In the first of our series profiling GAA Handball's full-time staff, we hear from Regional Development Officer Clare Conway.
Name: Clare Conway
Home club: Loughmacrory, Co Tyrone
Background in handball (playing/administration): Got involved playing in primary school P5/6 when we got a One Wall court built. Started to play more competitively at 15 and haven't stopped since. Have a few Ulster and All-Ireland medals for all codes, along with playing in the intervarsities which is always great craic. Also started the club in Ulster University, and involved in my club committee as She's Ace Officer.
Other sporting achievements/interests: Any sport really, Rugby and Darts are cool.
Hobbies outside of handball: Farming
Areas of responsibility as RDO (geographically): Ulster/Connacht - Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo, Mayo and Galway.
What attracted you to the role? I've always been interested in sport, coaching and development and as a player it was an opportunity to grow and develop our sport further. At the time of the advertisement as a student studying Sport, Physical Activity and Health, I was working along with the SDO in Ulster University Magee to get handball facilities on site, as there was nowhere locally to train.
This was a process I loved, as it allowed more people (staff, students and external clubs) to be exposed to handball within the sports hall.
What are your hopes for the future for the sport in the short and long term? Short-term, keep er' lit. It's as easy as any wall, any ball so let's get more schools, clubs, universities and communities involved for further development and participation across all codes.
Also, providing children and adults the opportunity to play handball recreationally such as Mothers & Others/Dads & Lads, or play competitively to represent their school/university, club, county or country. All ages and abilities can give handball a go.
Long-term, following on from our successful exhibition at the GAA World Games in Derry, to be part of further events like this - for players and spectators from all over the world to be introduced to a new sport, and bring back another code within the GAA family to their country.
It would be great to see handball included in the Olympics like Wallball. It's already played on the international stage so why not go even bigger.
Overall, lets just get more people involved at all ages - sport for life