Softball in Ireland is governed by Softball Ireland, itself a member of the International Softball Federation. As of 2021, the Softball Ireland website noted that there were approximately 800 softball players and 40 teams in the country.[1]
History
editThe year 1982 marked the first softball league in Ireland, the Dublin Softball League. The Irish Softball Association was formed in 1989. It has been in various guises since then, including the Irish Baseball and Softball Association, the Irish Baseball and Softball Federation, back to the Irish Softball Association, and in recent years has been renamed Softball Ireland. Softball Ireland (SI) is the governing body of softball in Ireland. SI is responsible for the running of tournaments, leagues, development and international competition in both co-ed slowpitch and ladies fastpitch softball.[2]
Domestic competitions
edit| Competition | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softball Ireland National Club Championships (SINCC) | Dodder Dynamoes (7) | Dodder Dynamoes (6) | Dodder Dynamoes (5) | BatPak (1) | Not Held | Dodder Dynamoes (4) | Dodder Dynamoes (3) | TNT (2) | Dodder Dynamoes (2) | TNT (1) | OddSox Green (2) | Keily's Kegs (1) | OddSox Green (1) | Dodder Dynamoes (1) | Inaugural Season | ||||||||
| Irish Open Softball Trophy | Belfast Softball Club (2) | Belfast Softball Club (1) | BatPak (4) | TNT (2) | Not Held | Dodder Dynamoes (5) | Limerick Originals (3) | TNT (1) | Dodder Dynamoes (4) | BatPak (3) | Dodder Dynamoes (3) | Dodder Dynamoes (2) | Limerick Originals (2) | Limerick Originals (1) | The Stingers UK (4) | The Stingers UK (3) | The Stingers UK (2) | Batpak (2) | Saints Stingers UK (1) | BatPak (1) | London Breakers UK (1) | OddSox Green (1) | Dodder Dynamoes (1) |
| Leinster League | Dodder Dynamoes (11) | Dodder Dynamoes (10) | Dodder Dynamoes (9) | BatPak (3) | Dodder Dynamoes (8) | Dodder Dynamoes (7) | TNT (2) | Dodder Dynamoes (6) | TNT (1) | OddSox Green (3) | Keily's Kegs (1) | OddSox Green (2) | Dodder Dynamoes (6) | OddSox Green (1) | BatPak (2) | BatPak (1) | Dodder Dynamoes (5) | Dodder Dynamoes (4) | Dodder Dynamoes (3) | Dodder Dynamoes (2) | Dodder Dynamoes (1) | Marlay Martyrs (1) | |
| Ulster League | Brawlers (BSC) (10) | Brawlers (BSC) (9) | Brawlers (BSC) (8) | Cubs (1) | Brawlers (BSC) (7) | Brawlers (BSC) (6) | Brawlers (BSC) (5) | Brawlers (BSC) (4) | Brawlers (BSC) (3) | Sliders (3) | Brawlers (BSC) (2) | Brawlers (BSC) (1) | Sliders (2) | Sliders (1) | Smokin' Aces (BSC) (2) | Aviators (1) | Smokin' Aces (BSC) (1) | Inaugural Season | |||||
| Connacht Munster League | Galway Tribes (2) | Galway Tribes (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Brian Walshe Cup | Dodder Dynamoes (4) | Kegs (2) | TNT (3) | Not Held | Not Held | Limerick Originals (1) | TNT (2) | TNT (1) | OddSox Green (4) | OddSox Green (3) | Kiely's Kegs (1) | BatPak (6) | Marlay Martyrs (1) | BatPak (5) | BatPak (4) | BatPak (3) | OddSox Green (2) | Batpak (2) | Dodder Dynamoes (3) | BatPak (1) | Dodder Dynamoes (2) | Dodder Dynamoes (1) | OddSox Green (1) |
| Intervarsity championships | Royal College of Suregeons Ireland (1) | University College Dublin (7) | University College Dublin (6) | University College Dublin (5) | University College Dublin (4) | University College Dublin (3) | University of Limerick (7) | University of Limerick (6) | University of Limerick (5) | University of Limerick (4) | University of Limerick (3) | University College Dublin (2) | University of Limerick (2) | University of Limerick (1) | University College Dublin (1) |
National team
editThe national team has competed with varied success in recent years. The main competition being the European Softball Federation CoEd Slowpitch Championship.[3] The event has been dominated by the Great Britain team winning all seven instalments. The venue for 2011 was Dupnitsa, Bulgaria. The record number of participants is eight at the 2010 event.
