Since 1962
Our History
One of the oldest basketball clubs in Ireland, with six decades of basketball in Glasnevin.
Origins (1958–1962)
Basketball came to Glasnevin in 1958, when Bro. O’Farrell put up a set of baskets in the schoolyard of St. Vincent’s C.B.S., helped by Tralee coach Brendan Buckley. The game caught on. Bill Casey joined as player/coach in 1961, and in September 1962 the club registered with the ABBA (the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland). St. Vincent’s Basketball Club dates from that registration.
The golden era (late 1960s–1970s)
Early stars Dave Fitzsimons, John Furlong and Olly Hearns made St. Vincent’s a force in Dublin and national basketball. The club also hosted two of the era’s biggest invitational events, the Glen Abbey and the St. Vincent’s (Players) International / Invitational tournaments, bringing leading British, Irish and international sides to Dublin. A touring US Navy team played in the 1968–69 Glen Abbey.
By the mid-1970s Vincent’s was one of the leading clubs in Irish basketball, with senior internationals throughout the side.
The Saints won the Roy Curtis International Tournament, an international invitational, in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1973, and took the 1973 Players No. 6 International Tournament. The club also travelled to international invitationals including the 1975 “Major Extra Size” Tournament in Cork and the 1978 Lota Tournament.
These international and invitational wins are separate from the National League and National Cup. Our roll of honour lists the domestic titles.
National honours
St. Vincent’s has won six national titles: three Irish National Leagues (1979, 1993–94 and 2005–06) and three Irish National Cups (1984, 1993 and 1994). Our roll of honour has the full record.
Over the decades the senior team also played under sponsor names: Jameson’s (St. Vincent’s) in 1993–94, and later O’Hagan Saints, Irish Travel Partner Saints and Roma St. Vincent’s.
The Super League era
From the 2007–08 season the senior men’s team played as DCU Saints, while based at the DCU Sports Complex. The club is no longer affiliated with DCU. Today our Men’s Super League team competes as Bright St. Vincent’s, and underage and senior basketball are based at St. Vincent’s C.B.S. in Glasnevin.
Today
More than sixty years on, the club runs teams from the Little Saints academy through underage and Dublin League sides to Bright St. Vincent’s in the Super League, all in Glasnevin.
Historical photographs on this page are courtesy of “A Little ‘Bit’ of Irish Basketball History” (the Irish Basketball History & More project / Enda Mulcahy). See the source ↗. Historical detail retold in the club’s own words.
Be part of the next chapter
Join Vincent's for the 2026/27 season.