An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July / August 2023 www.military.ie/magazine 32 | 100 YEARS OF BASKETBALL IN THE DEFENCE FORCES, 1923-2023 BY LT COL PADRAIC KENNEDY T he history of the first years of basketball in Ireland is captured in the December 1978 issue of An Cosantόir (see From the Archives on P. 34-35). This article captured some of the key basketball events and figures for the period from 1923 - 1978 and was a great opportunity to keep the memory alive of the contributions of a small number of individuals who set the scene for the sport of basketball in Ireland. Many in the sport of basketball are familiar with the name of James Naismith who is credited with the creation of basketball in the US in 1891. Closer to home however, 100 years ago this year Sgt Major Michael Doogan introduced basketball in Ireland with little known about him among the wider basketball community. Sgt Major Doogan is mentioned briefly in Irish Basketball history but little detail is openly available on his contribution to basketball and sport in general including his role in the promotion of sport in Dublin's Vocational schools. SGT MAJOR MICHAEL DOOGAN Sgt Major Doogan was a Dubliner from 5 Hendrick Street in Dublin who originally enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusileers. Doogan's World War 1 service was as a young Sgt Major with the 107th Rifles who fought in the Battle of Messines Ridge as a reconnaissance officer. He transferred to the National Army on 7th July 1922 where he began the promotion of the sport of basketball in Ireland. Sgt Major Doogan held the position in Charge of the Army Physical Training School from 1924 (having also been attached to the British Army Gymnastics staff from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers). He was responsible for the establishment of military physical training courses, displays and credited with introducing basketball to Ireland so it was no surprise that he was to be recommended in 1928 to assist the City of Dublin Technical Schools, following a request by General Mulcahy in his capacity as Minister for Local Government. Sgt Major Doogan was to lead this venture for sport in the vocational schools and make recommendations for equipment and subsequent physical training instruction. He served nearly 40 years with the Vocational Schools retiring in 1968 at 75 years of age. Described in the history of physical education in the Dublin City Vocational schools as "the first and greatest old soldier was M.J. Doogan, a Royal Dublin Fusilier who transferred to the Irish Army and introduced physical training to the technical schools". A keen sportsman that took part in and promoted a wide range of sports including basketball, boxing, hockey, hurling, gymnastics, camogie, football and tennis, Sgt Major Doogan would start a long history of participation by the Army in providing the necessary leadership and management for sports to thrive in the Vocational Schools. The contribution of Defence Forces Physical Training Instructors (PTI) to basketball in the Vocational schools would continue throughout the remainder of the century with the role of Sean Treacy (RIP), former PTI in the Army School of Music (ASM) and international basketball referee, and later as a PE teacher in Inchicore on Emmet Road, Dublin. Another notable senior Irish Referee is ex Sgt Paul Dempsey, who was also a member of the ASM. Paul remains active in Basketball Ireland and is currently a F.I.B.A. national referee instructor for the last number of years. Other referees at the National level included Aidan Kavanagh and Paddy Flood from the ASM. Paul Dempsey describes the influence of basketball: "when one joined the Army School of Music, it felt like we were given a musical instrument in one hand and a basketball in the other, both became a passion and for me, that passion has never left but instead led me to transition from the Defence Forces into basketball on a full time basis. I'll always be grateful for the opportunity basketball in the Defence Forces has given me" I recall hearing that the reason the sport become popular in the Defence Forces was as a second sport for boxers but also as a non-contact sport for musicians. Anyone who has played basketball in the Defence Forces will know that the sport was often a more physical game than its civilian version, which was sometimes closer to full contact field sports such as Rugby. The wisdom of musicians playing a sport long associated with broken fingers is also questionable. The sport also attracted many volunteers and supporters who set up many of today's main and oldest clubs and governing bodies across Ireland. DF Basketball team versus Cork c1987/88 Members of Women's DFTC Team and 2 Bde Team during annual 2022 Defence Forces Championship

• Cover