Ireland’s U22 Beach National Team closed out their campaign at the CEV U22 European Beach Volleyball Championships in Baden, Austria, with a 17th place finish, the furthest Ireland has ever gone at this level.
Ciagan Davoren & Liam Corcoran, led by Head Coach Melissa Cupples, wrote another chapter in what has been a historic summer for Irish beach volleyball.
Breaking New Ground
The boys made headlines early in the tournament with Ireland’s first-ever pool stage win at a European Championship, defeating Estonia in three sets. The performance set the tone for what would be a strong showing against some of Europe’s finest.
Though they later fell to Norway and Austria, both established beach nations, the Irish pair showed fight — pushing Austria to a thrilling 21–19 second set. Their journey ended with a final ranking of 17th, surpassing countries with long beach volleyball traditions such as Scotland, England, and Italy.
For Davoren and Corcoran, this tournament marked more than just a milestone — it was evidence of the upward trajectory of the Irish beach programme. Their result means that future Irish teams will benefit from a stronger seeding in European competitions, opening the door for even more breakthroughs in the years ahead.
This progress ties into the wider momentum for Irish beach volleyball this summer. Just one week earlier, Ireland’s U19 women’s team — Holly Cassidy & Angela Mulcahy — won silver on home sand in Dublin and, in doing so, secured Ireland’s first-ever qualification for the European U20 Beach Volleyball Championships.
Together, these achievements highlight how Ireland is beginning to make its mark on the continental stage, and how the investments in coaching, facilities, and international exposure are paying off.
Now is the Time
With historic results, a first-ever European qualification, and the new inland beach courts at Sport Ireland Campus providing world-class facilities, the Irish beach volleyball programme has never been in a stronger position.
If your organisation is interested in investing in or sponsoring a rapidly growing Olympic sport, now is the time to get involved and help accelerate Ireland’s rise on the European stage.
