The Clare People Archive

THEY came from near and far. Dubai and Dublin to the east, Cavan to the north, Kilkenny to the south east, but above they came from the south west country of Tuscon in Arizona.

It’s where Pat Kirby is exiled, even if his mind never strays to far away from Tuamgraney and what it gave him. It’s no wonder, because he says “Tuamgraney and handball gave me so much”.

Irish titles, world titles, American, Canadian titles and much more – the reason why the great and the good of Irish handball came out to honour his achievements on Saturday evening as Tuamgraney Handball Club marked its centenary.

“I never thought ever in my lifetime that something like this would occur,” says Kirby. “When the Tulla Pipe Band was marching up from the church, I was shivering. ‘What am I going to say’. There’s no words to describe words like this.

“It’s 70 years since I first put a foot in that alley down there. All up through those years that I can recall there has always been a great tradition of keeping the club moving. On a Sunday morning when I was five, six and seven years of age, I go down to that court after mass.

“Four players would put six pence each in the corner – that was two bob and play for that two bob. The winners could go to a dance in Scariff or Killaloe that night – the losers were broke and could go no where.

“Anytime the ball would go over the wall we could go in and fetch it. We were like the little dogs. It was a wonderful apprenticeship. We watched them and then tried to emulate what they were doing in the evening when we got our chance to get on the court.”

It was Kirby’s success in the AllIreland junior singles in 1957 that ushered in a new era for Tuamgraney and Clare handball – an era that lasts to the present day as club continues to churn out All-Ireland and world champions.

“We have a very dynamic club here,” says Kirby. “Tuamgraney has always been a great club and the memories come back – you start thinking of all the old guys who have gone ahead of you. All the great brothers. Tuamgraney was infested by brothers when I was a kid. You had the Tuohy brothers, the Noonans, the Ryans. There were always five or six brothers in the families.

“When I started playing on the 60 x 30 court it had three walls. The two sides walls, the front wall and that was it. A line at the back designated the length of the court. I remember games in the ‘40s when the ball would bounce inside the endline and go back another 15 feet into the grass and the guys would be hitting from that distance. In 1952 they put the back wall in and made four walls out of it.

“Handball afforded me the oppor- tunity to play all over the world. I saw the whole world because of handball. I played in the Hawain Islands, Anchorage Alaska, Melbourne, Sydney, all of Canada from end to end, all of America from end to end.

“There were great characters along the way. Muhammad Ali. I had breakfast with him – all through handball. I sat on John Wayne’s knee – all through handball. I loved every bit of it. Made great friendships, great fraternities. It’s been great.”

JIMMY Walsh is standing beside the monument erected in honour of Pat Kirby’s achievements in putting Tuamgraney on the world handball map and with it he opens the trapdoor of his mind as memories of a lifetime interest in the game come flooding back.

“I’m old enough to remember the old folk playing off the castle wall,” he recalls. “When I was a young fella there was serious handball played there. A few bob would be thrown on the path and it would be pretty competitive – as competitive as any world championship.”

It was when the handball court was a meeting place – where dreams were born, where friendships that have lasted a lifetime were born as well. A 60 x 30 handball court, but much more than that.

“It was huge,” says Walsh. “Having a handball court was huge, so much so that they used to hang lamps on the wall so that they could play traditional music on the court. In the 60 x 30 court people danced into the early hours of the morning.

“There was a concrete floor and it made it a gathering point and a focal point for the community. The court brought people together, for handball and for dances. It was at the centre of the community.”

With that the families at the centre of a remarkable story flash across Walsh’s mind.

The Hogans, the Ryans, the Quigleys, the Tuohys, the Wileys, the Kirbys of course and Mike O’Neill.

“He was one of the greatest men who ever promoted the game of handball. He was followed by great men like Michael Boyce. I was there the day Mike O’Neill cut the poles in the wood and erected them at the back the 60 x 30 court. There was at least 100 people there and I can still see the poles swaying and people saying ‘is there insurance’. Nobody knew what insurance was.

“They were different times but great times. You had men like Victor Sherlock of Cavan and Des Dillon of Lisdoonvarna, who was played out of Dublin that time. They all played here in the Gael Linn Cup, which was a national competition. I can still see Des Dillon coming out after the game and washing himself down in the stream.

“Jimmy O’Brien and Paddy Downey were the men that stuck our for me. I can still see Downey killing the ball with his boot in the right corner. It’s illegal now, but in those days you could play it with the boot and being a Kerryman he was well able to kick the ball. In Tuamgraney Mikey Wiley’s greatest attribute was his boot – he’d kill the ball with the boot, so would Downey.”

