Magic Melia achieves century as captain

Magic Melia achieves century as captain

Claire Melia, a proud Monasterevin woman, at just 27, has already become one of Ireland’s greatest-ever female basketball players.

Claire Melia in action for Baxi Ferrol

Troy Parrot is not the only Irish athlete making waves in Spain. 700 kilometers northwest of Seville is the small city of Ferrol, known for its seaport and as the starting point for the Camino de Santiago; it has embraced the Irish star similarly to the south.

Destined for success at underage levels, Claire Melia dominated the domestic leagues for many years. While many anticipated her move to the professional ranks to be successful, she has surpassed all expectations and continues to smash glass ceilings for Irish basketball.

​In 2024, Claire signed her first professional contract with Baxi Ferrol. A small club only just promoted to the first division in Spain, known as Liga Femenina Endesa.

Head coach Lino Lopez recruited the Irish talent, looking to add a unique piece to a small budget club preparing for Spain’s first division with strong histories and large sponsors.

Melia took the opportunity and a two-hour flight away from the comfort of home, unsure of how it would all unfold, and it couldn’t have gone much better than it has.

​In her first year as a professional and the club’s inaugural European campaign, she carried her team, an unranked underdog, to the Fiba EuroCup finals, the equivalent of the Europa Cup in football terms. The first Irish record attached to her name.

Individually, Claire matched up with the best players on the continent, including Dominique Molonga, now in the WNBA and who recently won a silver medal at the World Cup, whom Melia outscored in their battle during the EuroCup semi-finals.

In recognition of her performances, she was awarded EuroCup MVP in March 2025, a first ever accolade for an Irish player, averaging 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists, including 27 points against the competition favourite ASVEL, owned by former NBA and French star Tony Parker.

Fast forward to the present and she has already begun her third season as a professional along with a hectic travel schedule.

We chatted over Zoom on Monday after a busy and historic week that began in Ferrol with a 40-minute drive to A Coruña, the closest airport. A flight to Greece awaited and a clash with Olympiacos in the EuroCup, one of the most successful clubs in Greek basketball and a European powerhouse.

Ferrol registered their first EuroCup loss of the season. They would return home in a winding route that would take 12-and-a-half hours from Athens to Madrid, a three-hour train from the Spanish capital to Santiago, and a final two-hour train back to Ferrol.

The squad trained twice on Friday and squeezed in another session Saturday morning before returning to Santiago for a flight departing to Valencia for a domestic league matchup. Sunday midday, Ferrol registered a loss against another European powerhouse before beginning their journey home via Madrid, and a familiar road from Santiago to Ferrol.

While multiple opportunities were available to move clubs, Claire remained loyal to those who took a chance on her, a rarity in the professional game. Her impact has extended far beyond the basketball court. Locals have formed her very own supporters club, ‘Claire’s Gang ’, and show up to games far and wide with red wigs and Irish flags. In 2025, the group added a life-size cardboard cutout to their collection, which has travelled across Spain and Europe. Supporters weave through the stands in their droves, donning green shirts and red wigs, with young children lining up for autographs and photos with the Irish star after games.

“Ferrol is a home away from home for me,” says Melia.

“The people in the basketball community out here are just amazing. They are genuine people who care about you more as a person and not just a player. Even though I can’t speak Spanish and some can’t speak perfect English, I still get a sense of care, comfort, and support from the people of the club and Ferrol.

“It’s a small town and most people wouldn’t like it, but it’s perfect for me”

Despite having one of the smallest budgets in the division and competing against Euroleague teams, Baxi Ferrol reached the playoffs in their inaugural season of top-flight Spanish basketball. The small club has continued to stack up wins and experience elite European basketball with Claire as their core player.

This season, Coach Lopez has named Claire captain, making her the first Irish women’s professional player to captain a team in European Club competition.

“I’m not too sure if I’m the first, but when I was told, I was really surprised,

“When I was younger, and up until 3 years ago, I never thought I’d live or play outside of Ireland professionally, never mind get to captain a team in the first division in Spain”. she smiled.

“It’s an honour to get to captain a team with BAXI Ferrol because of the good group of girls we have this year and the people of the community and how good they have been to me since I came to play here first for the 2024/2025 season.

I’m lucky to get this opportunity, and I definitely don’t take it for granted. I have to say a big thank you to Lino and the club”, she adds.

​“I’m grateful to get the opportunity to captain a great group of girls, and hopefully I can help them in whatever way I can.

“But to me, a captain is just a title; it doesn’t make me any different to any of the rest of the girls on the team. Everyone is the same to me, and we will all do our best to work hard together throughout the season.”

A young supporter sporting a custom Melia jersey

​Ferrol has never held a St. Patrick’s Day parade, and when they do, the title of grand marshal will go to Claire, the most influential Irish athlete to grace Galicia. She has now etched her name in the club’s history books, becoming the first international professional player to don the blue and pink jersey 100 times and ranks 13th overall.

Accomplishing yet another Irish record, Claire became the first female player to hit a century with the same professional club.

“I didn’t even know I had 100 games played for BAXI Ferrol. The commentator was talking at the end of the game; obviously he was speaking in Spanish, and I just heard my name. I had no idea what he said until I asked one of the girls and she told me.

​Claire, as always, has her eye on the bigger picture and offers a slice of advice for life outside of the hardwood. Inscribed on her right wrist is a tattoo, follow your dreams, a motto Melia lives by.

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​Claire, as always, has her eye on the bigger picture and offers a slice of advice for life outside of the hardwood. Inscribed on her right wrist is a tattoo, follow your dreams, a motto Melia lives by.

“It just shows how quick time goes by and it’s important to enjoy what you do in life while you can and follow your dream. Life is too short not to do what you want.

I’m so lucky that I have found a home away from home in Ferrol. I’m glad that I have had the opportunity to stay with the same club professionally and to be able to represent BAXI Ferrol in 100 games so far.”

May you ask about her standout achievement? Forget the stats, the accolades and the wins.

Melia’s hometown of Monastrevin is in County Kildare, lying on a thin border with Laois in a world revolving around Gaelic football. They are now known for producing one of the best Irish female basketball players we have seen.

What makes the story even more remarkable is that Claire grew up with no court or basketball facilities in the area. In 2025, the town changed that and built its first court.

Time will tell how many more glass ceilings Claire will shatter, and how many more basketball athletes could come from a small town in the Midlands. Potentially a few more gladiators ready to slay the dragon of European basketball, all thanks to Melia’s magic.

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