockout match was against Wales—a team with real depth. Danny played Oliver Jones in a marathon five-setter lasting 1 hour and 26 minutes. He gave everything but lost a gruelling battle. Conal also fell to a stronger opponent in three games. On the girls’ side, Ella won a five-set thriller, and Lydia took a best-of-three. But it wasn’t enough. On countback, Ireland came up one game short. Every point counts, and this one was another tough pill to swallow.
Our wounded players took the court against Norway, and delivered a solid 3–1 win thanks to strong performances by Lydia, Christian, and Ella Walsh.
Later that same day, Ireland faced Scotland. After ten days surrounded by squash for 12 hours a day, the team put in a heroic effort. Danny produced the most entertaining squash of his campaign, thrilling the crowd in an hour-plus of amazing rallies, eventually losing in four after a marathon effort. Ella Erickson faced Robyn McAlpine in a clash of two talented young players, and Robyn came out on top. That left it to Lydia and Conal, who both needed to win 3–0 for us to take the tie. They delivered with immense mental strength, giving us a huge team win to close our campaign on a high.
To celebrate, the players enjoyed a well-earned BBQ complete with a DJ and a few games of padel.
This year, Prague is playing host to the U19 Championship—an event that’s fast becoming a standout on the European junior squash calendar. For many, it’s a highlight of their playing careers, a week with some of their fondest juniors memories. Spanning 10 days, the event is split into two parts: the first half dedicated to individual competition, the second to the team championship.
Both the men’s and women’s events featured 64-player draws, with only each nation’s top talents competing. That meant every match was a battle—rarely an easy run for anyone.
The competition was spread across two venues. The primary site was the impressive Hector Centre, home to five glass-back squash courts lined up in a row, which served as the event’s vibrant hub. Beyond squash, Hector boasts tennis, badminton, padel, beach volleyball, a gym, and on-site accommodation—though squash was very much the star this week. A secondary venue, a squash and bowling centre across town, hosted a handful of matches.
Credit to the Czech Federation for organizing a seamless event, including securing a fantastic hotel just minutes from Hector—a nice treat for the players.
The individual championships had its ups and downs for all players. There were huge highlights, some performances that need forgetting quickly, and some major 5 set battles that went both ways. For all involved, it was an invaluable learning curve. How best to progress from here is the mission.
All results can be found at esf.tournamentsoftware.com .
U19 Boys – Final Ranking
16th place – Aaron Knox
24th place – Christian Dromgoole
45th place – Danny Lynch
50th place – Conal Jackson
61st place – Frank O Flynn
U19 Girls – Final Ranking
23rd place – Lydia McQuillan
25th place – Ella Erickson
30th place – Ella Walsh
38th place – Zoe Yeomans
45th place – Riley Slade
The event was closed out with the men’s and women’s finals. Both had impressive French winners, showcasing an incredible level of squash and inspiring many of the spectators!
The team event starts on Thursday for Danny, Conal, Christian, Lydia, Ella and Ella. An exciting week ahead!
An event that didn’t quite meet Danny’s own high expectations, but did provide some great performances and battles that will stand to him in the team event. He ended with three wins and three losses, showing moments of real grit. An agonizing first-round defeat, followed by a heartbreaking 12–10 fifth-set loss (after holding match balls), were tough pills to swallow. But his ability to bounce back mentally and refocus was perhaps his biggest win of the week. Sometimes the making of an athlete is how they react!
Thrown in at the deep end with the No. 3 seed in round one, Conal gave a good account of himself, making the opponent work for his victory. Then came a series of grueling five-setters—three in a row, two of which he won. By his final match, fatigue had taken its toll, bringing to a final loss. Still, a solid performance that sets him up nicely for the team event.
Off to a flyer with a 3–1 win in round one, Christian followed up with a closely contested four-set loss. Day two brought a strong win over Maltese Julian Scerri [17/24], pushing him into tougher territory in the draw. Though he didn’t notch another win, his top-25 finish and trademark tenacity made for a strong outing.
What a start from the Waterford man—two wins on day one, including a nail-biting 11–8 in the fifth against a top French opponent to break into the top 16 – and providing his teammates with the nervous excitement that only these events can bring. A performance to be proud of for us all! Though he faced Europe’s best in the later rounds, he never lost heart. His poise and fight at just 16 years old bode well for the future.
A few tough opening matches for Frank. He was always competitive in the games, always fighting hard. Frank played superb squash in parts, and it all came together in the later stages where he closed out the event with two commanding 3–0 victories. A strong finish to a valuable learning experience.
Making her Irish debut, the American-based Ella did not disappoint. A clinical first-round win was followed by a valiant effort against a top English player. Pushing her in each game, Ella lost 3-0 but showed what she’s capable of. A narrow 11–9 fifth-set loss in round three stung, but she rebounded in style—winning the rest of her matches and gearing up confidently for the teams event.
