“Is Feidir Linn”!! Ireland Ready for Bulgaria

An Irish player was asked after a recent practice game, do you really think we can win the Euro’s considering Great Britain have won it every time, his response to this question was to paraphrase Barack Obama - “Is Feidir Linn”

If you ask many of the Irish people going to Bulgaria on their holidays to find Dupitsna on a map, they wouldn’t know where to start and so it was the same for the Irish Softball Community until August 2009 when Dodder Dynamoes went to this small little town and came back European Club Champions.

Now it is the turn of the Irish Softball Team to try to replicate this feat of making the long journey home on July 24th with gold medal’s around their necks. Before they can get there, they must bring an end to defending champions Great Britain dominance; having won the last seven European Championships since its creation in 1998 and again travelling as most people’s favourites to win the 2011 tournament.

This year six nations will compete for the title of European Champions. Ireland and Great Britain will be joined by the host nation along with Slovenia, Germany and the Czech Republic, last year's runners-up. The tournament will consist of a double round robin over four days followed by playoffs and finals on the Saturday and for this Irish Squad a journey which started on a cold Saturday Dublin afternoon in January will hopefully finish on a hot Saturday evening in Bulgaria with gold medals.

Ireland's first game of the tournament is against the holders at 10.45am CET on Tuesday 19th July. An early evening game against Slovenia ends the first day of competition for the boys and girls in green. Two days with three games follow, and the round robin ends as it started, with an evening game against Great Britain. A top-four finish is a must in order to progress. The potential of three games on Finals day awaits Ireland on Saturday 23rd July. Our friends at BatPak Softball Club are yet again providing full coverage of the week, with news and views from within the Irish camp, and you can view the full schedule here.

The squad will come together at 4am on Sunday July 17 in Dublin Airport to start their travels into the heartland of Europe with much enthusiasm as players and support staff feel they are the best prepared and talented squad to travel to the European Championships. The squad have trained weekly during the winter and since May twice a week in preparation for the tough challenge ahead.

Dupnitsa may mean nothing to most Irish people, but to the Irish Softball Community this little town near Sofia is where Ireland drew a line in the sand in 2009 and said “Is Feidir Linn”. Perhaps, and hopefully, this is the year for the National Team to draw the same line and it will be their turn to say “Is Feidir Linn."

We caught up with some of the Irish squad members during the week to hear their thoughts about the tournament next week;

Noeleen McCarthy. Dodder Dynamoes. Outfield

"Gold, gold and nothing but gold !!!. I want to come home win, lose or draw, knowing that we gave it our all, which I don't think we have done yet. I think we have such a balanced team this year and it's ours for the taking if we can just believe and put it all together."

John 'Panda' Leonard. Originals. Pitcher

"Really looking forward to the Euros now. Only a few days away. Not looking forward to the Bus at 1am Saturday night to Dublin Airport but when we end GB reign of European Champions it'll be all worth it :)"

Cliodhna Sharp. Dodder Dynamoes. Infield

"The entire squad and management team have all worked very hard and prepared well for this tournament. We will leave Dublin for Bulgaria on Sunday a happy, confident and very smartly attired bunch! The opportunity to represent Ireland is a very special privilege and every one of us is really looking forward to proudly pulling on the green jersey next week and kicking ass!"

Colum Lavery. Marlay Mavericks. Outfield

"On a personal level, I was delighted to make the squad and count myself very lucky as the competition for places in the outfield was fierce and couple of very good players missed out. I am looking forward to building on my own personal performance at last years Europeans and helping the team in any way I can win the Championships. Most of all I intend on enjoying what is a magnificent opportunity to represent your country in your chosen sport."

Julie Walsh. BatPak. Outfield

"I am lookng forward to the Europeans,I think this is one of the strongest squads we have had in a while. I am hoping we do ourselves justice and hit the ball HARD and have the belief that we can do it! There is nothing like standing on the ball field singing your National anthem to get the blood going, C'mon Ireland !"

Peter Mullen. BatPak. Outfield

"The shorts are frickin massive!"

From everyone involved in Softball across the country, we'd like to wish the Irish National Squad the very best of luck in next week's tournament!!

The full squad is as follows;