Ballisodare 1 wall exhibition games

Paddy Walsh Sligo handball legend is honoured

                   Paddy is congratulated by Sligo Lord Mayor Marcella McGarry

Civic Reception for handball legend

Legendary Sligo handball player Paddy Walsh was honoured with a Civic Reception from Sligo Lord Mayor Marcella McGarry, writes Michael McGee

Present at the Civic Reception were former Lord Mayor’s Matt Lyons & Rosaleen O’Grady. Cyril Feehily Sligo G.A.A Board Chairman, Peter Heaney Chairman Connacht Handball Council, Shane Bruen Chairman Sligo Handball Board, Hugh McGarry Chairman Collooney Handball Club, members of Paddy Walsh’s family and Sligo Handball  Board Officials & personnel

Lord Mayor Marcella McGarry welcomed everyone to the “Mayors Parlour” for this special occasion to honour Paddy Walsh.  In a very professionally scripted speech she described Paddy Walsh as our local sporting hero. “He is one of the most outstanding sportsmen of our generation.  What Paddy Walsh has achieved is never to be equalled.   His characteristic no nonsense determined approach stood out, he wanted to win every game.

 He is the complete dedicated player who has reached legendary status.  His achievements at the highest level, both nationally and locally is amazing.  He gained his first All-Ireland success in 1974 and just a couple of weeks ago in Clare he gained his 29^th National title.   At 73, it is an incredible achievement and absolutely brilliant. Paddy is an excellent ambassador at the pinnacle winning 27 more All-Ireland titles including 4 in one year alone. It’s an accomplishment deserving acclaim for his sporting prowess.  He has also won 6 County G.A.A titles with Collooney/Ballisodare and 1 with the St. Mary’s club.

He is coaching in the Collooney club and passing on his vast experience to the next generation of handball players. He is immensely proud of his young player’s achievements and happy that they are aspiring to follow in his footsteps.

 He was the first to suggest the provision of better playing facilities in the Collooney handball club as far back as 2007. Paddy also received a lifetime sporting achievement award from G.A.A Handball in 2009. The sporting icon is also involved in numerous community organisations to many to mention.”

The Lord Mayor ended by saying “Every sport needs a Paddy Walsh with his energy, inspiration and motivation. “

Shane Bruen Chairman of the Sligo handball Board thanked the Lord Mayor for her great speech.  He warmly praised Walsh for all he has achieved in handball spanning 6 decades and for also giving his time to coaching the young players in the Collooney handball club.  “Nobody deserves this award more than Paddy Walsh,” said Bruen.  The Co. Chairman evoked special memories of Walsh’s early sports career. 

After the reception the handball fraternity gathered outside on the steps of the Sligo Borough Council Offices in the warm evening sunshine.  All the Sligo handball members shared in Paddy Walsh’s special day.  It was “Paddy’s Day” in Sligo. The quiet man in the midst of his fellow handball friends stood tallest his unquenchable sporting spirit beaming , burning brightly as warm and radiant as the autumnal sun’s rays.

  It was a very historic occasion for Sligo handball. Walsh will go down in the annals of Sligo G.A.A. as the County’s greatest ever handball player.  Walsh has achieved everything in the sport and to receive the distinguished Civic Reception from the Sligo Lord Mayor Marcella McGarry capped off a special year for the Sligo sports legend.

 We can all look back with huge pride and affection at his achievements,   his unquestionable talent and the super human efforts to win games has dazzled and amazed us all for many years. And also to look forward to see our herculean handball hero winning even more handball titles in the years to come.

Sligo Handball players & Officials celebrating with Paddy Walsh

Civic Reception for Paddy Walsh in photos

Sligo Juvenile B players in Connacht 60 x 30 semi-finals

U-11 singles:  Conor Finn

       Doubles:  Cormic Finn & Cian Kilcoyne

U-12 singles:  Ronan Wilson

       Doubles: Daire Barrins & partner

U-13 singles:  Jack Branley

       Doubles:  Diarmuid & Vincent Harte

U-14 single: Odhran Quinn

      doubles  ? ???

U-15 singles Brendan Foody

       doubles ????/?

U-16 singles: Conor Booth

U-17 singles: Sean Goldon

       Doubles:  Brendan Tuffy & partner

Girls

U-14 doubles: Laura Finn & Rachel Foody

The Connacht Colleges 60 x 30  semi-finals/finals were held in Roscommon yesterday  but there was no luck for our players. In the Boys Intermediate singles semi-finals Patrick Fox representing St. Mary’s Ballisodare lost out to Niall Joyce Claremorris by 15-1, 15-3 while Rachel Foody reached the final of the Girls 1^ST Year singles but  was defeated by Cora Conlon by 15-3, 15-0

Finn & Wilson crowned county Juvenile handball champions

Civic Reception for Paddy Walsh

Sligo handball legend Paddy Walsh will receive a Civic Reception from the Lord Mayor Marcella McGarry on Thursday at 4 p.m.   In a magnificent career Walsh has amassed 29 All-Ireland titles.  He won his first title back in 1974 and just one month ago he won his latest in the Over 70’s singles final.  Walsh has also won 6 County G.A.A titles with Collooney/Ballisodare and one with St. Mary’s.  Officials from the Sligo Handball Board, Sligo G.A.A, Connacht handball council, G.A.A Handball and members of the local media are expected to attend the ceremony.

Finn & Wilson crowned county handball champions

Cormac Finn & Ronan Wilson were victorious in the Sligo Juvenile 60 x 30 championships finals that took place in Ballymote on Saturday. It was an all “Finn final”  in the Boys U-11 singles with Cormac defeating his brother Conor in straight games while Ronan Wilson had a terrific battle with Darrgh Barrins in the Boys U-12 singles final. Despite losing the first game by 6-15  Wilson stormed back to win in an exciting tiebreaker.

