A Special Celebration Evening — Wednesday 27 May 2026 | Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
Table Tennis Ireland brought together friends, family, dignitaries and the wider table tennis community on Wednesday 27 May 2026 for a special commemorative evening — ‘The Life and Times of Josef Veselsky: A Celebration’ — at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. The event paid tribute to Josef Veselsky — known to all as Joe — Honorary Life President of Table Tennis Ireland, who passed away on 3 January 2026 at the remarkable age of 107.
The evening brought together recipients of the Joe Veselsky Award — Table Tennis Ireland’s highest honour for service to the sport — alongside government representatives, the Slovak Embassy, the Veselsky and Browne families, and members of the Irish and international table tennis community in an occasion described by those present as both deeply moving and richly celebratory.
Josef Veselsky (1918–2026), Honorary Life President of Table Tennis Ireland
AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE REMEMBERED
Born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, on 19 October 1918, Josef Veselsky made Dublin his home from 1948 and dedicated his life to table tennis and to his adopted country. His story is one of extraordinary resilience: during World War II, he lost his parents and a brother in Auschwitz, before joining the Czech underground resistance movement. In the years that followed, he rebuilt his life in Ireland, establishing a successful jewellery business while simultaneously carving out a remarkable legacy in sport.
Joe served as national team captain for both Czechoslovakia and Ireland, and upon retirement from active administration was appointed Honorary Life President of the Irish Table Tennis Association. He was also co-founder and President of the Swaythling Club International, the worldwide association for former international table tennis players. In 2025, he was officially recognised as Ireland’s oldest man, aged 107.
AN EVENING OF TRIBUTES AND HONOURS
The programme opened with a formal welcome from Alan Strong, President of Table Tennis Ireland, followed by an address from Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy. The evening included the screening of a specially commissioned film on Josef’s life, produced by the Slovak Embassy, and a series of heartfelt reflections and tributes from the Veselsky and Browne families.
Among the highlights of the evening were:
▪ Presentation of the ETTU Badge of Honour — awarded posthumously by Pedro Moura, President of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU), and accepted on behalf of the family. Table Tennis Ireland warmly thanks Pedro for travelling to Dublin to personally present this honour, a gesture that underlined the esteem in which Joe was held across European table tennis
▪ Naming of the Veselsky National Doubles Championships — Table Tennis Ireland announced that its National Doubles Championships will henceforth be named in Joe’s honour, ensuring his legacy endures at the heart of the sport in Ireland
▪ Tribute from Joe Hickey, Former President of Table Tennis Ireland
▪ Appreciation from the Table Tennis Ireland Board, delivered by Arnold Morgan, Chair
▪ Remarks from the Slovak Embassy, reflecting Joe’s long-standing contribution to relations between Ireland and Slovakia
TRIBUTES
“On behalf of the Veselsky and Browne families, we would like to sincerely thank Table Tennis Ireland, the Slovak Embassy, the Minister, and everyone involved in organising such a fitting and memorable tribute to Joe. It was a very special evening for the family to see Joe remembered not only for his extraordinary contribution to table tennis in Ireland and internationally, but also for the warmth, humour, resilience and generosity that so many people associated with him. We are especially grateful that his legacy will continue to be recognised through the honours presented on the night and the naming of the Veselsky National Doubles Championships. Joe loved table tennis, Ireland, and the friendships the sport gave him throughout his life, and it meant a great deal to us to see that celebrated so warmly.”
— The Veselsky and Browne Families
“It was a wonderful evening of celebration and commemoration which Joe himself would have greatly appreciated.”
— Joe Hickey, Former President, Table Tennis Ireland
“Joe Veselsky was a giant of our sport and a remarkable human being. This evening was our opportunity to say thank you — for everything he gave to table tennis in Ireland and across the world, and for the extraordinary example he set in how to live a life with purpose, grace, and generosity. It was deeply moving to see so many people come together to honour him, and we are proud that his name will now be permanently woven into the fabric of Irish table tennis through the Veselsky National Doubles Championships.”
— Alan Strong, President, Table Tennis Ireland
It was a privilege to present the ETTU Badge of Honour in recognition of his exceptional service to our sport. The stories shared during the event reflected not only Joe’s achievements but also the respect and affection he earned throughout the table tennis community.
— Pedro Moura, President of the European Table Tennis Union
