Netball NI Remember Netball Legend, Ann Curran

Alongside the netball family in Northern Ireland and beyond, we are mourning the passing of a genuine netball legend, Ann Curran.

An inspiring and influential figure, Ann held may roles in our sport; player, coach, umpire, assessor, mentor, but most importantly as a dear friend and confidant.

Her passion, commitment and dedication to her craft saw her play (1971) and officiate (1979 & 1983) at the highest level, the Netball World Cup, an achievement unmatched by anyone else from Northern Ireland. Occasions like this was where she spent time with her closest friend another World Class umpire, Chris Burton, who she later travelled to see many times in Australia.

With her familiar honest, firm and professional manner, Ann shared openly her knowledge and experience with so many of us and we are truly lucky to have had her as one of our own.

Ann will forever be remembered by us all, with her name already etched in our competition history as our clubs play for the Ann Curran shield annually. This year, that competition will be more poignant than ever before.

Our thoughts are with those closest to her.

Header image – middle

Front row, 4th from left

back row, 1st on left

 

Walking Netball

Join our Walking Netball Community

Walking Netball sessions are designed to be fun and flexible and mostly follow the same format as any other netball session, including a warm up, mini games and drills followed by a friendly game. You don’t need any special kit to take part, just clothes that you feel comfortable exercising in and trainers. Just make sure you bring some water and that you have had a snack a couple of hours before training so you have plenty of energy.

For more info:

Betty Wilson NNI HIYN Officer: hiyn-betty@netballni.org

Netball NI Young Ambassadors Programme

What’s it all about?

Want to grow your skills, meet new people, and make a difference in sport? The Netball NI Young Ambassadors Programme is your chance!

Running from 1 October 2025 – 31 March 2026, this 6-month journey is designed for young people aged 13–18 from across Northern Ireland. Together we’ll build confidence, leadership, and friendships while exploring netball and other sports — all while learning more about issues that matter to young people today.

Thanks to support from the NI Executive under the T:BUC programme, it’s completely free to take part.

What you’ll get 🎉

  • A coaching or umpiring award to kickstart your journey in sport

  • Workshops on leadership, good relations, mental health & wellbeing

  • Skills and fitness sessions with top coaches (netball + other sports)

  • A real voice in the development of netball in NI

  • Support to plan your own community event

  • A network of friends and ambassadors just like you 🚀

We’ll split participants into two regional groups so travel is a bit easier, but everyone will come together across NI.

What we ask from you 🙌

Between October and March, you’ll:

  • Join a monthly weekend development day (6 total)

  • Take part in a monthly evening online session (1–2 hours)

  • Help out as a coach or leader at an NNI event, camp, or fun day

  • Be open to learning, sharing your voice, and representing your peers

  • Have permission from a parent/guardian to get involved (and appear in photos/media)

How to Apply 📝🎥

You can apply in a way that suits you:

  • Write it down – a short application answering the questions below, OR

  • Record a video (1–2 minutes max) and send it in!

Tell us:

  1. Who you are, your age, and where you live

  2. Your netball/sport journey so far (when you started, who you play for, etc.)

  3. Why you love sport

  4. Why you’d like to join the Young Ambassadors Programme

  5. What skills and qualities you’ll bring

  6. If you were an animal, which one would you be — and why? 🐾

📩 Send written applications to: headofdevelopment@netballni.org (FAO: Lisa Rickett)
📱 Send video applications via WhatsApp to: 07850102761

Deadline to apply: Wednesday 17 September 2025 at 12 noon.
Don’t leave it to the last minute — spaces are limited!

💡 This programme isn’t just about netball. It’s about you — your voice, your growth, your chance to shine.

Netball NI Staff Update

June has seen some significant changes within the Netball NI staff team with both departures from and arrivals to the business. With member needs as our priority, it is important we share our staffing updates with you to ensure we are managing expectations around our delivery capacity while transitioning. 

Farewells 

Two staff members, Amy Stewart, Primary Schools Officer and Emma Wallace, Digital Media Executive have moved on from Netball NI in recent days and we know our members will join us in wishing them well in their next career steps. 

Karen Rollo-Stewart, Executive Manager, 

The roles held by Amy and Emma were new to Netball NI with funding for both being awarded by 2 new funders in 2022 for a period of 3 years. The beauty of that was that while Netball NI had a clear vision and business case for the positions, Amy and Emma were able to come into the roles and really make them their own, having ownership and autonomy for their workplans and ultimately the impact they as individuals could have on a sport they love.

The skill sets and passion of Amy and Emma along with their understanding of the netball landscape, have made them extremely valuable staff members who have been influential to the direction and positioning of our business. As they move on, we know they won’t be strangers and we will see them at a court very soon!

