Strong Mayo influence on Irish lacrosse team at Euro Championships
The Ireland team that finished fourth in the recent 2025 European Men's Lacrosse Championhips in Poland featured a number of players with strong Mayo links, writes Eoin Horkan.
The championships featured 24 teams playing 90 total games, and it served as the first continental qualifier for the 2027 World Championships, which will be held in Japan with the top 16 field lacrosse teams in the world competing.
The Ireland coach, Don Preston, is one of the team's contingent who can trace roots back to Mayo.
“My family is from a place called Killeen, where there’s a church on top of a hill,” he explained. “They left during the Famine, first settling in Columbus, Ohio, before eventually moving west. A few of them ended up in California, which is where I was born.”
Don moved to Ireland in 2004, where he played and helped set up a lacrosse team at UCD. When his playing career ended, he returned to the USA to coach college lacrosse. He mentions that he has coached at many different schools but has always stayed connected with the Irish lacrosse scene as he was always interested in staying in touch with his family's heritage
“I am carrying on the Irish legacy as a coach and hope to make us proud,” said Don leading up to the Euros in Poland last week.
He first coached the Ireland team alongside his friend and colleague Richie Moran. Later, he got in touch with head coach Matt Curran, who brought him onto the senior men’s team.
Ireland's achievements at the Euros has to be put into context as they went from 12th to fourth with only three training sessions. “This has taken a lot of time and communication from the boys, especially training on their own and letting us coaches know how they were getting on,” said Don.
Qualifying for the worlds was part of the plan. “We came to qualify for the worlds and also to win, but unfortunately the last two games didn't go our way. It's a special group we have. Looking forward to Japan and hopefully the Olympics,” Don concluded.
We spoke to a number of Irish senior Lacrosse players with Mayo roots.
Liam Horkan traces his Irish roots to his grandfather Martin, who hails from Claremorris. Though born and raised in Malden, Massachusetts (a city just outside Boston), Liam's connection to Ireland remains strong.
Introduced to lacrosse at a very young age by his father, Marty, who was also his youth coach, Liam began his playing days with Malden Youth Lacrosse. Alongside that he competed for the Tomahawks Lacrosse club team out of New Hampshire. Liam now goes to Conn College.
Defender Pat Smyth traces his roots back to Ballyhaunis through his grandmother, an Eagney by birth. Growing up in Philadelphia, a city where lacrosse thrives, Smyth picked up the sport at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks. He went on to compete at a high level during his five years at St. John's University in Queens, graduating in 2021.
Even though US-born, Smyth details how he was proud to compete for Ireland. “To play for my heritage, and to stand for the place where my grandparents came from, was a dream come true,” he said.
Ciaron Costello tells us how his grandmother, Josie Scott (nee Morrison), is from Ballina. Her farm was in Ballinahaglish.
He was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and attended high school at St. Michael's College School, and played lacrosse at Robert Morris University afterwards.
“This is my third tournament with Team Ireland,” Ciaron continued. “I’ve played in the European Championships ‘22 and World Championships ‘24 with the men’s box team. This is my first tournament with the men’s field team.”
Midfielder Jack Doherty's roots are also in north Mayo. “My grandmother left her home in Killala in the '60s and settled in Long Island, New York, where she still lives,” he revealed.
“I am from Garden City on Long Island. I played for coach Jack Moran at Chaminade High School and played four years at D3 Skidmore College.”
Jack always has his grandmother on his mind when wearing the Irish Jersey, and wears yellow boots so she see him play on TV.
“She had surgery on her right eye and can’t see as well anymore – that's the reason I wear my yellow boots!”
Joe Walsh was one of the best goalkeeper in the tournament, and he too has Mayo links through his mother's side. “Her grandmother is from Ballintubber, the name is Corley – as in Corley’s Abbey Lodge,” he explained.
Joe, who lives in Coronado, California, added: “I played locally before playing lacrosse at Colgate University (Hamilton, New York) before also playing McGill University (Montreal, Quebec).”
As a final word when the boys look back on the tournament the general consensus that they fought to stay within striking distance throughout each game. Ultimately, in the bronze medal game against England, they ran out of time to catch them – but the aim is to have the opportunity to play the English again in Japan in 2027.
The west of Ireland link on the national team is augmented by Luke Moloney, who was born in Easkey, Co. Sligo, but grew up in Manchester, where he started playing lacrosse in primary school. Conor Shears also has strong Sligo links, with his grandfather hailing from Curry. His grandfather, Patrick Henry, played football with the local GAA club.
In addition, Aidan Dempsey's father Niall was born and reared in Castleblakeney, Co. Galway. Aidan said: “Playing for Ireland makes me truly realise where my family comes from as well as where I live. It is the most beautiful country and being able to represent that country on a stage like the European Championships is truly a dream come true.”
Finally, Conor Foley, who ended the Euros as one of the competition's top scorers, also has Galway roots. His grandfather, John Foley, had an interesting life as he resided in New York before moving back to Inverin at the age of six and eventually inherited his father’s farm. His life then turned again when, in the '50s, he and his wife went to Boston and settled there. Conor decided to represent Ireland over his native USA, which was a brilliant result for the Irish senior side.