University of Galway Mystics have been awarded Social Media Club of the Year by Basketball Ireland, recognising the club’s outstanding digital presence throughout the season. The award was presented on Saturday, 23rd May at the Osprey Hotel in Naas, where Mystics PRO Karen Smyth accepted the honour on behalf of the club from Robbie Fahy of Basketball Ireland. As the only Women’s Division One basketball team in Connacht, Mystics stand out as a small club with a single team - making this national recognition even more significant. Competing against much larger clubs with broader structures, the award underscores the impact the club has made through creativity, consistency, and community engagement online.
“Visibility really matters in women’s sport. If young girls in the West of Ireland can see high-level women’s basketball being celebrated on social media, that’s incredibly important” said Mystics PRO, Karen Smyth. “A lot of the work happens quietly behind the scenes, so it’s lovely to see it recognised nationally. From the players on the court, to the coaches, sponsors, photographers and supporters - this recognition belongs to the entire Mystics community.” As they look ahead to the next season, University of Galway Mystics remain committed to growing their community both on and off the court and continuing to build a high-performance environment for talented players in the West of Ireland.
Five other Galway awardees were honoured on the night:
- Michelle Fahy from Maree was inducted into the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame
- Adrian O’Neill was awarded the Tom Collins Award for his contribution to Post Primary Schools basketball
- Fortune Igbokwe from Titans was named U20 Male Player of the Year
- Jack Considine from Titans was named Men’s Underage Coach of the Year
- Hannah Coen from Claregalway was named Volunteer of the Year - Connacht
Photo: Karen Smyth of University of Galway Mystics pictured receiving the Social Media Club of the Year award at the 2026 Basketball Ireland Annual Awards at the Osprey Hotel, Naas, presented by Digital Media Manager for Basketball Ireland Robbie Fahy. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher
