Mullingar, Co. Westmeath

Mullingar Handball Club, Co. Westmeath Photographs and information by E.TImoney, May 2021 This alley is situated beside Mullingar Shamrocks GAA grounds. It is the home club of current All Ireland Champion Robbie Mc Carthy Jnr, winner of multiple All Ireland titles in all codes, 60x30, 40x20 and Wall Ball (1 Wall).  Read More......

St. Mary's Park, King's Island, Limerick City

St. Mary's Park, King's Island, Limerick City Photographed by E. Timoney, April 2022, with assistance from M. O'Regan. A campaigne has been launch to roof this alley in May 2022. See: https://www.limerickpost.ie/2022/04/10/roof-needed-for-limerick-city-handball-alleys/ This alley also featured in a public art project in 2005, entitled, The Banshee Lives in the Hnadball Alley. See. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X764d7yCQFs and. https://www.publicart.ie/main/directory/directory/view/the-banshee-lives-in-the-handball-alley/c35de62609b01c1eeeb980c42be4215a/ Read More......

Barrack Street, off Rush Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Barrack Street, off Rush Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Photographs and information provided by M. Coady, February 2022 The alley was built after the Famine and was donated by Lord Lucan to the people of Castlebar and previously faced the opposite way. It was roofed and upgraded in 1975 and is still owned by the Parish. Great handballers played there, Mayo's Paddy Bollingbroke, Mickey Walsh, Peter McGee among others. Read More......

Lecarrow, Co. Roscommon

Lecarrow, Co. Roscommon

Lecarrow, Co. Roscommon Photographs provided by G. Loughran in 2013. This alley is mentioned in book Old Handball Alleys. History, Player's Stories,Co.Roscommon (1999) by Pakie Hoare. Permission to include page from book provided by Hoare family. Read More......

Templeludigan, Co. Wexford

Templeludigan, Co. Wexford. Photographs provided by O'Reilly family in April 2022. Handball club established 1931 Read More......

Collins Barracks, Cork City

Collins Barracks, Cork City, Co. Cork. Photographed April 2022. Information about alley provided by C.Roche. Read More......

Taughboy Church, Co.Roscommon

Taughboy Church, Co. Roscommon. Very near to Jamestown alley (visible in landscape view from entrance to church grounds). Photographed April 2022. This alley is mentioned in book Old Handball Alleys. History, Player's Stories,Co.Roscommon (1999) by Pakie Hoare. Permission to include page from book provided by Hoare family. Read More......

Molough Abbey, Co. Tipperary

Molough Abbey, Co. Tipperary.Photographed in April 2022. Thanks to John and Ruth Condron in Newcastle for efforts in remembering this alley. Read More......

Lisnacrabagh, Co. Roscommon

Lisnacrabagh, Co. Roscommon. Photographed in April 2022. This alley is mentioned in book Old Handball Alleys. History, Player's Stories,Co.Roscommon (1999) by Pakie Hoare. Permission to include page from book provided by Hoare family. Read More......

Kilmanahan, Co. Waterford

Kilmanahan, Co. Waterford. This cross roads alley, photographed in April 2022, is shown on the 1st edition OSI survey circa 1840. It is now the wall of a garage on private property. The owner is not aware of it ever being used as an alley. Read More......

Kilmacomma, Co.Waterford

Kilmacomma, Co.Waterford (near Clonmel) Photographed April 2022. This alley is located at a cross roads and is marked on the 1st OSI survey, circa 1840. It abuts the gable end of a colltage that is under renovation. Local people who have lived close to the alley for 50 years do not remember the alley ever being used for handball. Read More......

Jamestown, n. Four Roads, Co. Roscommon

Jamestown, n. Four Roads, Co. Roscommon. This alley was photographed in April 2022. It is mentioned in book Old Handball Alleys. History, Player's Stories,Co.Roscommon (1999) by Pakie Hoare. Permission to include page from book provided by Hoare family. Jamestown alley is located near to Taughboy Church where handball was also played. Read More......

Donaghmore Church, Co. Tipperary

Donaghmore Church, Co. Tipperary Photographed April 2022. The following extract is from the Irish Folklore Archive, Schools' Collection from 1936/37. See:https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922252/4864355/5020414 "During the last century and up to thirty years ago hand-ball was popular with the young men of the Parish. The Alley used was at Donoughmore. The ball was played against the high south wall of the famous ruined church and the floor was a clay one. On the floor was circular cement flag on which the ball was hopped. Out from the wall on each side were two clay banks and between them the ball was played. On the wall against which they played there is a large flag and the man who was giving out the "hand" hopped the ball first on the circular flag on the floor and then hit it against the flag on the wall so as to make sure that the ball went out straight to the players standing outside. Sometimes big matches were held here and people selling apples and refreshments used come from Clonmel to make sale amongst the players and spectators. They used to make the handballs themselves. The balls were made in this way. A large cork was boiled in water and then wollen thread was wound round the cork. If it was not big enough after boiling they boiled it again. Then they left it steeping in sour milk for twenty four hours to give it a hop. Then they used to cover it with horseskin leather. Collected by Joseph Burke, Donoughmore, Lisronagh, who was told the facts by his father. Mr John Burke Donaghmore Lisronagh who heard the account from his father who lived there before him" For architectural history of church, see: http://www.megalithicireland.com/Donaghmore%20Romanesque%20Church,%20Tipperary.html Read More......