Emma Wallace

Amy Stewart

Welcome 

We are delighted to welcome back Julie-Anne Cairns to our staff as we have added a third Here If You Need Coach to our team. The face of Netball NI in our communities, our Here If You Need coaches are always in huge demand and Julie-Anne with her coaching expertise and knowledge of our business is the perfect person to join our Development team. 

Lisa Rickett, Head of Development 

Growing the reach of our sport is a key part of our Strongest Together strategy, with the development team leading the way in this area. Fundamental to delivering this is being able to actively provide coaches to support across multiple areas; local authority programmes, schools, social & walking groups as well as within our own club settings. Demand for coaching and coach support is always high and as we continue to grow that support requirement is also increasing. We are thrilled to welcome Julie-Anne back to Netball NI to be on the ground in our delivery and development team, her enthusiasm for sharing her joy in netball is contagious and in the few weeks she has been with us since May, she is already embracing the role and bringing new ideas to the table.

 We are in the process of recruitment for our Primary School post, with Julie-Anne now also taking the lead for our social media platforms over the next period. 

Julie-Anne Cairns

We Are Recruiting! – Primary Schools Officer F/T

Netball NI, due to staff changes, are recruiting for a new Primary Schools Officer. 

Funded by the Department for Communities ‘Start Here’ programme, delivered by the Rank Foundation, Netball NI are recruiting for the position of Primary Schools Officer (Full Time).  

Reporting to the Head of Development the successful candidate will continue to deliver on Netball NI’s commitment to raising the profile of Netball to NI Primary Schools, addressing the barriers facing primary schools in their ability to deliver our sport throughout the whole of Northern Ireland and providing support to achieve sustainable schools netball programmes. 

Through this programme, which commenced in September 2022 Netball NI wish to work in partnership with Key Stakeholders to achieve the following outcomes:  

  • Address an identified gap in our provision by delivering and supporting netball coaching and participation in primary schools across NI 
  • Increased education opportunities for school workers and underrepresented groups in sport to ensure confident, robust delivery of Netball 
  • The development of effective and sustainable working partnerships within and between schools, clubs and Netball NI. 

The successful candidate will be required to attend a range of daytime, evening and occasional weekend events across Northern Ireland.  

Full job details are available below.

If you have any issues downloading /accessing the documents below please contact – headofdevelopment@netballni.org 

PSO Job Advert 12-06-24

Job Description

Personal Specification

Application Form PSO

( Please note the ‘Application form PSO’ will download as a word document to your device directly for you to open and complete)

Simply Telecom Become Official Telecommunications Partner Of Netball NI Partner!

Simply Telecom has become a sponsor of Netball Northern Ireland, securing its position as our official Telecommunications Partner.

This partnership aims to leverage digital technology to enhance the fan experience, providing more integrated, connected, and personalised interactions for netball fans. The collaboration will focus on using technology to bring fans closer to the team, especially on match days, while also enhancing social media engagement and offering exclusive benefits to club members.

As Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing business telecoms company, Simply Telecom offers a comprehensive range of communication solutions through their relationships with BT, O2, Vodafone and Three.

Netball Northern Ireland Awards Night 2024 Honours Individuals, League Winners, and Hall of Fame Inductee – Liz Rodgers!

The Netball NI Awards Night 2024 was a spectacular celebration, uniting netballers, sponsors, and the wider netball community of Northern Ireland to honour the extraordinary achievements of league champions, recognise another inductee into the prestigious Moya McVeigh Hall of Fame and applaud other exceptional award recipients. This glittering event showcased the dedication, skill, and passion that define netball in Northern Ireland all set in the stunning location of Galgorm Resort and Spa – Netball NI Partner.

The evening commenced with a grand ceremony as league winners from various divisions took the spotlight. It was a moment of pride for these teams and players who had exemplified remarkable teamwork, strategic prowess, and unwavering resilience throughout the season.  We were privileged to have Debbie Hallas, Managing Director of our retail partner Netball UK, present the league trophies, adding a special touch to the celebrations.

Our Junior League winners this year are as follows:

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Our Senior League winners this year are as follows:

 

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In addition to honouring the league winners, the Netball NI Awards Night celebrated several individuals who had excelled in their respective fields. Awards were presented in various categories, including NI Pathway Coach of the Year, The Erin Thomson Award for the Most Promising Young Player, International Player of the Year and Official of the Year. These awardees were recognised for their outstanding contributions, unwavering commitment, and dedication to the sport, earning well-deserved applause from all in attendance.

Individual award winners were as follows:

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A defining moment of the evening was the newest inductee into the Moya McVeigh Hall of Fame, named in honor of the beloved “mummy of netball,” Moya McVeigh.

