Across the Pond: 5 Irish Girls Basketball Prospects to Watch

By Aryn McClure, Founder of Globally Known

Ireland may be known globally for Gaelic football and rugby, but women’s basketball is quietly building momentum across the Emerald Isle -  and a new generation of talent is beginning to emerge.

Photo: via Fiba Basketball 

It’s 6 p.m. on a Monday in Dublin. Hundreds of girls from counties across Ireland flood into the National Basketball Arena with one shared dream: earning a place on the U18 Irish National Team and representing their country at FIBA EuroBasket competition. Different backgrounds. Different towns. Same mission.

As the sport continues to grow internationally, Ireland is becoming a market worth paying attention to. Here are five young players making noise and helping push Irish women’s basketball forward.

5. Abbie Lyons - 5’6 Guard, County Cork

Playing for Brunell BC, Lyons is a quick, ambidextrous guard with the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. She thrives under pressure, handles the ball confidently in traffic, and creates scoring opportunities for herself and teammates alike. Her court vision and pace make her one of the more dynamic backcourt players in the country.

4. Aoibheann Donnelly - 5’7 Combo Guard, Belfast

A veteran returner for the Irish squad, Donnelly averaged 11.3 points and 4 assists per game in international play. Known for her speed, composure, and leadership, she controls the tempo offensively while creating scoring opportunities from both the perimeter and inside the paint.

3. Francesca Kyamagero -  5’11 Post, County Cork

Kyamagero brings physicality, toughness, and consistency to the paint. The returning national team player has developed into a reliable interior scorer and rim protector with a strong instinct for tracking rebounds. During her last international tournament appearance, she averaged 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in roughly 20 minutes per game - numbers that reflect both efficiency and impact.

2. Madelyn Hartigan - 6’4 Forward/Post, County Limerick

One of the youngest players on the squad, Hartigan averaged 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds with Ireland’s U16 team last year. At 6’4, she brings length, mobility, strong footwork, and the ability to run the floor at a high level, making her one of Ireland’s top rising frontcourt prospects.

1. Lucy Walsh - 6’1 Forward/Post, County Cork

Walsh’s versatility separates her from many players at her position. At 6’1, she has the ability to operate as both a forward and a post while stretching defenses with perimeter shooting range. Her footwork around the basket, combined with the confidence to knock down shots from deep, gives her a modern skill set that continues to attract attention.

The next wave of basketball talent will not always come from the countries with the biggest spotlight. Sometimes it comes from smaller markets where players develop with grit, hunger, and a deep appreciation for opportunity. Ireland is proving to be one of those places.

Upcoming Fixtures

Ireland’s U18 women’s national team is set to take the stage in a packed international stretch this summer:

• Ireland vs Lithuania - Friday, July 31 (TBC)

• Luxembourg vs Ireland - Saturday, August 1 (TBC)

• Estonia vs Ireland - Sunday, August 2 (TBC)

• Ireland vs Switzerland - Tuesday, August 4 (TBC)

• Austria vs Ireland - Wednesday, August 5 (TBC)

According to Irish basketball development figures, there has been a major rise in Irish female athletes continuing their careers collegiately in the United States, signaling a growing pathway between Ireland and the global game.

“Every athlete deserves a shot at the world stage,” says Aryn McClure. “And these girls are proving they belong in the conversation.”