Lydia opened with a commanding win, before a narrow round-two loss which set up an unfortunate all-Irish clash against teammate Ella Walsh in round three. Lydia came through that in straight games and continued with strong performances. After two tough losses, her final win—15–13 in the fifth—was a thriller and a great note to end on.
A huge round-one comeback win for Ella—down two games, she clawed back to win 11–9 in the fifth. Brilliant effort from the Dublin based player. Tough luck followed, running into the second seed (for the second year in a row) – held a good account of herself but was out in 3 games – and then drawing Lydia in round three. She bounced back with a dominant 3–0 win over a Croatian player and a spirited match against a higher-seeded Norwegian. Plenty of positives to take forward.
Still just 16 years old, Zoe showed impressive maturity winning three from six! Her event began with a loss to the eventual finalist, England’s Emily Coulcher-Porter—a player with the rare skill of using opposite hands on either side of the court, avoiding backhand. Zoe’s standout moment came in a commanding win over a German rival who had previously troubled her. Always nice to see improvements coming along, positive event for sure!
A tough event for the athletic Mount Pleasant player, with early matchups against powerful opponents. Riley posses plenty of speed, but struggled to answer to some of the big hits. She also had the misfortune of drawing teammate Zoe—never ideal in a large event. But Riley saved her best for last, taking down a tricky Norwegian opponent in a five-set thriller on the final day. Valuable lessons learned.
Squash Ireland is the National Governing Body for Squash on the island of Ireland. The organisation has experienced significant growth with the number of affiliated clubs, members, coaches, tournaments, and leagues increasing.
The development of a events strategy is a key strategic priority for Squash Ireland along with the delivery of a wide range of tournaments, leagues and social events being a core and fundamental aspect of Squash Ireland’s mission.
An experienced and highly organised Event Manager is required to drive participation, growth and engagement in this key strategic area for the sport.
In addition, with an expanding performance programme, a diligent administrator is needed to manage all aspects of high-performance logistics, from the junior performance academy to the senior elite programme.
Role
The successful candidate will implement the Competition and Event related elements of Squash Ireland’s Connecting the Dots 2024-2028 Strategic Plan and develop a complimentary Events Strategy in addition to managing all aspects of high-performance logistics.
Reporting Structure
The Events & HP Logistics Manager will report directly to the CEO. They will be required to develop strong working relationships with Squash Ireland staff and a wide range of volunteers, club officials, and committee members, as well as funders and stakeholders, including the World Squash Federation, European Squash Federation, Sport Ireland, and Sport Northern Ireland.
Key Responsibilities
• Overall responsibility for project management and delivery of tournaments, leagues, and events on the Squash Ireland Calendar (e.g., Irish Open for Junior, Senior, and Masters, PSA Tournaments, Schools and Third-Level Competitions, Annual Awards, AGM, launches, and ad-hoc events). The successful candidate will be required to work closely with committees and key volunteers to support the successful delivery of events.
• Develop a fit for purpose competition structure and event hosting strategy.
• Organise a series of social tournaments to increase participating amongst social/leisure junior and senior players in collaboration with Development Officers and key volunteers.
• Design and deliver a competitive structure for schools and third-level students.
• Lead the bidding process for high profile and prestigious international events and ensure successful delivery.
• Enhancing the quality and standards of tournaments and events through initiatives such as the delivery of Tournament Director training.
• Management of an all-glass show court maximising its usage and benefit for the sport, including storage, transport, build, insurance and presentation.
• Increase and support the volunteer network through developing excellent working relationships with committees and volunteers involved in delivering squash locally and nationally.
• Review tournament policies and ensure consistent implementation of policies and procedures across all sanctioned tournaments.
• Lead the development and management of the event entry system and ICT systems and ensure full integration with website, rankings and memberships system.
• Liaison with host venues or local organising committees on aspects like scheduling, pricing, seeding, accommodation, catering, insurance and marketing/communications.
• Overseeing the income and expenditure budgets for all events.
• Secure commercial partners and identify opportunities to add value for sponsors at events.
• Drive growth in participation and engagement in tournaments, leagues, and events at all levels, from junior to masters.
• Manage all aspects of event marketing, communications, media and broadcast. • Increase and develop new event revenue streams.
• Manage all high performance logistics for international competitions and training from junior to senior level, including players targeting LA Olympic qualification.
• Work closely with the Head Coach and Junior National Coaches to provide logistical and administrative support for the new junior performance academy.
Essential Requirements
• Be eligible and willing to work in Ireland.
• Full unrestricted driver’s licence and sound driving record.
Essential Skills and Experience
• A third-level qualification in event management, sports management and/or related qualification.
• Significant experience in a similar or comparable role.
• Proven ability to deliver major sporting events of national and/or international significance.
• Excellent attention to detail along with project management, administrative, and time-management skills.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills with an ability to work positively with volunteers.
• A strong understanding of event management IT systems with the ability to lead project teams in the development and improvement of systems
• Strong marketing and commercial acumen with an ability to develop marketing campaigns and activate sponsor agreements.
