TEENAGE darts sensation Luke Littler says he is amazed at the growing popularity of darts amongst youth players in Ireland.
It comes as the INDO confirmed it will have a record 55 teams from 24 counties competing at the Youth inter-county championships in Galway next month.
Littler (18), who is in Ireland for the latest round of the PDC Premier League tonight, took time out to visit the D7 Youth Darts Academy at Naomh Fíonnbarra GAA Club in Cabra on Wednesday.
The reigning PDC world champion was mobbed by the young players when they saw him arrive there.
Speaking to RTE, Littler said: "It’s crazy, obviously they were very happy to see me.
"It’s so good to see so many academies starting up, not only in England but over here in Ireland.
"I wouldn’t say it’s [my] responsibility; it’s a case that I’ve done really well, and the younger generation are looking up to me and want to be the next Luke Littler."
Littler is no stranger to Ireland, having won the WDF gold ranked Irish Open in Killarney back in 2021 when just 14 years old.
That qualified him for the 2022 WDF World Championships, when he became the youngest ever player to win a game at Lakeside.
He has praised all the people who are working hard in the background setting up academies in Ireland to bring through the next generation of players.
He added: "The amount of academies that are starting up is amazing and obviously the older people who are helping out with that, just getting these kids together and getting them playing darts in unbelievable."
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