Hughes wearing Irish colours with pride after historic medal

Fresh of a historic weekend at the 5 Nations Championships, Knock native Arron Hughes has set his sights on more national success after a historic weekend at the 5 Nations Volleyball Championships earlier this month at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering.

Ireland secured a first national medal in volleyball for 22 years, defeating Northern Ireland in the bronze medal match. The senior men’s team found themselves 2-0 down and facing consecutive 3-0 defeats to their Northern counterparts but, adopting a ‘do-or-die’ approach, they pulled off a spectacular comeback, winning the final set 15-11.

“ We went out and we gave it everything in that third set and we ended up taking the third set to send it to a fourth,” Hughes told the Western People.

“Even still in that fourth set, if Northern Ireland had won that one, it was lights out for us and we would have lost but we carried the same enthusiasm, the same energy, the same drive into the fourth set, took that and as soon as we'd taken that set we just knew ourselves in our own heads that we had the beating of them and we went out then into the fifth set. We were all just tremendously ecstatic and so filled with joy. It was, it was an incredible feeling.

“I'm still here in shock just at how well all the lads had worked and everyone didn't give up on a ball or nothing. Just the work ethic was insane.” Hughes credited the recent success to the hard work of head coach Andrei Molnar and his assistants Ionut Tarmure and Pavel Waszkiewicz, who Hughes said that the medal success would not be possible without.

“This is about four about five or six years now in the making to get the system going right, the way that coaches have wanted us and to get us to a skill level of where we're at now. It's just a true testament to all the hard work the coaches have put in and now it's our time to go out and show the international stage what Irish volleyball is all about and just really give back to our coaches for all that they've given to us.” 

Always a ‘sporty fella’, Arron first played volleyball in 2015 at St Louis Community School Kiltimagh. He played soccer with Kiltimagh/Knock United, Manulla and Ballyvary Blue Bombers, Gaelic football with Aghamore and basketball with Kiltimagh Giants, but volleyball soon took over as ‘new obsession’ but the skills from other sport have transferred over.

“From playing Gaelic and soccer, your leadership skills would be put to the test and your endurance. So they're two of the biggest ones that have interlinked from then. Then in volleyball you're always jumping. Playing as a goalkeeper in both Gaelic and soccer, reaching up for high balls was always a main job to, so that's another thing that links in as well with the volleyball.” He plays with Mayo Volleyball Club based in Barnacarroll, where he also helps with coaching the teams. He went on to make his national debut six years ago and has enjoyed every single bit of it, crediting his parents Seamus and Sinead for all their support.

“Every time I step onto the court with the tricolour on my chest, there is no better feeling. It's a privilege that not many players that play sport get to feel and it's one that I am truly grateful for that I have been able to wear the tricolour on my chest for as long as I have and I hope that continues into the future.

“I wouldn't be where I am today (without my parents). I owe them a great deal of support for just the amount that they have given me both on and off the course. Without them bringing me to trainings and bringing me up to matches, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today in the sport of volleyball.” Arron’s next tournament is the annual St Patrick’s Day challenge against Northern Ireland and later on the year, he will be competing in the Small Countries Association Championships where he hopes to bring home another medal for Ireland.

Another dream for Arron is to pursue a professional career in Europe. With Ireland, he’s gone abroad to the likes of France and Italy, where volleyball is very popular, and he hopes to play for a professional club in the future.

“I suppose it's every young sports person's dream is to become professional in their own field of sport. Mine would be no different. I'd love the chance to go abroad and play with a professional club at some stage of my career.

“I've been lucky enough though with the national team, we've gone abroad to the likes of France, we've gone to Italy and Romania for training camps with professional teams. That has just opened all the players' eyes in terms of just the quality of volleyball and the level that they play at in the professional scene.

“It's something that myself and my teammates on the national team all aspire to be a part of at some stage in the future.”