Walsh just uses his hands, but to great effect as with John Kirby he will be chasing down an All-Ireland title in the Masters Doubles over the next couple of weeks.

“Ever since Pat won his first AllIreland title in 1957,” says John, “it was always about trying to emulate him. Pat set the tone and each one of us wanted to be an All-Ireland champion and a world champion. I played minor in 1962 with my brother Danny and we the doubles that year and have been trying to win All-Irelands ever since.”

John has won over 40 Irish titles in his time – but victory in the centenary year of Tuamgraney handball would surely be one of the sweetest. “I would be great,” he says, “but it’s great to be still competing. Handball has always been our game. We all played hurling, but handball was first.”

“It’s such an honour to put on a Clare jersey,” says Walsh. “I always get that adrenaline flowing in the body when I put on that Clare jersey. It’s a wonderful honour to represent your county and it would be brilliant to win.”

IF the president of the Irish Handball Association, Walter O’Connor, had any doubts about making the long journey to Tuamgraney, they evaporated somewhere en route from Dubai to Dublin.

“It was on Thursday night,” O’Connor told those gathered in Tuamgraney on Saturday night, “and I got talking to a man next to me on the flight. In conversation I told him I was president of the Irish Handball Council. The minute I mentioned handball he mentioned Pat Kirby.

“That tells you about Pat Kirby’s standing and the Kirbys in general. They are handball’s first family and it’s why it’s a huge honour for me to be here to celebrate 100 years of handball in Tuamgraney,” he said.

Of course, O’Connor had no doubts that the journey from Dubai to Dublin and onto Tuamgraney had to be made – it was a pilgrimage of sorts for O’Connor, in his capacity as national president of Irish handball, but also because of the influence the Kirbys had on his career.

“My first memory of handball is when I was two year’s of age when I saw Joey Maher playing Pat Kirby in the World final in Croke Park in 1970. That’s what encouraged me and inspired me to play handball.

“Joey Maher was my coach. He was the legend in our area and my father brought me up on his knee to watch that final. To see them play at the level they played was an inspiration.

“Pat Kirby to me was a legend. Pat Kirby is like Jack Nicklaus in golf in terms of being remembered. The same with John McEnroe or Bjorn Borg in tennis. He’ll always be remembered – he is to the sport of handball what those other legends are to their own sports. “We owe a great debt of gratitude to the Kirby clan for the contribution they have made to the sport and what they’ve given to the sport over the years. They’re fantastic people and fantastic ambassadors for the game of handball.

“I go back a long way with the Kirbys. I have known the Kirbys since I was three and four years of age. I remember when I started playing handball I used to go into the room on my own and let on I was playing Pat Kirby’s son.

“It’s very important that we hold dear our heritage and our tradition – the tradition that the Kirby brothers, Haulie Hogan, Pakie Ryan and all the great players who have played over the years. We need to guard that as much as we can.

“Tuamgraney is a symbol of continuance in handball. Over 100 you have produced fantastic players, winning World titles, American Open titles, you’ve got Diarmuid Nash and Niall Malone and some very good young girls on the way up as well. It’s clubs like Tuamgraney that will help handball grow and get its rightful place in the association.

“Handball is a labour of love. We fought hard to keep ourselves alive – the development of the sport is a big family atmosphere. When you have clubs like Tuamgraney celebrating 100 years and a club that has produced a line of world champions, All-Ireland champions, they’re integral to the survival of handball,” added O’Connor.

Senior A Cha mpionship Round 4 Kilmihil 2-8 Lisca nnor 0-5 at Hennessy Memor ia l Pa r k, Milt own Ma lbay BATTLING against driving rain and gale force winds in Miltown Malbay on Sunday, Kilmihil maintained their perfect start to the campaign and guaranteed their passage to the last four of the championship.

Kilmihil, although playing against the conditions in the opening half, settled well and came at Liscannor in waves. Liscannor weathered the storm though and held Kilmihil scoreless until 15 minutes into the first half when Becky Mahon got on the scoreboard with two well taken points in quick succession while Ailish Considine added two from play before half-time. Ailish also had the first score of the second half when she coolly slotted home a goal after a great run from wing back Una Downes.

Liscannor registered their first score in the next passage of play when Aishling Torpey pointed from a close range free. That score seemed to lift the north Clare side who added points from Marie Considine and Olivia Lucas. Ailish Considine got a great individual point and Maria Keane added another as Kilmihil hit back.

