Bouncing Off The Walls, Performance in Athenry Handball Alley, 30.07.2021

Bouncing Off The Walls, beginning 6pm on 30th July 2021 at Athenry Handball Alley Programme provided by A. Burgess, Athenry Arts and Heritage Centre 6.00pm The Athenry Music School Choir will present a short programme which showcases the talent of the local choir conducted by its director Helen Farrell. The youth choir will premier its first live performance with a varied programme of songs set in the ambient setting of the Athenry Handball Alley. 6:45pm Guitarist Adam Cunningham is part of the Athenry Music School's Young Musician's Professional Development Initiative will play a short programme of modern and classic tunes.  7:30pm Harpist Una Ni Fhlannagain closes the event with an eclectic choice of music through the harp. Her programme includes: An Gealltanas - newly composed march in a traditional style Ag Smaoineamh Os Ard - ’Thinking Out Loud’ by Ed Sheeran as Gaeilge The Gold Ring - trad jig Cian Caoin & The Rollercoaster - newly composed jigs Muirisín Deas agus Nóra - trad song as Gaeilge Payson’s Graduation - fun English language song Wave Farewell to the Maidens - 3 jigs  www.athenryheritagecentre.com Facebook: AthenryHeritage Twitter @athenryheritage Read More......

Falcarragh, Co.Donegal

These two 3-wall alleys are located beisde Cloughaneely Golf club in Falcarragh on grounde of former Ballyconnell Houss. The house and grounds were purchased by the Congested Districts Board in 1917, and occupied by the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1921 and the Free State Forces in 1922 during the Civil War. The property was purchased by the Office of Public Works in 1926 and offered to the Loreto nuns 1927 who used it as a preparatory College for female primary school teachers until 1961. It was purchased by the Catholic Diocese of Raphoe, for use as a boys’ secondary school (and boarding school) from 1965 until 1986. In 1987 it was purchased by Udarás na Gaeltachta and was used as a Gaeltacht school\Irish college until recent years. For more information on house and grounds (handball alleys not mentioned) see National Inventory of Irish Heritage: Main House (reg nr. 40812001) - https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/40812001/ballyconnell-house-ballyconnell-falcarragh-donegal; Walled Garden (reg nr. 40812005) https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/40812005/ballyconnell-house-ballyconnell-falcarragh-donegal The Handball Alleys were constructed sometime post 1917. At some stage the local Mart converted them adding blockwork walls to create animal pens. It is no longer used for this and are overgrown with trees and bushes. The walls of the alleys are in excellent condition. Interestingly the “short lines” for handball are small inserted tiles. Very close to this location is Cloughaneely GAA club which has an outdoor 3 wall alley attached to the club house. The alley has been converted to a storage shed. There is a 40x20 alley inside the club house. Photographs and Information by E.Timoney, July 2021 Read More......

Bull Ring, Drogheda, Co. Louth

Joseph Dwyer constructed an alley behind his pub and butcher premises at 8 and 9 Bull Ring, Drogheda, which opened in June 1904 and where he himself played. This alley seemed to take over from the Millmount alley. His sons John and Joseph went on to win national titles at Junior singles and appeared in Doubles senior finals in the 1920's. Information and photograph of front of premises provided by Eddie Fleming, grand nephew of Josepth Dweyer, May 2021. Read More......

Loughane, Co.Tipperary

Loughane, Co.Tipperary. Former 3-wall alley, now overgrown with ivy and not used in living memory Photographed by P.Hogan, June 2021 Read More......

In the Magic Hour (performances) and In Your Words (collected stories)

IN THE MAGIC HOUR by CoisCéim Dance Theatre 

When: Performances between 11 – 20 June 

Where: Handball alleys across Ireland to be announced / Online 

Ticketing: Online Viewing: Streaming information to watch at home will be released in June. Free. 

details: https://coisceim.com/inthemagichour/

HANDBALL ALLEYS ARE MAGICAL PLACES – COLLECTED STORIES 

Firmly embedded in the Irish psyche, handball alleys are fascinating structures. Not just for sport – they have been spaces for everything from matchmaking to card playing – where people have gathered to dance, to chat, to meet, to play… 

read and listen to the stories collected:https://coisceim.com/in-your-words/

For more information please contact the Programme Coordinator, Caoimhe at broadreach@coisceim.com

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Barntown, Co.Wexford

Barntown, Co.Wexford Screengrab from Facebook page with permission from Barntown Heritage Group. Photographed August 2008, by S.Ryan Read More......

