‘This is a massive boost to us, winning Connacht Handball Club of the Year’
EVEN though they only reformed two years ago, Drumcliffe Handball club now has more than 50 Juveniles playing regularly in Oxfield. The efforts from the people in the North Sligo club to rejuvenate the native Irish sport were awarded at the weekend when Drumcliffe was named Connacht Handball Club of the Year.
Clive Slevin, PRO, said it was fantastic for the club’s players, coaches and volunteers. “I suppose handball as a sport was in the wilderness for a few years and then in the last two years, the club has been building. We have more than 50 juvenile members now which is really good. We have both juveniles and seniors, as does the other three clubs in the county; Ballymote, Collooney and Castleconnor.
“It was the County Board who put us forward for the award, five of us went up to the event in Ballinlough, Co Roscommon. We have six coaches within the club and we sort of came from nothing to where we are now with more than 50 juveniles who train every Saturday morning in Oxfield,” Clive added. He said that handball is under the umbrella of Croke Park and there is a big drive nationally to promote the sport, particularly in rural Ireland, where it was played for centuries.
“Handball was such a big part of rural Ireland. It’s a great sport because it teaches good compatible skills that can brought to the likes of football, soccer, basketball etc.
“It’s also great for brain development and school work, there was research carried out in the US, where it’s a professional sport.
“Handball is in 33 countries around the world which is great.”
Back to Drumcliffe and last year saw the construction of a one wall court which makes it easier to play, Clive said.“We’ve been inviting new players to play on the new one wall court which is easier. We built it just before the season began last October, the season runs from October to May.
“There are a few different codes of handball, we are a 40x20 club, the one wall starts in March, 60x30 is native to Ireland, people will see the old alleys around, those are native to the game in Ireland.
“The one wall is a marked out court on the ground, it can be inside or outside.
“It’s not an Olympic sport yet although there are talks at the moment, it might not be included for Tokyo 2020 but hopefully will be one day.”
Clive said being named Connacht Handball Club of the Year has been a huge honour for all involved in the North Sligo club. “It really is a massive boost to us and our aim is to promote handball. Without the other three clubs in Sligo we wouldn’t have got the award, we have to thank them too,” Clive added. Registration takes place on Saturday between coaching times 9.30 until 12.30 for all present players who have not registered for the 2017/2018 season.