The Republic of Ireland Ladies Snooker Association introduced the sport of Billiards into their Association for the first time back in December 2015. During the previous 11 months a number of women were coached by our National Billiards Coach, Aidan Murray, who got these women trained to a standard for competition. This time was well spent as the players really got behind this new initiative and the interest grew with RILSA now having had 14 women who attended and played competitive billiards over the three years.
Annette Newman from Carlow has dominated the sport to date by winning the inaugural Championship in 2015 and retaining it again in 2016 along with winning all 4 National Billiards titles in between. Annette has recently completed her third successful season, winning 4 out of 5 National Billiards titles for 2017. However Valerie Maloney from Laois along with Christine Carr from Kildare have improved greatly in the sport and are hot on the heels of Annette to try and take the title in 2018.
Annette is the only woman in Ireland to have held both the Snooker and Billiards National titles in the same season along with holding the number 1 ranked spots in both disciplines. Great history in the making for women’s cue sports here in Ireland.
TOP 4 WOMEN BILLIARDS PLAYERS IN IRELAND 2018 FROM THE RANKING BELOW
RILSA NATIONAL BILLIARDS RANKING 2018 SEASON
| Ranking | Name | Club/School | Tot | Tot |
| 1st | Annette Newman | Griffith Club, Carlow | 9,700 | 1517 |
| 2nd | Christine Carr | Sharkx, Newbridge | 8,100 | 1108 |
| 3rd | Valerie Maloney | Portarlington S.C., Laois | 7,400 | 892 |
| 4th | Roisin Beale | Sharkx, Newbridge | 5,000 | 470 |
| 5th | Stephanie Morrison | Griffith Club, Carlow | 3,800 | 337 |
| 6th | Tina Keogh | Portarlington S.C., Laois | 1,000 | 0 |
| 7th | Lauren Carley | Griffith Club, Carlow | 1,000 | 0 |
| 8th | Emma Carr | Sharkx, Newbridge | 1,000 | 0 |
| 9th | Rachel Bradley | Sharkx, Newbridge | 1,000 | 0 |
| 10TH | Stephanie Power | Sharkx, Newbridge | 1,000 | 0 |
| 11th | Tara Byrne | Griffith Club, Carlow | 1,000 | 0 |
| 12th | Grace Byrne | Griffith Club, Carlow | 1,000 | 0 |
| 13th | Clodagh Walsh | Griffith Club, Carlow | 1,000 | 0 |
| 14th | Aine Brennan | Griffith Club, Carlow | 1,000 | 0 |
| 15th | Deirdre McGrath | Griffith Club, Carlow | 1,000 | 0 |
