Mark McKane being presented 2024 Squash Ireland Volunteer of the Year Award by Squash Ireland President Rosie Barry at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club on Sat 1 March 2025.
The Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin buzzed with excitement as the 2024 Squash Ireland Awards took centre stage following two thrilling days of the Masters National competition on February 28 and March 1.
Amid a night of celebration, fine dining, and camaraderie, Squash Ireland recognised the standout contributors to the sport over the past year. Among the honourees was Ballymena’s own Mark McKane, who was named Volunteer of the Year for his remarkable efforts in revitalising squash in his local community.
The awards dinner, attended by players, coaches, and supporters, celebrated not only the winners and runners-up of the Masters draws but also those who have gone above and beyond to advance squash in Ireland.
McKane, a founding member and committee stalwart of the Ballymena Squash Club, was lauded for his tireless dedication. Squash Ireland announced Mark’s well deserved recognition saying:
“Mark McKane has been named Volunteer of the Year for his unwavering dedication to growing squash in his community. As the driving force behind the new Ballymena Squash Club, he has expanded membership, advocated for new facilities, and introduced countless young players to the sport through outreach programs.”
Mark, Ben and Daniel McKane who attended the awards dinner.
Reflecting on the accolade, McKane expressed a mix of humility and disbelief.
“I was really shocked to be nominated alongside Eugene Walker (a legend in Irish squash) and even more flabbergasted at winning it,” he said. “I am suffering from ‘imposter syndrome’, because I do not believe this is about me, this is about the squash playing community in Ballymena.”
McKane emphasised the rich squash heritage in Ballymena, citing local legends like Norma Waring, Silvia Wallace, Harry Cook, Dr. Richard Rea, Myron Evans (with approximately 35 caps for Ireland), and Alec Richardson (with around 45 caps).
“Ballymena has such a rich squash heritage,” he noted. “All we are doing is tapping into a pool of players that have either been playing socially or lying dormant waiting for someone to start a club.”
Under McKane’s leadership, the Ballymena Squash Club has seen rapid growth since its inception in 2023, boasting 44 registered members and attracting many more to its courts.
“Perhaps [this award] acknowledges the speed of growth of the club,” McKane mused. “I’d bet there’s lots of folk doing the same thing across Ireland, and they’re doing it better, with more qualified coaches.”
Yet, McKane’s vision extends beyond the club’s current success. He remains committed to engaging the next generation and ensuring squash’s future in Ballymena.
“We’re also reaching out to the next generations of youth groups to offer taster events to allow others to find this great world and new Olympic sport,” he said. “We’ve already identified at least two youngsters with lots of potential.”
A key part of his mission is advocating for a permanent home for squash as the local council plans a new leisure centre.
“There’s still lots of work to be done to persuade the council to maintain a home for our great sport,” McKane urged. “If you enjoy the game and want the next generation to have a chance to experience the game, please join us.”
The Awards venue at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
Squash Ireland praised McKane’s passion, leadership, and community spirit, calling him “a truly deserving recipient of this award.”
For McKane, however, the focus remains on the collective effort. “I just play squash socially; I’m not even selecting myself for the team,” he quipped. “We’re here for those that want to give it a try, or need someone to play the game with, or need some guidance on how to get those shots out of the back corner or scraped off the wall.”
As the evening wrapped up, Squash Ireland’s celebration of its 2024 award winners underscored the vitality of the sport across the country—and in Mark McKane, Ballymena has a champion whose efforts are ensuring squash continues to thrive for years to come.
Ballymena Squash Club Latest
Ballymena Squash Club triumphs over Limavady in Mid-Ulster League clash
Team Lineups, left to right: Jonny Workman (Ballymena 3), Shaun Huggins (Limavady 1), Hugo Carlin (Ballymena 1), Eddie McGregor (Limavady 2), Geoff Smyth (Ballymena 2) and Stephen Dunlop (Limavady 3).
Ballymena Squash Club showcased their prowess on Thursday evening, dispatching their top squad to Coleraine Leisure Centre for a thrilling showdown against Limavady Squash Club. The formidable three-player lineup featured Hugo Carlin (seed 1), Geoffrey Smyth (2), and Jonny Workman (3), who took on Limavady’s Shaun Higgins, Eddie McGregor, and Stephen Dunlop, respectively.
The spotlight fell on the clash of the number one seeds, where veteran league players Hugo Carlin and Shaun Higgins traded blows in a series of tightly contested games. This time, Higgins edged out Carlin, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide for Limavady. Ballymena emerged triumphant with a decisive team victory, securing match scores of 3-0, 3-0, and 1-3.
The win propels Ballymena to second place in the Mid-Ulster League standings. However, the competition remains fierce, with Mid-Ulster C holding a game in hand and Strabane sitting on two. Meanwhile, Foyle Squash Club continues to lead the pack with the highest win percentage, setting the stage for a challenging pursuit in the coming weeks.
Fixture results table
League standings table
Looking ahead, Ballymena is gearing up for their next test on Thursday, March 20, when they travel to face the formidable Foyle team.
The season will culminate in a final-round clash against Strabane on April 3, promising more high-stakes squash action as the standings heat up.