Ahascragh, Co. Galway

Ahascragh, Co. Galway
Historical photograph courtesy of The Historical Picture Archive. Remaining Photographs and information provided by M.Geogeghan, April 2010
Ahascragh alley adjoins the Parish Hall and was opened in 1931. It was used extensively at the time but handball has not been played in the area for many years. There was an excellent handballer in the area by the name of Thomas Gleavy who won many handball tournaments and competitions and this spawned the popularity of the game in the area. Thomas later emigrated to England and the game waned in the area. A bother of Thomas who will be 99 on July 13th is still alive and well in Ahascragh. Read More......

Claregalway, Co. Galway

Claregalway, Co. Galway
First photograph is from the Fr. Browne Collection. Enitled Watching Handball and Retrieving lost balls_CLARE GALWAY, GALWAY, IRELAND;01/01/1925 it was kindly provided by David Davison.

Second photograph from Nuacht Clair http://www.nuachtchlair.com/demolition-of-claregalway-handball-alley/. Text of newspaper article below.
Last photograph provided by Neil Mc Dermott, remainder by E. Timoney in July 2009

Claregalway Handball Alley was demolished on Friday 3rd September last [3.9.2010] as part of the works being carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to help reduce the chances of further flooding of the N17 and Claregalway as was experienced last November.

The Alley was demolished to make way for a further eye to be added to Claregalway bridge. Co-incidentally, the previous alley was knocked down in the 1950′s when the Council were building the current bridge. The alley was then rebuilt in other location.

While this is a welcome move by the OPW to help allay further flooding of the river Clare, the Community has lost a valuable facility. The Claregalway Handball Club are in the process of making submissions to the OPW regarding some form of compensation, which might allow them to construct a new handball facility.

The Alley was one of the few 60×30 facilities in the county which was available to handballers and was used for other sports such as hurling, football and raquetball.

The alley was included on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Read More......

Tuam, Co. Galway

Tuam, Co. Galway
Photographed by M. Geoghegan May 2010
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New Inn, Co. Galway

New Inn, Co. Galway
Photographs provided by M. Geoghegan May 2010
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Caherlistrane, Co. Galway

Caherlistrane, Co. Galway,
Photographs provided by M. Geoghegan in May 2010
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Ballymana, Co. Galway

Ballymana, Co. Galway
Photographed by M. Geoghegan May 2010 Read More......

Anbally, Co. Galway

Site of alley in Anbally, Co. Galway
Photographs provided by M. Geoghegan May 2010 Read More......

Kilronan, Inis Mór, Aran Islands, Co. Galway

 

Back to back alley in playground at Kilronan the island of Inis Mór, near Scoil Ronan. There are alleys in 3 locations on the island.
Top photograph provided by P. Fitzpatrick, September 2018, and all others by E. Timoney September 2022

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Kilronan, n. Ferry, Inis Mór, Aran Islands, Co. Galway

Older alley with limestone floor, near ferry location in Kilronan on island of Inis Mor Top photograph provided by P. Fitzpatrick September 2018
Second and third photos from A. Mee in July 2008 Lower 5 photos from E. Timoney in September 2022 There are alleys at 3 locations on the island.
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Loughrea (Abbey), Co. Galway

Photo provided by A. McKenna, and following information was provided by C.Mitchell.
It was built sometime around the 1930's as a recreational facility for young priests and monks who were training at the Abbey. It is located in an enclosed garden at the back of the parochial house which is attached to the Abbey church. This was an enclosed order around the early 1900's which meant that the priests and monks were not allowed out to use the alley in town.

It seems handball was a big deal in Loughrea around that time, big enough a deal for the Abbey to actually go and build their own alley so they had somewhere to play for themselves. Other than that due to the fact that it was an enclosed order not much else is known about the alley.

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