Caraun, Co. Sligo

Photographed Aug 2023 by D. Burke Read More......

Saint Patrick's College [set of 2], Maynooth, Co. Kildare

There were 4 sets of handball alleys on the campus of St. Patrick’s College, with a total of 16 alleys.
The 1838 ordnance survey shows:
– 6 alleys in a back-to-back row 3 alleys long, to the west of the Hospital in the northern area of the campus
– 4 alleys in a back-to-back row 2 alleys long, to the west of the Junior College in the southern area of the campus.
The 1912 ordnance survey shows both of these sets of alleys and an additional two sets of alleys
- a pair of 2 alleys back to back on the green area directly in front (south) of the Junior College
- a set of 4 alleys back to back on an extension to the college grounds to the north
The pair in front of the Junior College is not shown on the 1940 ordnance survey.
This historical photograph (unknown date) likely shows the pair of back to back alleys on green area/lawn on front of the Junior College. Photograph included on facebook page Old Maynooth local history group. Permission to use photograph provide by C.Kavanagh via E. Timoney. August 2023. Read More......

Robert Emmet Walk / Bridgefoot Street Park, Dublin City

Robert Emmet Walk, Dublin 8 A set of alleys enclosed behind high stone wall, adjacent to former barracks and former distillery and on edge of new urban park https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/parks/new-parks-and-projects/bridgefoot-street-park https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/50080340/robert-emmet-walk-dublin-8-co-dublin Part of Four Courts Marschalsea Read More......

Swinford Alley in 1905. Sketches by Jack B. Yeats

Two sketches of a handball alley in Swinford, Ireland, 1905. Yeats, Jack B. Source: Jack Butler Yeats Collection of Papers, Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature. The New York Public Library, Astor, Lennox, and Tilden Foundations. © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2022 In 1905, artist Jack B. Yeats made these two sketches of the handball alley in Swinford, most likely while travelling with the Anglo-Irish playwright John Millington Synge (1871-1909) on a commission from the Manchester Guardian newspaper. Synge was to write about projects undertaken under the Congested Districts policy. Yeats was to illustrate these. They “travelled from Galway through Connemara and Mayo. Twelve illustrated articles ... appeared in the paper between 10 June and 26 July 1905, at intervals of three to four days” (Saddlemyer, 2015, p. 27)*. Although the ball alley sketches are not among the 14 illustrations published with the articles, two of the articles refer to Swinford. The series was given the title ‘In the “Congested Districts”’ and can be viewed on the online archive of the Manchester Guardian via the newspapers.com database. The articles were subtitled as follows: From Galway to Gorumna (10.06.1905), Between the Bays of Carraroe (14.06.1905), Among the Relief Works (17.06.1905), The Ferryman of Dinish Island (21.06.1905), The Kelp Makers (24.06.1905), The Boat-Builders (28.06.1905), Homes of the Harvest Men (01.07.1905), The Smaller Peasant Properties (05.07.1905), Erris (08.07.1905), The Inner Lands of Mayo -The Village Shop (19.07.1905), The Small Town (22.07.1905), Possible Remedies (26.07.1905). Yeats made two known paintings of handball alleys. A watercolour The Handball Alley in (private ownership, date unknown) of the same Swinford alley and an oil painting The Ball Alley in 1927 (in collection of Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin). Sometime in the 1920s. A photograph of the same alley was depicted as a postcard by London company Woolstone Bros (one of these postcards is in collection of Mayo County Library). *Saddlemyer, A. (2015). More Letters by John Millington Synge. Irish University Review, 45(1), 25–30. Read More......

Ballyvaldon Cross Roads (near), Blackwater, Co. Wexford

At crossroads 50 0m south of Ballyvaldon Cross Roads, near Blackwater, Co. Wexford. At old church and graveyard. The play wall of alley is built against gable of church. Old grave stones inside the church date to early 1800s. The graveyard, church and alley are well maintained. Photographs and information from E. Timoney, May 2023 Read More......

Site of former alley on Wexford Street, Gorey

This alley on Wexford Street, Gorey, was demolished in 2005. The site of the alley was photographed by E. Timoney in December 2022. An article about the demolition of the alley appeared in the Gorey Guardian newspaper (see below) End of an era as handball alley makes way for new car park https://www.independent.ie/regionals/goreyguardian/news/end-of-an-era-as-handball-alley-makes-way-for-new-car-park-27268494.html January 27 2005 12:11 AM Gorey's old handball alley on Wexford Street is no more, and last week the official signing over and sale of the freehold from Gorey Town Council to Wexford County Council took place. Gorey Town Council Chairman Malcolm Byrne donned the chain to perform the official function for Town Clerk Liz Stanley. The 'ball alley' as it was fondly known for many years has quite a history, and will hold many memories for not just sports people, but probably for a lot of young courting couples as well.The site has been flattened for a carpark, something which will be welcomed by Gorey's frustrated motorists who are finding it increasingly difficult to find a free space in the town at peak periods. Gorey Handball Committee sold the site to the Council for 140,000 (pounds). The proceeds are to be presented to Gorey Community School this week towards the cost of a new handball complex at the school. It is hoped the alley will not only be of benefit to students, but also to the general public in the evenings. The presentation will take place in the Loch Garman Arms on Thursday, January 27, at 7p.m. Read More......

Site of former alley, Inis Meáin, Aran Islands, Co. Galway

The location of one of an alley on Inis Meáin, no longer existing. Photographed by R. Ryan, August 2022, with site indicated by local person. Read More......

n. Kilmurvy Beach, Inis Mór, Aran Islands, Co. Galway

One of 2 older alleys on the island. There is also a newer back to back set of 2 alleys. This alley near Kilmurvy beach was photographed by E. Timoney in September 2022. Many thanks to person who provided information in comment on 1952 photograph by George Pickow collection at University College Galway. Citation: George Pickow (01/07/2022), Photograph of two men playing handball against a wall at Kilmurvey., Publisher = "University of Galway", Asset Id 51, Archival Record Id p100408 Read More......

Community Hall, Ballymacarbry, Co. Waterford

Photographed August 2022 Alley against back gable of former community hall, Ballymacarbry, Co. Waterdord. Access provided by W.Ryan. Read More......

Newtown School, Ballymacarbry, Co. Waterford

Photographed August 2022, with permission of private owner of former schoolhouse. Read More......

Pullaheeney Pier, Co. Sligo

Pullaheeney Pier, Co. Sligo Photographed by R.Ryan, August 2021 Read More......

Attymachugh, County Mayo

On grounds of Attymachugh Primary School, County Mayo. The school is now used as a church. Photograph provided in June 2022 by T.O'Malley Read More......

Listellick, near Tralee, Co. Kerry

Listellick, near Tralee, Co. Kerry

Photographed by E.Timoney, May 2022. Information from B. Falvey. Read More......

Mullingar, Co. Westmeath

Mullingar Handball Club, Co. Westmeath Photographs and information by E.TImoney, May 2021. Interior photographs by E. Timoney in October 2022 This alley is situated beside Mullingar Shamrocks GAA grounds. It is the home club of All Ireland Champion Robbie Mc Carthy Jnr, winner of multiple All Ireland titles in all codes, 60x30, 40x20 and Wall Ball (1 Wall) There is a 40x20 court along side the 60x30 court .  Read More......