The Independent Panel, appointed to review the 2018 Men’s Slowpitch National Team accounts, and the subsequent behaviour of the Team Manager and the Softball Ireland (SI) Board, has issued its final report which is available here.

The SI Board welcomes the findings of the report, and accepts that internal controls were not effective enough to identify and address this mismanagement of funds. The Board acted promptly to revoke the suspension of Jonathan Spielberg on the advice of the panel, and has already begun to progress the recommendations.

Softball Ireland wish to thank the Independent Panel, Jonathan Spielberg, Anthony O’Grady and the Board for fully engaging in an open, transparent and constructive manner.

Click Here to Download Independent Panel Report

On the seventh Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave Slowpitch National Team and National Fastpitch League equipment

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the donation of helmets and team bats to the Slowpitch National Team Programme for the 2020 season. Softball Ireland hope the grant will assist the Slowpitch National team in their preparations for the 2020 Mens European Championships and World Series Tournament in September. In addition tot the grant to the Slowpitch National Team, the National Fastpitch league will receive a grant of catchers gear, helmets and used bats for the newly formed league.

On the sixth Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave the BSI youth programme equipment bags

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the donation of youth gloves, indoor bases, and youth helmets to the BSI Youth Programme. The youth programme was agree as one of the key primary joint projects and the equipment bags will allow for both open days and to provide targeted schools with equipment. The first discussions between Baseball Ireland and Softball Ireland on the programme have taken place with the final project plan to be confirmed early in 2020.

There will be also a stock of “loaner” gloves available to assist any member wishing to organise youth days.

On the fifth Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave our extended BSI family Baseball Ireland three sets of catchers kit and our newest softball team Ashbourne Antlers a starter bag.

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the donation of three complete sets of catchers gear to our fellow BSI members Baseball Ireland. We hope that the two senior sets and one junior set of catchers gear will help out in reducing cost for our sister baseball clubs.

Feeling a little extra Christmas spirit today Softball Ireland and Softball Leinster are delighted to  grant a starter bag of softball equipment to the Ashbourne Antleres to assist them in year one of their new team in the Softball Leinster league

On the fourth Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave Softball Leinster a Softball Development Bag.

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the granting of a bag of softball development equipment to Softball Leinster to allow them continue growing the game in the region. We hope the grant will assist Softball Leinster in running open days or providing starter equipment to new teams in Leinster. 

In addition to the Wilson team bag, Softball Leinster will receive indoor bases, bats, gloves and a surprise.

On the third Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave Galway Tribes a Softball Development Bag.

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the granting a bag of softball development equipment to Galway to allow them continue growing the game in Galway. The Galway Tribes have nurtured and grown the game to two teams in the last number of years in the Galway area and we hope the grant will help the club in running open days or provide equipment to new players. 

In addition to the Wilson team bag, Galway will receive indoor bases, bats, gloves and a surprise.

On the second Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave Softball Ulster a Softball Development Bag.

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the granting a bag of softball development equipment to Softball Ulster to allow them continue growing the game in the region. We hope the grant will assist Softball Ulster in running open days or providing starter equipment to new teams in Ulster. 

In addition to the Wilson team bag, Softball Ulster will receive indoor bases, bats, gloves and a surprise.

On the first Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave four sets of indoor bases to the Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament.

Softball Ireland are delighted to announce the granting of four sets of indoor bases to the organizers of the Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament ahead of the January 25, 2020 tournament. We hope the grant will assist in keeping the costs down and assist in the running of this must not miss event by Julie Trundle.

The tournament was resurrected by Julie in November 2018 with great success and we look forward to full tournament on January 25th. Follow Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament for more details – click here

Softball Ireland Community to benefit from WBSC Grant

Softball Ireland are delighted to have taken receipt of a development grant in the form of 12 boxes of equipment from the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

The boxes arrived into Ireland and consist of equipment which will be circulated throughout the Softball Ireland Community to help the continued growth of our sport.

Speaking on receipt of the equipment Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery said “Santa has come early for Softball Ireland and we look forward to providing equipment grants in the coming days once a full stock take of what has been received is completed.”

“I am delighted that following a number of discussions with the WBSC at recent conferences and through the personal relationships I have created with our world governing body that Softball Ireland is benefiting from an estimated US$13,500 (€12,000) of equipment.” added Lavery

Stay tuned to Softball Ireland’s social media over the next week  for the Softball Days of Christmas to see what has been delivered!

 

Softball Proves Popular at SPORTFEST 2019

Softball Ireland’s exhibition at the 2019 Sport Ireland Family SPORTFEST went down a treat with over 500 adults and children and 1 Leo The Lion getting an introduction to the sport.

Softball Ireland created a Softball Village at the Family SPORTFEST demonstrating slowpitch softball and allowing those attending an opportunity to try the different skills of the game including throwing, hitting and pitching. The Softball Village was one of the more popular exhibitors on the day with a constant flow of willing participants trying to hit the target or hit the ball from a Batting Tee.

Speaking on the success of the Softball Village, Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery said:

“The SPORTFEST event for Softball Ireland was an amazing day with non-stop lines of children and adults looking to try out of the sport. We hope that everybody who tried the activities walked way knowing more about our sport and hopefully they will follow it up by getting involved with local clubs.” Lavery added “I was encouraged by the number of PE teachers who were interested in the coed nature of the game and this something we will explore further whilst developing our youth strategy with Baseball Ireland within BSI.”

The exhibition stand manned by Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery together with current and past Softball Ireland national team players and representatives from National Champions Dodder. Softball Ireland would like to thank Caitlyne De Lange, Brian Connolly, Jordan Sylver and Niall Lavery for volunteering their time on the day.