Email: talktohugh@hotmail.com
Pillar: Community
Address: Oxfield Sports Cenre, Drumcliffe, Co Sligo
’Drumcliffe Handball Club look back at a rich tradition, and Presently boasts a busy active & inviting Handball Club. Handball in Drumcliffe is Back! “A Game For Life” Brief History: Drumcliffe Handball Club was in existence in the 1920’s when games were played at Milltown, ‘The Mill Alley’’ at the rear of Drumcliffe Co-Op on Sunday evenings. The back wall of the mill served as a back wall for the handball alley, and the footprint of the old court can still be seen today. Handball was also played in Carney at Batty Mc Morrows public house; however, this back wall came to grief because of severe storm damage. The late Charlie Nicholson, who worked in the Co-op from the age of 16 remembered these facts. There was also a 60x 30 handball court in the borough in Maugherow – the Johnsport Alley. Games between Maugherow and Drumcliffe were played here with the last known clash seeing Drumcliffe Handball Club as victors. This was in the 1930’s. Johnsport Alley is still in existence but unfortunately is overgrown and disused because of its remote setting. Handball seemed to have non-eventful times in the 50’s 60’s and 70’s. The interest in handball was revived again in the parish in 1985 when a new 40 x 20 court was opened at Oxfield Sports Centre. The vision of our current chairman, Hugh Slevin Snr ensured that the handball court be part of this development along with the then chairman of the Handball club at the time, Noel Meehan. The game enjoyed a revival for and long spell with some of our best juveniles taking provincial titles in both Singles and Doubles competitions in the 40x 20 and 60x 30 Codes. However, with little emphasis on the coaching of juvenile handball in subsequent years numbers started to decline again. Drumcliffe Handball was reformed again in 2016 with a view to coaching juveniles as the main emphasis of the Club for the future. Having demonstrated the game in the Rathcormac, Maugherow and Rosses Point primary schools, a total of 66 juveniles & 23 adults registered in the 2016/2017 season. We have a very high retention rate in this our second season 2017/ 2018. Our coaches again visited the local schools which also included Grange and Cairns. Today, Drumcliffe Handball Club is going strong, with 89 registered members both playing and being coached. Juvenile coaching (6-18 years) takes place on Saturday mornings between October and May from 9.30am -12.30pm. This coaching caters for all abilities, with some specialist training on week Nights. The Club runs a “Golden Gloves” competitions annually for both juveniles and adults. This competition is held in December and entries are confined to the County. Golden Gloves has been very successful in promoting handball at all levels throughout County Sligo. At this Point we wish to acknowledge the support and cooperation of the other Clubs in the County – Ballymote, Catleconnor and Collooney. We would also like to thank Sligo Handball Co. Board for nominating Drumcliffe Handball Club for the prestigious award of “Connaught Handball Club of the Year 2017”, which we have now won!. As a club, we are overwhelmed in securing this Award. It has given the committee, coaches, volunteers, parents and players a great sense of achievement and satisfaction. While we are small in numbers, we are all dedicated and willing to make Drumcliffe Handball Club a club of the future. Our Future plans are varied and diverse. Our short-term focus is, 1)To promote underage handball in north Sligo. 2)To coach and train juveniles to play, enjoy and love the game which is played between the ages of 6 and 80. ’’A game for Life’. 3)To provide the facilities for our players so that they can compete on an equal basis with other clubs. 4) The provision of a glass back wall in our present 40 x 20 Court with viewing gallery, to make the game more inclusive for competitors and supporters alike.