Aishling Torpey was again on target from a free before Kilmihil’s Eimear Considine and Orla Keane extended Kilmihil’s advantage before a goal from Eimear Considine put the game beyond Liscannor.

Both teams struggled at times with the unseasonal weather conditions and scores were hard to come by. Indeed the wind was so strong at times that it even made the basic skills of soloing and passing next to impossible. Liscannor backs did very well in particular in the first 15 minutes when Kilmihil were at full flight and were it not for some excellent goalkeeping, the assistance of the upright, and some wayward shooting, the game could have been over as a contest much earlier.

Kilmihil backs were solid on a tough day for defenders and in particular their half back line of Rosie Currane, Becky Mahon and the outstanding Una Downes. Elaine O’Halloran was also very impressive over the hour.

Niamh Keane who started at corner forward had an excellent game in a sweeper role. Kilmihil forwards, though not scoring as prolifically as usual, did very well especially Orla Keane, Eleanor O’Gorman, Ailish and Eimear Considine. Moriah Lineen did well when introduced. Impressive for Liscannor were Marie and Carmel Considine, Aine Greene, and goalkeeper Emma Slattery.

Kilmihil
Sharon O’Gorman, Elaine O’Halloran, Edel McMahon, Laura Egan, Una Downes, Rosie Currane, Becky Mahon (0-2), Maria Keane (0-1), Dympna Walsh, Eleanor O’Gorman, Orla Keane (0-1), Denise O’Halloran, Niamh Keane, Eimear Considine (1-1),Ailish Considine (1-3)

Sub
Moriah Lineen

Liscannor
Emma Slattery, Marian Considine, Sinead Considine, Roisin Considine, Fiona Considine, Carmel Considine, Cliona Falvey, Marie Considine (0-1),Aine Greene, Emer Hillary (0-1), Olivia Lucas (0-1), Clionadh Considine,Aishling Torpey (0-2f),Yvonne Flaherty,Aine Burke

Referee
Michael Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)

THE sight of some of the biggest names in Irish football lending their support to the game in Clare represented a proud moment for the men who played a key role in bringing the FAI’s showpiece event to the county.

As a former Chairman of the Munster Football Association (MFA), Michael Leahy, proposed bringing the FAI’s Annual General Meeting to Clare in 2006.

Clare District Soccer League secretary Oliver Fitzpatrick also supported bringing the event to Clare and laid a lot of the groundwork for the county’s ultimately successful bid.

Both men were among the guests in the offices of Clare County Council at last Thursday night’s civic reception held in honor of the FAI.

The prescence in Clare of Ireland manager Giovanni Trappattoni, his assistant Marco Tardelli along with major figures in the Irish game such as FAI CEO John Delaney and former international Ray Houghton, confirmed to Michael just how far soccer has come in the banner county.

Michael, a former league chairman who played for Newmarket Celtic and Hermitage, said, “It’s a fabulous day for sport. As long as kids are playing the game, any game, that’s all you want. We never thought we’d see dignatories coming down from the FAI”.

Michael said the visit of the FAI was made more memorable by the involvement of his son Tommy, who is the Clare District Soccer League’s delegate to the MFA.

Michael also paid tribute to the work of former CDSL Chairman Jim Madden.

He said, “Without Jim Madden I think the league would’ve just rolled along. He’s really pushed it into this century. The FAI coming has really made a difference. John Delaney has a great affinity for Clare. He pushed for us to get Denis Hynes which has made an awful difference to soccer in Clare. That gets kids out playing”.

Having been in Kerry for the first time the FAI held the AGM outside of Dublin, Oliver Fitzpatrick be- lieved the event could be a big success in Clare.

He explained, “I’ve been at them all since it first started. I saw what it did for Kerry, the county, bringing all the former players. It was a big thing. When I came back to Clare, at the next committee meeting, I brought it up that it would be a great idea to have this in Clare. Some people said maybe not, maybe yes, but we decided it was worth pursuing. We applied for it. It took a bit of time. Michael Leahy did a lot of work in the background”.

Beyond the immediate impact of grant funding, Oliver believes better organisation and increased playing numbers will be the long-term legacy of the FAI’s visit to the county.

He said, “Take Bunratty and Cratloe, they have used this to kickstart underage soccer in their area. I would say they will have a schoolboy’s team in for next season. That’s the big thing. That’s a positive straight away. West Clare is the same way. You’ll probably have more and more play- ing it. Around Ennis you’ve seen the crowds were very good. They came from everywhere. Everywhere was very good. You have to applaud the clubs and the effort they put in. I think this has been a big success for Clare. In Clare we do have good guys on the ground”.

