‘I HAVE the competitive bug,’ Tony Hughes laughs, so perhaps his rise in pickleball isn’t all that surprising.

He first picked up a paddle in May 2023. Two years later he was representing Ireland at the 2025 European Pickleball Championships in Rome.

‘That was a real highlight,’ he says, reflecting on a tournament where he finished in the top ten in both the men’s senior singles and doubles.

‘I’ve gotten a buzz from sport before through my kids, who are very competitive and have done well, but walking behind the flag at the opening ceremony in Rome and playing in that arena was something else. It was fabulous.’

By day, Bishopstown native Tony is CEO of Access Credit Union and a familiar face in West Cork. On the court, he has quickly risen in the pickleball ranks – a journey that began almost by accident.

‘I heard about it through the Cork Sports Partnership while I was doing a fitness course. I googled it, found a club in Inniscarra and gave it a go. I had played plenty of competitive tennis, but this just seemed to suit,’ he explains on the Star Sport Podcast.

Tony in action at the Europeans.

Pickleball, which blends elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, was created in the United States in the 1960s but has surged in popularity across Europe over the past decade. Tony believes its accessibility is the key to that growth.

‘A lot of people I meet have never played a racket sport before, but they can come in and enjoy it straight away.

‘It’s essentially mini-tennis played on badminton court dimensions with a solid paddle – like a large table tennis bat – and a perforated plastic ball. Unlike padel, which uses walls and a livelier ball, pickleball is played on a smaller court and is built more around touch, control and placement rather than power. You can have long rallies very quickly, and that’s what hooks people.’

It also fits neatly into the Irish climate.

‘Because it’s indoors, there are no weather cancellations. You know your game is going ahead, which makes a big difference.’

Participation numbers continue to climb. There are now more than 115 venues across Ireland, while globally the sport is estimated to have tens of millions of players.

The growth is visible across West Cork too.

‘Bandon is chock-a-block on Thursday nights,’ Tony says.

‘The BEDA Hall in Enniskeane/Ballineen has a couple of sessions every week, Kinsale has two clubs, and Clonakilty has regular nights through the tennis club. You can see the numbers building all the time.’

What began largely as a recreational outlet is gradually developing a competitive edge, with more local players entering tournaments.

‘People come for the exercise and the enjoyment, but then they start to improve and that competitive side kicks in. There are social competitions as well as serious ones, and that balance is important.’

Another factor helping clubs get off the ground is the relatively low cost to start.

‘It’s inexpensive compared to many sports, and the Cork Sports Partnership has been brilliant at helping clubs with nets and paddles so beginners don’t need to invest straight away.’

Tony himself has a busy schedule ahead. He has already competed in Prague this year, with provincial events on the horizon and the European Championships in Turkey this November. Yet, for all the travel and competition, his focus remains close to home.

‘I’d love to see more clubs coming on board locally,’ he says. ‘If there was a bit of joined-up thinking – a club night in Bandon on Monday, Bishopstown Tuesday, Enniskeane Wednesday and so on – it would give people more chances to play and help the game grow stronger.’

The competitive bug that drew him in hasn’t faded. If anything, it has sharpened, but so too has the satisfaction of seeing new players pick up a paddle for the first time.

‘Personally, I want to keep coaching, keep improving and keep playing,’ Tony adds.

‘But it’s also about building something here. The more people who try it, the more they realise just how enjoyable it is.’

For Tony, and a growing number across West Cork, pickleball is no longer a curiosity. It’s part of the weekly routine, and, increasingly, part of the local sporting landscape.

For more information, check out pickleballireland.ie, or if you are interested in finding out more about pickleball in West Cork, contact Tony on 086-1708020.