Tipperary badminton club wins Club of the Year award for 2024/25 season
Roscrea Badminton Club received the award on November 15
Roscrea Badminton Club has been selected as the Club of the Year for the 24/25 season at the Badminton Ireland Awards 2024/25.
The ceremony took place before the finals of the AIG VICTOR Irish Open on Saturday, November 15.
Roscrea Badminton Club is a small rural club of approximately 50 members that punches way above its weight.
RBC currently has the proud distinction of having three of their members playing at International level.
Luke Marks on the Irish U17s and representing Ireland at this year's Youth Olympics, Celine Connors on the Irish Masters Team, and Lorcan Flannery, who recently represented Ireland in the European Para Games in Turkey, and RBC members are also highly represented on the county teams.
RBC pride themselves in being a totally inclusive club open to members of all ages and abilities, having members ranging from 14 to their 70s, with Lorcan being a prime example of promoting badminton to all.
At a Tipperary county level, four of RBCs members sit in positions on the county committee, and are the main drivers and co-ordinators of all competitions in the county.
Roscrea Badminton Club has a long history with Badminton Ireland on a national level, with the proud achievement of having the only husband and wife to have served as Presidents of BI in Paddy and Kathleen Marks.
The Club's continued commitment to BI at a national level is still demonstrated today, having four members, Mary Ryan, Bernard and Pauline Martin, and JP Maloney assisting BI in the running of National Competitions.
Mary Ryan also has the honour of being the first female umpire in Munster, and has recently taken on the role of Line Judge Co-ordinator, with the club saying that she did a fantastic job at the Irish Open.
For the past three years, Roscrea Badminton Club has also run a social county competition, the Joe Tuohy Tournament in memory of former member, Joe Tuohy.
This competition has grown from strength to strength every year, and has tremendous support from all clubs in the county.