VETERAN players and Clare referees squared in a keenly contested match at the County Grounds in Doora last week.

Organised to raise money for local charities, Clare Seeking Vision and Clare ISPCA, the tie pitted a panel of players aged 40 or over against a team made of Clare referees. No quarter was asked and none was given as the Over 40s edged a tight battle 1-0. The referees made a great start and were unlucky not to score in the opening 15 minutes. John Hickey found Kieran Collins for the over 40s but he saw his shot saved by referee John Murray. Hickey wasn’t to be deined five minutes later when he skipped through the defence to score what proved to be the match-winning goal. The second half started with the same zest as the first and it was missed chances and excellent goalkeeping from both sides that kept the final score at 1 nil to the Clare over 40s. There are already plans to make the game an annual fixture. Mike Healy, Timmy Healy, Noel Healy, Tom Botcher, Dave Kerin, Richie Lynch, Colm Cooney, Mike Twomey, Kiki Shannon, John Hickey (captain), Kieran Collins, Clive Slater, Colin Lawlor, Liam Glass, John Horne Over 40s Ma nager : Pat r ick Ba zil Whela n; Assist a nt s: Cia r a Hickey, Emma Hickey, J immo Pur t ill Cla r e r efer ees pa nel David McCarthy (player manager), Jim Denieffe, Julian Stanford, Kevin McCarthy, Noel Bennett, Michael O’Halloran, Michael Rock, Michael Maxwell, Trevor White, Dave Brosnan, Anthony Brosnan, Martin Monaghan, John Murray, Terry Kennedy, Dylan Shannon, Pa Gleeson Mickey Whyte (captain)

TRAP will be back. That was the message from John Delaney in Ennis on Thursday.

Speaking in Ennis the CEO of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said he was determined to ensure that Ireland manager Giovanni Trappattoni and his assistant Marco Tardelli visited the Cliffs of Moher.

The Italian duo who have guided the national team since 2008 had been due to lend their support to a campaign by the Cliffs of Moher to be named as one of the new seven wonders of the world.

However last Friday’s press conference at one of Ireland most popular tourism spots was re-scheduled for Ennistymon following strike action taken by some Cliffs workers. SIPTU members are in dispute with management at the Cliffs over pay and conditions.

At a civic reception held at the offices of Clare County Council, Delaney said Trap and Tardelli will return to the Cliffs, “It will be done”, he said, adding that it is “important that the Cliffs get this publicity”.

Reflecting on a week that saw FAI visits to over 20 clubs across the county, Delaney said it had been “magnificent week in a wonderful county”.

Delaney, whose wife and grandmother hail from Ennis, also recalled the social aspects of the club visits. He told the reception that the FAI delegation had been “marched” out of a pub in Tulla at 2.30am by the Tulla Pipe Band. He also described the visit to Kilmihil on Wednesday as one of the best since the FAI took its annual conference on the road in 2005.

FAI President Paddy McCaul praised the commitment of club coaches. He said, “This week in Clare has seen magnificent examples of volunteerism”.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said the FAI visit had served as an “inspiration to communities across the county”.

Addressing delegates at the official opening of the FAI conference on Saturday, Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) hailed the impact of the FAI’s visit.

He said, “The level of interest in the game at club level has been enhanced and the FAI’s commitment to the development and promotion of the game has been clearly demonstrated. The announcement of € 100,000 in grants by the FAI is very much appreciated and again underlines the commitment of the FAI to soccer in Clare”.

He added, “The extensive programme of visits to clubs all over the county over the last week was fantastic fun for each of the young players. The delegation from the FAI was warmly welcomed in every club and the presence of some of Ireland’s greatest former players can only serve to heighten enthusiasm for the game”.

IT was, as John Aldridge admitted, a long week. It started with a trip to Connolly Celtic and took in trips to north Clare, east Clare, west Clare and Ennis. Along the way Aldridge and former Ireland teammate Ray Houghton, met players and coaches, signed hundreds of autographs and posed for hundreds of photographs.

Along the way there was the odd stop off in some of the Banner County’s well-known pubs – McDermott’s in Doolin, The Diamond Bar in Ennis and Daly’s in Kilmihil. Aldridge may have missed the chance to talk football with the regulars in The Diamond but he was part of a strong FAI delegation that put down, as John Delaney described it, a “long night” in Kilmihil on Wednesday.