| Position | 2019 - Budapest (HUN) | 2010 – Prague (CZE) | 2008 – Southampton (GBR) | 2006 – Ljubljana (SLO) | 2004 – Linz (AUT) | 2002 – Mladé Buky (CZE) | 2000 – Dublin (IRL) | 1998 – London (GBR) | |
| 1st | Great Britain 
|
Great Britain
|
Great Britain
|
Great Britain
|
Great Britain
|
Great Britain
|
Great Britain
|
Great Britain
| |
| 2nd | Germany 
|
Czech Republic 
|
Ireland 
|
Czech Republic
|
Ireland
|
Ireland
|
Czech Republic
|
Czech Republic
| |
| 3rd | Ireland
|
Ireland
|
Czech Republic
|
Ireland
|
Czech Republic
|
Austria 
|
Ireland
|
Ireland
| |
| 4th | Czech Republic
|
Guernsey 
|
Jersey 
|
Slovenia 
|
Austria
|
Czech Republic
|
Guernsey
|
Guernsey
| |
| 5th | Netherlands 
|
Belgium 
|
Slovenia
|
Croatia 
|
n/a | Germany
|
Germany
|
n/a | |
| 6th | Belgium
|
Slovenia
|
n/a | n/a | n/a | Slovakia 
|
n/a | n/a | |
| 7th | Austria
|
n/a | Austria
|
n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 8th | Bulgaria 
|
n/a | Slovakia
|
n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
European Club Championship
edit2007 saw the inaugural European Cup Co-Ed Slowpitch Championship. The event was held in Limeil-Brévannes, France, from 19 September 2007 to 22 September 2007. There were five teams competing with Dodder Dynamoes representing Ireland. The London Chromies were crowned champions beating Dodder Dynamoes 10–3 in the Grand Final. The 2008 Championships, held in Dupnitsa, Bulgaria from 2 to 6 September, were won by Baker Tomkins of Britain beating Dodder Dynamoes 16–11 in the Grand Final. The 2009 Championship saw an increase in the participants to 7, with the event is again being held in Dupnitsa, Bulgaria from 26 to 29 August. 2009 winners, Dodder Dynamoes, became the first Irish team, club or national, to win an ESF sanctioned championship. The London Chromies reclaimed the title at the 2010 event held in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| Position | 2018 – Riccione (ITA) | 2010 – Ljubljana (SLO) | 2009 – Dupnitsa (BUL) | 2008 – Dupnitsa (BUL) | 2007 – Limeil Brevannes (FRA) |
| 1st | Pioneers
|
London Chromies
|
Dodder Dynamoes
|
Baker Tomkins
|
London Chromies
|
| 2nd | H2O
|
Dodder Dynamoes
|
Dragons
|
Dodder Dynamoes
|
Dodder Dynamoes
|
| 3rd | London Chromies
|
BatPak
|
ASKOE Linz Stamm Bandits
|
ASKOE Linz Stamm Bandits
|
Sparks BAK Mlade Buky
|
| 4th | Bandits Witches Linz
|
Longbridge
|
Sparks BAK Mlade Buky
|
Balkan Stars Sofia
|
ASKOE Linz Stamm Bandits
|
| 5th | UCE Travellers
|
SBK Golovec
|
Balkan Stars Sofia
|
N/A | Limeil Brevannes les Caribous 
|
| 6th | TNT
|
WBV Homerunners
|
Baker Tomkins
|
N/A | N/A |
| 7th | Mannheim Tornados
|
N/A | Krpan LL Novo Mesto
|
N/A | N/A |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "About Softball Ireland - What is Softball Ireland?". softball.ie. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ Softball Ireland Website accessed January 2007
- ^ European Softball Federation Website accessed January 2007