This prestigious recognition celebrates extraordinary individuals who have left an indelible mark on the sport and significantly contributed to its growth in Northern Ireland. This year’s inductee was Liz Rodgers. Liz is one of only 5 athletes across world netball who have represented their country in 5 World Cup events, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987 & 1991, including 2 as Captain.  Debuting at the World Cup in 1975, she had a distinguished netball playing career for NI as well as leading at club level, teaching and bringing up her family.  She has coached hundreds of netballers in both a school and club setting, remaining a close friend and confidant for many. This inductee has held coaching roles for NI in the regional set up and also as a selector. Her achievements go above and beyond those listed above.  Congratulations Liz, we are delighted to welcome you to the Moya McVeigh Hall of Fame!

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Moya McVeigh Hall of Fame Athlete Inductee 2024 – Liz Rodgers pictured with Netball NI Executive Manager Karen Rollo-Stewart

In March this year, our U17’s attended the European Championships in Gibraltar, with an outstanding performance, winning all their matches. The team won Gold in the Challenge section. We were delighted to have the U17s in attendance to receive their Gold Medals.

Co-Captains Aoibheann Donnelly and Evie McCafferty receiving their trophy with Kukri Country Manager, Neil Patterson

A huge highlight of the evening was welcoming NNI Senior Head Coach Sheonah Forbes, U17 Head Coach Jenny Clayton and NI Warrior and Miss Northern Ireland 2nd Runner up 2024 Lauren Walshe to the stage for a Q&A.  It was enlightening to hear from some Netball NI coaches and one very special Warrior.

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Special Guests Jenny Clayton, Lauren Walshe and Sheonah Forbes with event Host and NNI Digital Media and Communications Executive Emma Wallace

As the awards were presented and the night unfolded, it provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made by netball in Northern Ireland. The event allowed the netball community to express gratitude to everyone involved in the sport, from players and coaches to administrators and volunteers. It was a chance to recognise the collective effort required to achieve success and to thank those who contribute their time and resources to the growth and development of netball.

The Netball NI Awards Night was a resounding success, celebrating the achievements of league winners, honouring the newest inductee of the Moya McVeigh Hall of Fame and recognising other outstanding individuals within the netball community. This prestigious event not only celebrated the accomplishments of the winners but also highlighted the immense talent, dedication and passion that thrives within the world of netball in Northern Ireland. It served as a reminder of the sport’s profound impact and promising future, inspiring future generations to reach greater heights.

Northern Ireland U15 Academy Squads

The Northern Ireland U15 Academy is made up of 72 athletes across 4 different regions.

These squads are training towards a set of competition days in February that will end with one region being the Academy winner.

Congratulations to the selected athletes for this year’s Academies.

Netball Northern Ireland Warriors Selection

A squad of 15 Warriors have been selected for December’s Test series vs ROI Emeralds.

Sheonah Forbes, NI Warriors Head Coach

“I cannot wait for my first test series with the squad, especially with it being on home soil. We have been really busy since I have come into the position of NI Warriors Head Coach and the squad has been progressing well. It will be great to get out there and see the squad on court against our neighbours.” 

Karen Rollo-Stewart, NNI Executive Manager

“I cannot wait to see our Warriors back on court in a home test series. The work behind the scenes from the entire squad, management and performance team has been phenomenal, with huge commitment and buy in from everyone to drive the Warriors forward both on court and off. It will be great to see them do what they love, and we are thrilled to be competing against our close neighbours, ROI Emeralds, who have been putting out some incredible performances over the last 12months.” 

Warriors Squad: 

Name  Club/Franchise   Court Area 
Niamh Cooper  Leeds Rhinos/Eagles NC  Mid Court 
Ciara Crosbie  Oldham NC  Circle Attack 
Frances Keenan  Belfast Ladies NC  Mid Court 
Emma Magee  Leeds Rhinos/The Downs NC  Circle Attack 
Michelle Magee  Leeds Rhinos/Grangetown NC  Circle Defence 
Evelyn McCagherty  Central Warriors/Weston Park Blades NC  Mid Court 
Georgie McGrath  Kingsway NC  Circle Attack 
Caroline O’Hanlon (C)   Leeds Rhinos/Larkfield NC  Mid Court 
Orlaith Rogers  Sirens Development/Northumbria University  Circle Attack 
Fionnuala Toner  Belfast Ladies NC  Circle Defence 
Lauren Walshe  Belfast Ladies NC  Circle Defence 
Maria McCann*  Belfast Ladies NC  Circle Defence 
Lisa Carlin**  Northeast Pheonix/Northumbria University  Circle Defence 
Reserve: Olivia McCloskey  Kingsway NC  Circle Attack 
Reserve: Orla McGeough  University of Liverpool  Mid Court 

*Maria McCann will be selected for the 12 in Test 1 and reserve for Test 2 

**Lisa Carlin will be selected for the 12 in Test 2 and reserve for Test 1 

Management

Head Coach: Sheonah Forbes 

Assistant Coach: Debbie Bleakley 

Team Manager: Beth Healy