Further Information
• Full-time position
• Flexible and remote working arrangements can be agreed upon
• A flexible approach is required, with regular out-of-hours and weekend work, as well as domestic travel
• Salary dependent on experience
• One-year contract (extension subject to continued funding)
The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory:
• Garda Vetting/Access NI Checks.
• Reference Checking Procedures.
How to Apply?
Applications must be sent by email with the subject line: [ATTN: Events & HP Logistics Manager]. When applying by email, please include a letter of introduction detailing your skills and experience relevant to the role and your Curriculum Vitae outlining your skills and work experience. Please send these materials no later than the 04th May 2025 to Squash Ireland at [email protected].
Squash Ireland is an equal opportunity employer, celebrating diversity and championing inclusivity. If you require any reasonable accommodations to assist you in participating in the employee selection process, please simply let us know.
On Saturday April 12th, Sutton Lawn Tennis Club and ALSAA hosted the Juniors Interprovincials 2025. The most talented juniors from each province competed in U11, U13 and U15 categories, for a day of thrilling matches.
Girls U11: 🥇 Leinster, 🥈 Munster
Boys U11: 🥇 Munster, 🥈 Leinster
Girls U13: 🥇 Leinster, 🥈 Munster
Boys U13: 🥇 Leinster, 🥈 Munster
Girls U15: 🥇 Leinster A, 🥈 Leinster B
Boys U15: 🥇 Leinster, 🥈 Munster
To: All Members of Squash Ireland; the Secretary of each Club affiliated to a Provincial Association; and the Secretary of each Provincial Association.
20th Annual General Meeting of Irish Squash Federation CLG
This year’s AGM will commence at 12.30pm on Sunday, 25th May 2025
in Irish Sport HQ, Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
The meeting will be in person.
This notice invites, from members of Squash Ireland, from Affiliated Clubs and Provincial Associations proposed motions for the AGM. Any proposed motions should be put on the Motion Proposal Form 2025 (see below) and sent to the Honorary Secretary of Irish Squash Federation CLG not later than the 2nd May 2024 by email to [email protected] and [email protected]. All proposed motions will be considered by the Board and put on the agenda as appropriate.
The Agenda for the meeting, the Audited Accounts, the Reports of the Board, the Reports of the Provincial Associations, the Report of the CEO and any other business as determined by the board will follow in advance of the AGM. Copies will be posted on the Squash Ireland website and be available at the AGM.
We look forward to as many members as possible participating in the interests of the game of Squash. Please complete the attached pre-registration form if you are intending to attend the AGM – https://forms.gle/y3SvE58sHY4A84hv8.
Christine Mooney
Honorary Secretary
Squash Ireland is delighted to announce GillenMarkets and Cannon Kirk as the title sponsors for the upcoming Irish Open, scheduled to take place from May 20th to 24th at Fitzwilliam LTC in Dublin. This year, the tournament has been elevated to a Professional Squash Association (PSA) Copper status event, featuring a $75,000 prize fund, split equally between the men’s and women’s draws.
The upgraded status is set to attract top-tier international talent, providing an exceptional platform for both seasoned professionals and rising stars. World No. 22 Tesni Murphy leads the women’s draw as the top seed, while World No. 19 Greg Lobban enters the men’s draw as the favourite, with Jonah Byrant World No. 35 returning to defend his title.
Among the Irish contenders are Hannah Craig, Sam Buckley, Conor Moran, Breanne Flynn, and Hannah McGugan, all of whom will have the opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best on home soil.
Notably, Irish No.1 Hannah Craig recently secured her maiden PSA Tour title at the Paraguay Open and has climbed as high as World No. 63, underscoring her readiness to make a significant impact at the Irish Open.
On the men’s side, Sam Buckley and Conor Moran have been making great strides in their game and continue to climb the world rankings in what is a pivotal year ahead of the announcement of the LA 2028 Olympic qualification process.
Meanwhile, Breanne Flynn hopes to make a strong return following an ankle injury that sidelined her for several weeks, while Hannah McGugan aims to gain valuable competitive experience against some of the world’s top-ranked players.
Tournament Director Dara O’Flynn expressed enthusiasm about the event’s growth: “The support from GillenMarkets and Cannon Kirk has been instrumental in elevating the Irish Open to a PSA Copper event. This enhancement not only boosts the tournament’s prestige but also provides our Irish players with a valuable opportunity to compete at a higher level on home soil. We anticipate thrilling matches and
encourage fans to come and support our players.“
“Alongside our title sponsors, we are very grateful to Fitzwilliam LTC and their members, who have been wonderful hosts for what is a marquee tournament in the Irish sporting calendar.”
Squash enthusiasts and sports fans are encouraged to attend the Irish Open to witness world-class squash action and support Ireland’s top talent.
For more information on the tournament draw, participating players, and schedule, visit www.psasquashtour.com