Model School, Limerick City

Photographs and information provided by E. Timoney, October 2018

The Model School Limerick, was built in 1853.  A beautiful building of limestone, it has two handball alleys at the back which are also built of limestone.

There is a great tradition of handball being played in the school. There were children playing handball when I called to the school to photograph the alleys.

Teacher Marie Millane was most helpful and it was obvious that handball is important in the school with many framed photos of handball teams.  Marie kindly gave me a history book of the school – Modhscoil Luimneach 1855-1986.  One story in the book by Angela Deasy from 1945, referred to playing handball as one of the activities in the school.

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Lagganstown, Co. Tipperary

Lagganstown, Co. Tipperary
Photographed by A.Ryan, August 2008
and by Cyril Fitzgerald after the restoration works that took place in August 2010
Adjacent to old school. Gate from school garden blocked up when alley extended. Date on old school 1889

Note from Cyril Fitzgerald, March 2011
Lagganstown Handball Alley was restored by the local community in August 2010. To relaunch the alley, we held a barbeque on Sunday 29th August 2010 which was a massive success. We had a blessing from a local priest followed by a chat from a local historian. Read More......

Kilrush, Co.Clare

Kilrush, Co. Clare
Photographs and information by S.Ryan, December 2009
This indoor alley (40x20)was built in the 1980s to replace 2 outdoor 60x30 alleys built in the 1940s/50s on the grounds of the Christian Brothers national and secondary schools. Built with sand and gravel, they were falling down, and were knocked.
The site of the old alleys is now the community centre, and is close to the RC church.

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Wolfhill, Co. Laois

Wolfhill, Co. Laois
Photographed August 2009 by A. Ryan
Information provided by P. Wheatley. Alley built in yard of now demolished national school (school was located between alley and road, where car park is now). Alley built only at time that new national school was built (1944). Children raced to alley after school and first 4 to arrive played the first game.
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St. Colmcilles Boys National School, Kells, Co. Meath

St. Colmcilles Boys National School, Kells, Co. Meath.
Photographed 2009 by E. O’Reilly Read More......

Toor, Co.Tipperary

Toor, Co.Tipperary
Photographed by Á.Ryan, June 2009
At foot of Keeper Hill between Newport and Rear Cross. It is across road from former rural primary school.
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Ballintleva, Co. Roscommon

Ballintleva, Co. Roscommon
Photographed April 2009 by Á. Ryan. Possibly associated with adjacent national school.
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Trinity, Co. Wexford

Trinity, Co. Wexford. Possibly associated with adjacent national school (1933). Partly demolished in recent years.
Photographed March 2009 by Á.Ryan
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Corrinshigagh/Ashburton Co. Monaghan

Corrinshigagh/Ashburton Co. Monaghan. Photographed by E.Timoney, Dec 2008, and by J. Lyons, Feb 2010
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Newport, Co. Tipperary

Newport, Co. Tipperary
Top four photographs, M. Ryan, March 2023. Bottom photograph and text below from website
http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=TN®no=22311006
Remainder of photographs, Á. Ryan, March 2009.
Date
1870 - 1890

Description
Three handball alleys constructed in mass concrete against the rendered random stone walls of the former two-storey National School. Contains remnants of tiered pre-cast concrete seating and steps to ball alleys, and blocked window openings with stone sills to school building. Date plaque to school in partition wall.

Appraisal
Handball was one of the sports promoted by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and was very popular throughout Ireland during the first half of the twentieth century when most towns and villages constructed a handball alley. The decline in popularity of the sport in the latter half of the twentieth century resulted in their disuse and sometimes demolition, with the result that they are becoming increasingly rare. This group of handball alleys has social significance for its ability to provide information about the fluctuations in popularity of this sport.

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