Niamh Dwyer is the new head coach of Ireland’s U18 3x3 women’s basketball team

Basketballer Niamh Dwyer has been recently been appointed as the new head coach of Ireland’s U18 3x3 women’s basketball team.

This team will be taking part in this summer’s European Youth Olympic Festival.

Dwyer has been assistant coach to the Ireland’s U20 women’s team for the last three years. 

She previously coached Ireland’s U18 3x3 women’s team, leading them at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 and U18 Women’s Europe Cup qualifiers.

Domestically, she was the head coach of Women’s Super League side Catalyst Fr Mathews during the 2022/23 season, however, she has played with the side for the last two seasons. 

Her extensive coaching CV has also seen her coach underage teams for both Glanmire and Fr Mathew's, as well as schools basketball for Glanmire Community College.

As a player, she represented Ireland at U16, U18, U20 and at senior level, while in 3x3 basketball, she competed at two FIBA Europe Cups and at the 2015 European Games in Baku, where the Irish 3x3 team finished eighth. 

In her highly-decorated career, Dwyer has won six women’s Super League titles and five Paudie O’Connor National Cups, as well as one Women’s Division One title and one Women’s Division One National Cup.

She is regarded as one of the best ever players in the country and her playing legacy, which included playing professionally in Europe will last the test of time. Whenever great players are discussed, her name will always be in the conversation.

“I am delighted to be appointed head coach of the U18 women's 3x3 team that will compete in the European Youth Olympic Festival,” Niamh said.

“After being involved with the Irish underage international teams over the last four years, I'm excited for the future of international basketball for Ireland and being involved in the European Youth Olympics Festival is another step to continue to push boundaries of what we can do as a nation. 

"I fell in love with 3x3 basketball when I started playing it in 2014. 

"I'm delighted to see the growth of the sport over the last number of years and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be part of it.

This year’s European Youth Olympic Festival takes place from July 20th-26th in Skopje, Macedonia. 

Ireland’s 3x3 U18 women’s team qualified for the tournament by virtue of their 3x3 ranking, securing their spot in Europe’s top 16 thanks to results achieved by the women’s programme.

“Our 3x3 women’s programme has come on leaps and bounds in the last number of years thanks to additional funding from Sport Ireland."

The European Youth Olympic Festival was introduced in 1991 and is the biggest multi-sport event for the youth of Europe. It is aimed at athletes aged 14-18, with approximately 3,600 young people taking part in a wide range of sporting disciplines. 

It is seen as a gateway for athletes’ future Olympic participation.

Niamh will also be one of the main speakers at the third Women in Sport Coaching Conference at the National Arena on May 17th. 

She will be joined by former Catalan basketball player and coach Silvia Font Puig and former Irish senior basketball international player Emer Howard.

“The women in sports conference have become an annual event in the Basketball Ireland conference calander. 

"The event is aimed at current or aspiring female players and coaches, with an all-female speaking lineup and four coaching clinics to take place on the day.

“I have been asked to speak at the event this year with the focus on 3x3 basketball. 

"This lines up with my new role as U18 3x3 women's head coach and I am very much looking forward to that event,” Dywer added.