Brackloonagh South, Co.Mayo

Brackloonagh South, Co. Mayo. Permission for use of top photograph from 1996 provided by the phtographer M.Bunn. All remaining photographs provided by D. Keegan and A. Roddy in March 2021 Read More......

Drumquin, Co. Tyrone

This alley was demolished in summer 2020 The upper photograph is by Kenneth Allen on the website https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4715914. Photo credit:Handball alley, Drumquin cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Kenneth Allen - geograph.org.uk/p/4715914 Upper photographs Second photograph showing the cleared site of the former alley from newspaper article about the demolition of the alley in June 2020 amd provided with the permission of journalist Emma Ryan of the Ulaterhearld. Read More......

Clifden, Co.Galway

Photographs provided by R. Harrison. This alley was demolished in April/May 2018. The stone plaque records that it was built as a gift to the boys of the town by Maria Gorham. These photogrphs are also availble on the Galway County Heritage Website Read More......

Kanturk, Co. Cork

Kanturk, Co. Cork Extract from local newsletter sent to emigrants in USA, dated 1963; transcription provided by M. Cogan of Listowel Connection, who has assisted this project on handball alley many times. Handball News: This is something new for the News Letter. We are glad to announce that the Handball Alley in Strand St. has been re-opened and a third ball Club formed. The Officers are as follows: Presidents — Rev. Fr. O'Keane, C.C. and Mr. Andrew Keating (Egmont Place). Chairman—Mr. Noel O'Toole (Newmarket Road). Treasurer — Mr. Seamus O'Riordan (Bluepool Dr.). Secretary — Mr. Don Fitzgerald (Ballyheen). There are 70 members in the Club. A few challenge Games have been played in which Jerry Mullane (Bluepool Upr.) and Seamus Riordan werebeaten by Mr. Cremin and P. Egan,Liscarroll in Novice Soft Ball Doubles. In the Junior Softball Singles John O'Mahony (Mill Road) was beaten by T. Murphy, Liscarroll. In the County C'ships Colm. Lynch, (Knocknacolan) and Don Fitzgerald (Ballyheen) won the first round in the Junior Soft Ball Doubles. The following will represent the club in other Grades Novice Doubles — Brendan Fogarty (Bluepool Dr.) and Andrew Cotter, (Main St.), Novice Singles — Noel O'Toole, Junior Singles — Colm Lynch, (Knocknacolan). “Over the Bar" may not be a technical term in the Handball vocabulary, but as a matter of interest the "Alley Bar" closed down since the death of Mrs. Julia Twohill R.I.P., has been re-opened and is now the property of Mr. Ned Jones, of Ballydesmond. Read More......

Corramore, Co. Roscommon

Site of demolished alley at Corramore, Co. Roscommon Photographs R.Ryay, Aug 2020. Screenschot from 6" OSI historical map showing alley (survey date 1838) Read More......

Loughanure, Co. Donegal

Loughanure, Co. Donegal This alley was located behinf the technical school (gairmscoil) on site of former limekiln. There were many lime kilns in this village.See history in photographs. Infirmation and photographs by R.Ryan and K. Healion, Aug 2020 Read More......

Carndonagh, Co.Donegal

Carndonagh, Co.Donegal This alley was built by Peter Clarke - a builder and coffin maker from Tyrone who settlled in Carndonagh – at location known as Cowpark. It was a 3-wall alley with wiremesh covering the roof. It was demolished in 1984. Flowers and planting on site of alley Information (provided by local man M. McClure) and photographs collected by R.Ryan, Aug 2020 Read More......

Bunnagee Pier, Culdaff, Co.Donegal

Bunnagee Pier, Culdaff, Co.Donegal Elderly lady renembers handballl being played at the coastgard station. Possible location of then 1-wall alley pointed out to R.Ryan by local man. Photographs and information from R.Ryan, Aug 2020 Read More......

Four Mile House, Co. Roscommon

Four Mile House, Co. Roscommon
Photographed by R. Ryan, August 2020

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