Dundalk Ravens Basketball club started in 2007 out of Dundalk Sports Centre, still their home to this day.

Fu and Tríona Faapito saw a great need for a junior basketball club in Dundalk. It was developed to provide kids an outlet and opportunity to play the game of basketball.

Tríona who is originally from Dundalk and Fu who is from Samoa, met each other while living and studying in California. They both knew that their passion and experience for both basketball and youth would be well utilised in creating and sustaining a club. With the support of their local community centre where they both worked at the time, they were able to create a junior club and enter teams into the NEBB league for the first time.

Their initial plan that year was to enter one or two teams but there was a huge interest. So that first season they had 8 teams, and very little volunteers. But it was a success.

Over the years the club has increased and decreased in size at different times. We have won league titles and progressed to All Irelands on many occasions. Also seeing some seasons where we just about entered one team in the league. Plenty of ebbs and flows over the years that’s for sure.

We have had kids progress to play Internationally at u16, u18 and u20 levels. Also going on to receive scholarships to colleges in America. Because basketball is classified as a minority sport in Ireland, we have such a diverse club, as Ireland is home to many new nationalities where basketball is their main sport. We offer that inclusive welcoming environment.

We continue to run the club with volunteers that match our philosophy, wanting to create this space for kids to grow and develop both on and off the court, in an inclusive, friendly and encouraging environment.