The sport of GAA Handball was hugely visible at the GAA’s World Games which took place in Derry this week and concludes today in Celtic Park.
The GAA Handball team were based at the Derry Centre of Excellence in Owenbeg, near Dungiven, where an outdoor Wallball court was in place and, according to GAA Handball Regional Development Officer Joe Dillon, “thousands of people” were introduced to the game.
“It went very, very well, it was a very positive and productive week,” Dillon said.
“From a handball point of view, we were liaising with GAA-minded people who are based all over the world and they were really enthused by what handball could offer them and their clubs.”
Armagh’s James Doyle and son Fiachra played an exhibition game on Wednesday and Irish senior champion Conor McElduff attended on Thursday to give a demonstration and meet and greet those who were getting introduced to the sport.
“As well as selling the sport of handball to the attendees directly, we also distributed a large amount of handball resources and information, which really helped to raised awareness of the game and its benefits,” said Dillon.
“There were up to 2000 people there every day so we could safely say we introduced the game to thousands of people from across the world over the course of the week. A lot of them had no knowledge of handball but there were some who have played on the Euro Tour and some Pelota players.”
Head of GAA Handball, David Britton, described handball’s involvement in the event as “an amazing platform”.
“GAA Handball are delighted to be part of the FRS Recruitment GAA World Games 2023. This year's GAA World Games sees GAA Handball feature as part of the Games for the very first time and provides us with an amazing platform to showcase our fantastic sport to close to 100 international GAA units,” Britton stated.
“The GAA World Games gives GAA Handball the perfect opportunity to interact with players and officials from these international units and to introduce many of them to the game of Handball for the first time.
“It also allows our development team who have done a brilliant job throughout, to engage with the thousands of visitors attending the event and to highlight the great benefits of our game. This type of exposure is invaluable for Handball’s development and growth.
“I would like to give a special mention to our Uachtarán Conor McDonnell for all his hard work in the build-up and to Shane Flanagan, Charlie Harrison and all in Coaching and Games Development for helping to facilitate our participation.
“I would also like to thank the Derry County Board and all the volunteers and staff in the wonderful Owenbeg Centre of Excellence for helping to create a fantastic week of Gaelic Games competitions and events.”
GAA Handball President Conor McDonnell attended the event and was hugely enthused by it.
“It is fantastic to see the FRS GAA World Games taking place in Owenbeg, Derry. It is the first time that GAA Handball has been included, with the recent construction of a full size Wallball wall at the rear of the main stand,” said the President.
“The GAA information tent also included a handball stand and many thanks must go to the Handball Development Officers helping out there and on court.
“Teams from many countries worldwide descended on the Derry GAA Centre of excellence and while I attended the games, I saw GAA players from Argentina, Germany, France and Spain trying out Wallball for the first time.
“It is heartening to see and on behalf of GAA Handball I want to thank the GAA, Derry GAA and all involved in making the World Games such a brilliant success. “We can also look forward to the next World GAA Games when Handball will be fully included and competed in by teams from across the World.”
The GAA Handball Development team at the event also included Fiona Shannon, Clare Conway, Marguerite Gore and Eilise McCrory.