Source: Interview of Gerry Cronnelly by Gerry Ahern on the 7^th September 2011.

THE TUAM HERALD, TUAM, CO GALWAY

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1909 An interesting handball contest is at present being organized by an energetic Committee in Athenry, and is to come off on the 29th August.  The Committee are offering three gold medals as first prizes, and three silver medals for runners-up.  Athenry may boast of one of the finest handball courts in the West, and this should make such a tournament all the more interesting from the spectators and competitors point of view.

There is no record of the date when Athenry Handball club was established. Handball was a big and very popular game in Athenry. As a boy he played the game against the Dominican Priory wall on Abbey row. There is no date when that alley wall was built. If that alley was busy he and his friends went to an old alley in Newford beside Somers’ house, where there was a wall around the garden.

He remembers that Dr. Bligh of Rockfield House had a handball alley. He was told this by Michael Doherty, a great player who unfortunately broke his thumb before an All Ireland final.

Grades

There were three grades in handball: Minor, Junior and Senior and Athenry made the breakthrough into national handball glory in 1923 when Christy Barrett, grandfather of Juno and Kieran Barrett, and Joe White won the All Ireland senior doubles in Dublin.

1920s-1940s

In the 1920s the world handball champion was the ‘Yank’ McDonagh and Joe White beat him in a match in Galway. Two other great players of that time were Frank Kilkelly and Mick Rooney, a postman from Mayo. In 1938 or 1939 Mick Walsh, who was in the Irish army, won the All Ireland Junior singles title. He followed this up in 1940 by beating Paddy Perry from Roscommon, the holder of eight Senior All Ireland titles. Abbey Row produced a quintet of tremendous players during that time-Gerry Dempsey, Joe Healy, Tom Cleary, Jackie Egan and Murty Qualter.

Revival of the club

The club died out during the 1940s and was revived in 1950 with players such as Michéal Quinn, a classy clever player, Gerry Cronnelly, Pa Hall, Christy Barrett, Joe Heavy, Tom Cleary, Lol Ryan, Jim Barrett (Club President), Paddy Mulkerrns, Murty Qualter and Mattie Cunniffe. Joe Howley, a big tall 15 stone man, was a fabulous player who had all the shots with either right or left hand.

Talented sportsman

Gerry played his first competitive game at the local sports. Handball became part of the great sporting culture of the parish. In 1954 the Athenry team got to the county final but were beaten by Loughrea. His brother Gabe, who was a natural and talented player, was a member of that team. He boxed for Connacht and also played rugby for the province and London-Irish.

Fierce competition

There was always fierce competition for places on Athenry Handball club teams. In 1955 Gerry failed to get on the junior team but he and Joe Howley, who was nick-named the ‘Nailer’, reached the senior all Ireland final where they were beaten by Paddy Clarke and Robbie Foyle, two very strong players for Mayo.

Wonderful players

Gerry remembers the following as wonderful players of the 1950s: Christy O’Grady (best player), Paddy Curley (great with left and right hands), Tom Cleary, Mick Doherty, Johnny Keane, Pa Hall, Tom McNamara, Paddy Mulkerrins, Jimmy McCormack and Mick Kelly, who lived in Kelly’s step-down pub in North Gate street. Christy O’Grady and Tom Cleary won the county and Connacht junior doubles in the late 1950s. All of these were talented players who won county championships. Athenry sent twelve junior doubles teams to play Ballinasloe and Gerry and Joe Howley beat that club’s best pair. Athenry would have cleaned up if there had been All Ireland club championships. In 1961, shortly after typhoon Debbie, there was a tournament in Clare where Gerry and Mick Kelly, who possessed great power and speed, defeated two Kilkenny lads who were the reigning All Ireland junior doubles champions. Gerry and Mick won thirty county titles. In 1961 he reached the All Ireland senior semi-final where he was beaten by the great Pat Kirby.

Four Connacht Titles

In 1970 he won four Connacht titles, one senior and three doubles. However, during that decade Loughrea with Pat Barrett, Joe Barrett, Eamon Rabbitte, Mick Keary and Galway city with Patsy Lawless, Patsy Joyce, Steve Casey and Seamus Barrett were the dominant clubs. Ballymacward had several wonderful players in Paddy Flynn and Paddy Hansberry, both were county and Connacht champions. Gurteen had Martin Finnerty, Paddy Menton and the Connor brothers. The Moycullen club’s best players were Mick Lally, who later won the over 50s Masters title, Micky John Clancy and Tony Hurley.

Coaching

Pictured are Seamus Lynch and Tony Curley who won the 1956 All Ireland Minor Title

Gerry played until he was 54 years old and then he began coaching the young lads-John Murphy, Boso Hession, Adrian and Donnacha Ruane, Paul Cleary, son of Tom Cleary, Tony, Jimmy and Eugene Curley, Seamus and Joe Lynch-all of whom won County and Connacht championships. Seamus Lynch and Tony Curley won the All Ireland minor title, while Jimmy Cleary and Gerry Warde won the All Ireland under 14 championship. Luke, Ray and Seánie Glynn won county titles for the club. Gerry Hall and the Quinton brothers, Gerry, Pat and Andy were very talented players. Gerry and Andy were good enough to reach the Connacht final.

Old Alley

The Old abbey alley was the fastest in the country and the ball rebounded with no loss of speed. Here the games were played at a furious pace and only the best players survived in that amphitheatre. Great players had to be strong and smart and possess terrific stamina and speed.

New Alley

The club built a new alley next to Kenny Park with a 40 x 20 court. Cake sales organised by Eileen Curley and Aggie Qualter, a 24 hour marathon handball, Des Glynn, Lil Ryan, Tony Waldron, Pat Hansberry, Jimmy Reilly, Des Lyons and Gerry all helped to raise funds for this. However, it didn’t produce a development in Athenry club handball. The new alley was locked up during the day while the old alley was always open and lads had more fun in that environment.

Sadly, today, 2011, there is no club. But hopefully it will be revived again sometime in the future.

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