On 31 January 2026, a Trinity basketball club record of 39 students embarked on a weekend away trip - to Manchester where Trinity would split into four teams - two men’s and two women’s - to take on the University of Manchester (UOM) in a best-of-nine-game series. Less than a few hours after landing, the first game was already underway as all teams were combined in a super fun and chaotic mixed game. With new faces on the trip, the mixed game was a perfect mix of competitive basketball and socialising, serving as a solid icebreaker for the large group. After two hours of absolute mayhem, it was the Irish College that prevailed 86-79.
But how did this weekend game series come about? From a simple Instagram DM to an evening Zoom call, the foundations for the 2026 Trinity Basketball Manchester Trip were set during the summer of 2025. Interest for the trip was gathered across the six Trinity Basketball college teams before, over the course of four months, details were collected, funds were gathered, flights and accommodation were booked as the admin work was quietly and steadily completed. By New Years and with only a month to go, almost all the details were finalised with only minor details with the opposition needing to be ironed out.
On Sunday 1 February, the action began with eight basketball fixtures spread throughout the day in several venues. Trinity took on four different Manchester men’s teams and two women’s teams.
The Trinity Women’s 1s secured two hard fought wins against a strong opposition with the team benefiting from a balanced scoring performance from the whole team.
The Trinity Men’s 1s dominated in both of their fixtures, winning by an average of 27 points. Jens Ornehed put up a career high 40 points against Manchester’s 1s in a phenomenal performance that will go down in Trinity Basketball’s history.
Trinity Women’s 2s suffered two defeats in intense matchups where the girls showed great defensive intensity and fight. Coach Emma Mullins described the results as “failing to reflect the effort and intensity shown, with the team leaving everything on the court.” The Trinity Men’s 2s roundup the set of fixtures with two comfortable wins over the UOM's 3s and 4s. Hot-shooting and quick ball movement from TCD’s 2s was just too much for the opposition to handle. All in all, Trinity won 7 out of 9 encounters across the weekend!
A special moment on the trip saw the club meet a club legend and alumnus from the 1970s, Frank O’Flynn (show below, second from left). Frank captained both Trinity and the Irish Men’s National team and also won four consecutive Intervarsity titles between 1971 and 1974, in what was a golden age for the club. As he watched from the sidelines, 50 years on from his graduation, Frank reconnected with the club and retold stories from the “glory days”.
The trip also saw plenty of socialising and fun off the court. Team dinners, city walks, board games, and shopping were just some of the many activities which took place over the long weekend. Many freshers got to taste their first true Trinity Basketball experience while many “vets” underwent their last ever trip with the club. As members boarded various flights on Monday, a common feeling spread across the group: everyone left Manchester smiling and closer than ever. A trip for the ages!
Further information
Manchester 2026: A Weekend Worth Singing About by Emma Mullins
University Times: Trinity Basketball Claim Majority of Wins in Manchester Series by Alessandro Biffi