Job: Team Management

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Brian Connolly

Brian Connolly joined the Fastpitch programme at its inception, assisting Coach Melanie in the organisation and running of the training sessions. Brian has been ever present with the programme since its humble beginning in 2014, travelling with the team to the 2015 European Championships and 2016 World Championships. Brian continues to assist with the organisaiton and delivery of the High Performance Programme training sessions and as an organiser in creating the National Fastpitch League.

Brian has been involved in Baseball and Softball in Ireland since 1991. Brian is one a handul of dual internationals, representing Ireland in both Softball and Baseball and winning medals at a number of European Champioships. Brian has represented Europe at the Slowpitch Border Battle. Brian is a future European Softball hall of famer and is at or close to the centre of most things good in Irish Softball.

Domestically, Brian has won countless league and tournament titles and in 2009 won the European Cup Co-Ed Slowpitch Championship with Dodder Dynamoes.

Brian is a Tournament Commissioner with Softball Europe.

Eithne Walsh

“In the beginning of time, it was dark. Then suddenly there was light. Eithne has been born”

Eithne is the Fastpitch Irleand Natonal Teams Operations Manager responsible for supporting the delivery of National Team operations including, but not limited to programme operations and team logistics (scheduling, programme needs). In addition to the operations role, Eithne also is the creative force of the programme creating hype and highlight videos whilst also maintaining our social medial accounts.

Eithne is however more than an Operations Manager and is the true heart of the team representing everything great about our programme. Eithne is loved and respected by management, coaches, players and supporters and keeps a smile on everyone’s faces even on the toughest days.

Eithne started her softball journey as a transition year student in St. Anne’s Killaloe under the wathcful eye of teacher and former international player Grace Kearney. Eithne has represented Ireland at the 2017 U19 World Cup, 2018 U19 European Championships (silver medalist) and 2018 U22 European Championships (bronze medalist).

Eithne is currently studying at the National University of Ireland Galway.