February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The Under-18 National Irish Basketball Team, which is composed of 20 players from Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Galway and other areas of Ireland, came to Boston on June 27 through the coordination of Joe Walsh, who is director of community relations at Boston University and commissioner of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, and state representative Kevin Honan of Brighton.
As of Monday, the team had beaten six of the ten teams it had played in gyms around the state.
But wins and losses are not the main concern of the team, which is here primarily to sharpen its skills through drills and clinics led by some top local coaches.
“The whole experience has been fantastic,” said Eddie Guilmartin, the head of delegates for the team.
“The coaching has been great, the games have been fun and competitive, and the cultural experience is one that the players will value forever.”
One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the training facility of the Boston Celtics.
“The kids were really excited to run out onto the court that the Celtics practice on,” Guilmartin said. “How many basketball players get to have that experience?”
On Sunday, the team was feted at Sons of Erin in West Yarmouth after a game with the Cape Cod All-Stars. On Friday, the team ends its visit with a game at the West End Club in Allston. A large turnout is expected for that finale. The team returns to Ireland on Saturday.