Aldridge’s four day bus tour of the grassroots game in Clare came to an end in Ennis on Thursday at a family fun day organised by Ennis Town.

Standing pitchside at Ennis Rugby Club, which hosted the festivities, Aldridge recalled a week spent meeting the people and places that make up the county’s soccer community.

He said, “It’s been a very long week. The traveling has been quite arduous. You get a lot out of it. You see a lot. You learn a lot to be fair. There are a lot of good things happening in Clare and around Ireland. It’s very positive”

The former Liverpool and Ireland striker who scored 19 international goals in the green jersey said he was hugely impressed by the standard of facilities in Clare.

He said, “Some are more advanced than others. But you just got to look forward and plan the best for the kids in your vicinity and community and get them outside playing football rather than being on the Playstation”.

Aldridge continued, “There are some great facilities. Some that need tidying up and that will happen I’m sure in the future. John Delaney and the FAI are working very hard and striving for that to happen”.

Aldridge, who played in two World Cups, also heaped praise on the small army of volounteer coaches who are driving the game in Clare.

He said, “Some people are doing it for the love of the club and that’s great to see. There is a lot of effort going in the background by people you don’t see and don’t get noticed”.

Acknowledging the difficult economic times, Aldridge urged clubs to keep up the good work. He add- ed, “It’s hard times out there, getting money and that. Keep looking at ways you can get funding, lottery funding or whatever. The FAI help in various ways. Don’t give up hope and go out to your local community to help as well”.

The Liverpool native said meeting a group of Special Olympics athletes in Ennis.

He said, “People who are so passionate and so competitive in sport, that was great to see”.

THE arrival of the well travelled FAI delegation to the offices of Clare County Council on Thursday night was eagerly anticipated but not as much as the visit of one of the most successful figures in world football.

When Ireland manager Giovanni Trappattoni finally arrived at around 8pm, a ripple of excitement spread through the building.

Flanked by Ireland’s assistant man- ager Marco Tardelli and interpreter Manuela Spinelli, Trappattoni looked a picture of health as he was welcomed by Clare’s soccer fraternity.

After attending a civic reception the 72-year-old Italian told The Clare People that he had been looking forward to visiting the Banner County.

Speaking with the aid of an interpreter, Trappattoni said, “It’s a pleasure to me. And its very, very important that we go in every city and every county in Ireland because it’s important that people know me, know us, as people, normal people. And because (of) our presence the people can know better, me. Because the newspaper, the interview, the picture (only) gives a simple (one) image”.

Trappattoni, who has won league titles in Italy, Germany and Portugal, said he was keen to sample Clare’s famous hospitality.

“We haven’t a lot of time but I am curious to know every county, city in Ireland because it is important to know your customs. I like to understand this customs”

He also had advice for young players in Clare, urging them to work hard to achieve their dreams.

“Its important for the young, they have to love the football. Because only with this passion, its possible (to) learn, its possible to dream about the football. Also when I was young, I dreamed this moment. I was also a little bit lucky. I feel also lucky that I achieved this good result with the players with us also managers”.

THERE was a queue of councillors and officials waiting to greet Giovanni Trappattoni in Ennis on Thursday but the Ireland manager reserved a particularly warm welcome for one of Clare’s best-known Italian businessmen.

As he entered the headquarters of Clare County Council to attend a civic reception in honor of the Football Association of Ireland’s (FAI) visit to Clare, Trappattoni stopped to talk and pose for photographs with Enzo D’Auria and his family.

Enzo, who opened the popular branch of fast food restaurants in Ennis in 1981, his son Alfonso and 10year-old grandson Gavin had their photograph taken with the football legend. It was a memorable moment for the football mad family who have strong connections with local club Avenue United.

“I introduced myself and he asked me where I come from. I told him a place called Ravello. He knows it, a beautiful spot. It’s a very tourist spot on the Amalfi coast. He’s a nice man. He never refuses to take photographs. A very down to earth man”, recalled Enzo.

Trappattoni was accompanied to Clare by Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli, whom Enzo had met during the heady days of Ireland’s Itlalia 90 world cup campaign

He explained, “I met Tardelli in Italia 90 in Palermo. We went to the Ireland and Holland game. Me and my young fella went there, Alfonso.

Enzo moved to Ireland 43 years ago after previously working in England. He said, “I’d done a film in Ireland with Walt Disney in 1968. That’s how I met my wife. She’s from Clare, Ennis, Tuohy. I meet my wife and we got married a year after”.