Bawn, Co. Monaghan

Bawn, Co. Monaghan
First photograph and text below provided by E. Mc Elroy
Other two photographs taken by E. Timoney in Jan 2020

Further information on :https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/41402609/bawn-handball-alley-lisinisky-county-monaghan

While today the handball court in Bawn, county Monaghan may stand out grey and sharp against the winter sky, the achievement of those who built the court in the early 30s was considerable for a small rural area. The original committee were chairman Bernard Duffy NT, secretary Fr. Terence Molloy, treasurers Patrick Mc Entee & John Duffy, committee members Frank O Duffy, Patrick Clerkin, Joseph Reburn, and Terry Mc Enaney.

The first meeting of Bawn Handball Club took place took place in Patrick Mc Entree’s on 26th June 1931. To raise funds for the building of the alley a number of dances were held. Admission was gents 1 shilling (about 6 cents) and ladies 3d (about 3 cents). Proceeds ranged from £5. By Aug 1932 with much voluntary labour the work of building the alley and stand was completed at a total cost of £198.

Large crows would gather on Sunday mornings and games would be played till night fall, some great players emerged like Jim Moynagh and Seamus Mc Geough. An Ulster final was played in Bawn in the 50s, the winner being Victor Sherlock from Kingscourt, there was also some local Ulster champions and All Ireland finalists.

Like many 60 by 30 courts in rural areas the decline started in the late 70s with high emigration and also repairs being badly needed. Repairs were carried out in the 80s with the help of AnCo and local labour, with a new floor and netting installed and walls re-plastered. But it was too late as the youth population was not there. During the 90s it was hardly used at all. The door lay open and no sounds of a ball could be heard. It was a grey ghost from the past like so many that you pass along the road all over the country.

Then in July 2003 something miraculous happened. Like so many other good ideas it came about over a few pints in the local. A few local fellas decided to organise a handball competition, phonecalls were made and people told, most of the reacting by saying “HANDBALL, sure I haven’t played in 20 years”. Maybe it was the good summer that encouraged them, but 17 players took part in the first singles match on the bank holiday in August. A large crowd came to watch and interest grew. A doubles match was next with over 30 people young and old taking part. Two more matches followed to finish off the season. The games were a delight to the older generation who had played the sport in their prime, and also to the children of the area who had never seen the game played there before. They are the hope for the sport in the area and a large number of them took part in a childrens' match in November. Only a few months before, if you asked one of them what the alley was for they would most likely reply “it's for riding round inside on my bike”.

We hope to start back playing outdoors in March, weather permitting; meanwhile we are taking part in some of the competitions run by the Co. Monaghan handball club, and also a league run by the Corduff club whose indoor 40 by20 ally we are using over the winter. We have a Bawn A and B team the only club in Monaghan with two teams. The Future? Well we have a strong committee and plenty of players also some new talent coming up, one thing we have achieved is a new community spirit for young and old and if we keep that up who knows what we can do.

By Eamonn McElroy, with help from Paddy Deigan and Joe Mc Cabe 14/12/03

Following description taken from: http://www.monaghan.ie/websitev2/download/pdf/heritage/2006/ArchitecturalSurveyMonaghan2006Part2.pdf, pages 39-40

Freestanding handball alley, built c.1922. Located adjacent to Ashburton former national school at Corrinshigo crossroads. Lower section of handball alley constructed of coarsed rubble stone with cut stone quoins. Upper section of alley built-up using modern concrete blocks.
This handball alley, which was in use until recent years, is located at the busy crossroads at
Corrinshigo and is a landmark structure in the landscape. Once a very common sight in Ireland, handball alleys are becoming less popular with the decline in popularity of the sport. The sports popularity and the construction of many handball alleys throughout Ireland were in part because of the efforts of the GAA who promoted the sport upon its foundation. It is understood locally that the stones in the lower courses of the walls are from an RIC barracks that was burnt and destroyed, c.1922, which contributes an historical significance to the site. The handball alleys in Ireland played important social roles in communities and their survival is a reminder of the social history of early-twentieth century Ireland.