Ireland international Bridget Herlihy has announced her retirement from basketball.
Herlihy, from Boston but whose grandmother is from Oileáin Arann, made her Ireland debut in a friendly series against Estonia in August 2022 and went on to make her FIBA Women’s EuroBasket debut against the Netherlands in November 2022 and has been a regular since.
The 28-year-old played all three of Ireland’s most recent FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers in November 2025, including Ireland’s first win at that level since a return to EuroBasket in 2021, when they claimed a 94-67 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Herlihy contributing 10 points.
Herlihy was born in Braintree, near Boston, Massachussetts and was discovered by Basketball Ireland Hall of Famer Susan Moran, with Bridget's father subsequently making contact with Ireland women’s head coach James Weldon.
Speaking of her decision to retire, Herlihy stated: “Representing Ireland has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, both on and off the court. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to wear the Ireland jersey and compete alongside such talented and driven teammates. After three incredible years with this team, I’ve decided to close the book on this chapter and retire from basketball.
“I want to sincerely thank the coaching staff for believing in me and pushing me to grow every day. Their guidance, dedication, and trust have had a lasting impact on me not only as a player, but as a person. I especially want to thank James Weldon for originally presenting me with this opportunity and for supporting my professional and international career ever since. I also want to thank Dolores Geaney and her family for always treating me as one of their own.
“To my teammates - thank you for the unforgettable memories, countless hours of hard work, and all the laughter we shared. The bond we created will always stay with me. I’m proud how we’ve grown over the years and what we’ve been able to accomplish together. Finally, I want to thank everyone who supported me along the way - from my family, to the fans, to the sponsors - for making these last three years so special. Representing Ireland has been an honour I’ll cherish forever.”
Ireland head coach James Weldon added: “Bridget displays incredible tenacity, talent and ability in all that she does. These qualities are what made her such a fantastic leader on the court for Ireland. We wish Bridget well in the next chapter of her life, as she carries forward the energy, kindness, support, humour and loyalty that we so cherished during her time with us representing Ireland on the International stage.”
