The She's Ace Festival is more than just a standard tournament...it is a special weekend full of fun and memories! Check out some favourite memories from those who help make the weekend what is has become!
--
I was talking to my daughter Aoibhe, who is 13 now, is really missing handball about your email. She said her favourite thing about She's Ace Fesitval Weekend was the Team Event on the Sunday where she got to play with girls and women of all ages and from all parts of the country. As a family travelling from Inis Oirr we just loved the fun, the craic and the amount of friends made. It really was the highlight of the year and we will miss it greatly. But by not having it this year we appreciate it all the more and cant wait for many more years to come. Mile buiochas,
Máire Ni Chonghaile & Aoibhe Ni Chadhain (Cumann Liathróid Láimhe Inis Oirr)
--
Honestly there are so many memories that it's hard to pick one. I think playing 1-Wall with my mum against Paula and Hannah Dagg has to be one of my favourites. Just a real bundle of laughs. But I remember most the first She's Ace Weekend I attended, I was only young and Paula Clarke was meant to look after me, lol. She ended up sending me in the car with Aisling Reilly, who I was obsessed with, as she was in the same court as me. I was never as silent in my life and for anyone who knows me thats a challenge!
Eilise McCrory (Breacach HC, Tyrone)
--
My 2 daughters Shauna and Ciara Hallinan took part in the She's Ace Event in 2020. Shauna took part 3 years in a row. She really looks forward to it every year. They both love meeting new people each year. Shauna met up with a girl from Inis Mor, Aoibhe. We went out to the island in 2019 and had a great time.
The 1-Wall and Team Event are great fun and a great way to end the weekend in Breaffy.
It was Ciara's first year in 2020 and she still talks about it. Great Memories from the event. Great to see girls travel from different counties. A very well organised event and great to see so many girls and women involved in Handball. A really skilful game. Girls looking forward to getting back to practising and hoping to see She's Ace in 2022.
Aishling Hallinan (Belcarra HC, Mayo)
--
My favourite She’s Ace memory is the 2011 Tournament. It was one of my first handball tournaments and a group of women from my club took part! The weekend brings back lovely memories and it’s a reason why I’m still playing handball! It’s still one of my favourite tournaments!
Ashling Ni Mhaolain (Cumann Liathróid Láimhe Inis Mor)
--
My daughter Alanna's most memorable experience from She's Ace 2020 is when she and her dad went down to the arena on the Saturday evening. Officials were setting up for the next day and they let the two of them play on the one wall courts.
For myself as a spectator I was in awe of the comradeship of all the ladies, young and old. Although it was a competition there was a sense of friendship and admiration to and from every person at the event, winners or not. Also the organisation of the whole event was brilliant, seriously well done to all of the organisers.
Fiona McKeniry (Kilglass HC, Roscommon)
--
My favourite memory is of sitting in the plush cinema seats in Carnacon and enjoying the best of hospitality and fun while waiting to play my first serious handball tournament!
Anna McLoughlin (Moycullen HC, Galway)
--
I love the She's Ace competition. My favourite part of the She's Ace is playing a variety of people whom I would not normally meet in championship. My favorite memory of the She's Ace is playing a tough game against Amy Corrgian. I lost by an ace but learned a lot from that game. The She's Ace is a great competition to help you improve your game for championship.
Aishling O'Keeffe (Ballydesmond HC)
--
We have always loved the She's Ace Festival Weekend. We have great memories heading to the Mayo every January. For me spending mother and daughter time with Leah was precious, making many new friends and happy memories. Playing in Aughagower on Saturday evenings Finals Night was always a bonus. The welcome and hospitality we received was always excellent and very much appreciated.
Paula Doyle (Leixlip HC, Kildare)
--
We love the She's Ace Festival! I love the mother and daughter, it's good fun and a good way to show our children that handball is for every age and ability. I enjoyed winning the Plate in my competition section (fair few times now) and love getting to meet up with our new found handball friends from other parts of the country.
Mags Donovan (Carnacon HC, Mayo)
--
I really enjoyed She’s Ace 2020, and my highlight was definitely the coaching workshop with Caitriona Casey.
Ellie O'Malley (Newport HC, Mayo)
--
I have been going to she’s ace for a good few years but 2020 was my favourite because there were eight girls from Lahorna involved. We were all staying in the hotel and had a great time together at the Handball and in the Leisure Centre.
Christine Percy (Lahorna HC, Tipperary)
--
My favourite She’s Ace memory is playing in the mother and daughter competition last year. It was great fun and really enjoyed the training!
Amy Brosnan (Ballydesmond HC, Cork)
--
One fond memory in particular I remember was that a friend started Handball one January with the aim of entering a competition, and her first competition was the She's Ace. She was worried she wouldn't be good enough to enter, but because of the Challenger category, we convinced her she would be more than up for the challenge and that everyone plays at different levels, it's early on in the season so plenty of people would be rusty. She ended up winning two games and only losing out in the final, and she really enjoyed the weekend.
Laura Mannion (St Coman's HC, Roscommon)
--
"My favourite She’s Ace Memory is looking on as a Mother, seeing an alley full of little girls with dreams, all in new pink Jerseys who were inspired by their female Handball heroes, wanting to follow in their footsteps."
Margaret Walsh (Mallow HC, Cork)
--
She's Ace has always been something to look forward to in January. From playing with different people from all over the country in the team event, to spending the weekend away with our own club mates, it has always been one of the highlights of the year. Is fada linn a bheith thuas ann aríst i 2022.
Mairéad, Síle agus Ciara Ní Chonghaile (Cumann Liathróid Láimhe Inis Oírr)