Cumann Cispheile Mhaigh Cuilinn is proud to celebrate the induction of Enda Byrt into the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame in 2025. Enda, a true pioneer of Irish basketball, holds a special place in the history of our club and the wider basketball community. His remarkable contributions to the sport, both on and off the court, have left an indelible mark, and this recognition is richly deserved.

Enda’s connection to Maigh Cuilinn dates back many years. Through his longstanding friendship with fellow County Clare troublemaker, Gerry Nihill, Enda often attended Maigh Cuilinn youth section sessions to run coaching clinics with various teams, sharing his expertise and passion for the game.

When the time came to find a head coach for our first Superleague campaign, Enda’s deep understanding of basketball and his relationship with the club made him the ideal choice. As the first club from Galway to compete at this level, we sought a coach who could bring experience, vision, and passion to the role. Over two seasons as head coach, Enda guided the team to some of our most memorable victories in those formative years. To this day, he remains a great supporter of the club and particularly the senior men’s team and can often be seen cheering from the stands at home games.

Enda’s illustrious career spans decades of dedication to basketball. His tenure as head coach of the Irish senior men’s team from 1988 to 1999 is the longest tenure of any Irish senior men’s head coach. It brought professionalisation and historic achievements to Irish basketball, and Enda’s teams took to the court against giants such as Croatia and the United States, holding their own. His time also saw Ireland pick up their first-ever wins against some of the great basketball nations of Europe, and he drove on Irish basketball to a level not seen previously internationally, always ahead of his time in terms of tactics and preparations.

As a national executive member of Basketball Ireland, Enda played a transformative administrative role also in developing the sport. He spearheaded initiatives to establish coaching and officiating courses, edited the Basketball Ireland magazine, and laid the foundation for youth and senior international programmes. He was also the driving force that brought league basketball to Clare for the first time with his home club Admirals in Ennistymon.

When Enda took the reins of the Junior Men’s Irish Programme in 1985, Gerry Nihill was his first call as assistant coach, and together they directed successful Junior Men’s programmes up to 1990.

Enda pioneered the first involvement of the Irish University Men’s team in the World University Games, coaching the men’s team in three world championships with a top 8 finish at the games in the USA. He also coached Division 1 in the USA for two seasons at Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina.

Enda has tirelessly promoted basketball at all levels. His dedication has inspired countless players and coaches, shaping the sport across the country. He also served as an administrator at many levels, including area board chairperson and member of the National Executive.

Reflecting on his time with Maigh Cuilinn, Enda shared:

“Coaching Maigh Cuilinn during their first Superleague season was a unique and rewarding experience. The commitment of the players, the passion and the ambition of the club were extraordinary. It’s heartening to see how well the club has continued to this day and I’m honoured to have played a part in its journey.”

Cumann Cispheile Mhaigh Cuilinn congratulates Enda on this outstanding achievement. His induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament to his lifelong dedication to basketball and his enduring influence on the sport. We are grateful for his contributions to our club and the game we all love. Go raibh maith agat, Enda!

Categories: News