Sligo Juvenile 60 x 30 championships finals results

Boys U-11 singles: Conor Finn dft Cormac Finn 15-3, 15-7

Boys U-12 singles: Ronan Wilson dft Darragh Barrins 6-15, 15-4, 15-8

                         Boys U-11 singles final:   Cormac Finn runner up with winner Conor Finn

                     Boys U-12 singles winner Ronan Wilson with runner up Darragh Barrins

Historic handball gathering in Ballisodare 1-wall court

On Saturday October 12^th Ballisodare, Collooney & St.Pats G.A.A Clubs are holding and underage blitz in Young’s Quarry Ballisodare to make the 50^th Anniversary of the teams historic success in the 1962 Sligo G.A.A County final.  The legendary Sligo handballer Paddy Walsh was a member of that team. 

At 5 p.m there will be a gathering in the Ballisodare 1-wall Court and trophies will be presented to mark the Occasion.

There will also be a number of handball exhibition matches played in the open court. 

Handball Article for Sligo G.A.A final match programme Sunday 13th October

                                      Aoife Quinn historic breakthough in 2013

Gerry Coleman World handball haul

                                  Sligo handball legend Paddy Walsh

The Sligo handball season began slowly but picked up great momentum the longer it went on.  Nobody could have envisaged a number of young and seasoned stars reaching dizzying heights in handball this year, writes Michael McGee.

Quinn’s breakthough

Aoife Quinn from the Castleconnor club grabbed the headlines with a brilliant display in the O’Neill’s Sponsored 40 x 20 Nationals held in Clare.  Last April, Aoife made history when she became the first player to win a National title (Girls 15 & Under) at Juvenile level in over 20 years.  The Castleconnor club starlet has been knocking on the door in the last couple of seasons and finally made the historic breakthrough with a dazzling display. Quinn was on fire all weekend and reached the final with impressive displays. In the final she came up against Laois’s Avril Deegan. Quinn was unstoppable right from the “get go”. Deegan could not handle Quinn’s accurate serving as the Sligo star racked up scores taking game one by 15-6.  The second game Quinn was pushed all the way but she stayed strong and in one of her best performances to date she came through in a thrilling finish to capture the national handball title by 15-12.  Aoife is coached by her father Oisin and already it is proving a formidable winning formula. Quinn was also a member of the winning Connacht girls team of 10 that won the national title in 2011 and gained great experience. Quinn could add another title to her nationals crown when she teams up with club mate Marianna Foody .  The duo take on the Leinster Colleges  Champions in the Girls Junior doubles All-Ireland Colleges 60 x 30 semi-finals next Saturday.  Quinn looks set for a very bright future in handball and future success is imminent.

Coleman’s World medal haul

In August further news came filtering through of Gerry Coleman’s sensational achievements in the World Police & Fire games held in Belfast in early August, winning 3 World handball medals (5 in total).  Coleman a member of the Curry G.A.A Club excelled in the games in 3 different sporting disciplines.  Coleman who works as a Nursing Officer in Loughlan House in Cavan faced stiff competition with players from Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Northern Ireland, U.S.A, & Ireland all taking part in a strong International field. Unbelievably Coleman exceeded all expectations even by his own high standards when he won a Bronze medal in the Over 40’s One-Wall, Bronze in the 40 x 20 Four Wall event, Silver in the Over 40’s doubles with L.A.P.D. Officer Oscan DeSilva.  Not content with the handball medals Coleman also won a Bronze with the Fire Service G.A.A Over-35 team and also a silver medal in the dragon boat team of 10.  An outstanding achievement for the Curry club man.

Paddy Walsh Sligo handball legend

It was going to be hard to top that for a Sligo handball player but one man did just that on September 14^th last.  That man is the legendary Paddy Walsh from the St. Mary’s handball club.  Walsh went all the way to win his 29^th All-Ireland handball title in a glorious career. The Sligo sporting star has been winning All-Ireland handball titles since 1974.  Paddy made the long journey to Tuamgraney in Co Clare to take on Cork’s Pat O’Brien in the final of the Over 70’s All-Ireland 60 x 30 final. O’Brien had beaten our man in the All-Ireland 40 x 20 final last April.  Walsh the Sligo handball warrior this time was ready and went into battle in confident mood. 

As the game unfolded Walsh had a whirlwind start going into a commanding 18-1 lead in the final and took that first game by 21-6. In the 2^nd it was level at 13-13 and yet again Walsh weaved his magic to run out a comfortable winner in the end by 21-13. The return trip to Sligo must have one of the shortest and the sweetest ever in Paddy Walsh’s distinguished career.  I believe the Clare banner roar could be heard in Collooney later that evening.

 At 73 years of age it’s worth thinking for a few moments what this man has achieved in a lifelong association to Sligo G.A.A. in the last 6 decades.   For many years the inspirational Walsh represented Sligo at senior level in handball.

Paddy  was also an accomplished Gaelic Foootball player and played on the Sligo Senior G.A.A teams in the sixty’s and won six County Senior club titles with Collooney/Ballisodare and 1 with St. Mary’s to his credit. After excelling on the G.A.A fields he turned his attentions to the small ball game of handball with amazing results.  Shortly afterwards Walsh won his first All-Ireland title back in 1974 with partner Eamonn Hannon in Croke Park.  He had to wait until 1982 for his next title with the Masters A singles coming to Sligo.

In the 1990’s & 2000’s he racked up an astonishing 27 All-Ireland singles & doubles titles with partners (Mick Kelly & Padraig Maye) .  In one year alone Paddy won 4  All-Ireland  titles in both 60 x 30 & the 40 x 20 handball courts an astonishing achievement.

What is even more amazing about Paddy Walsh’s achievements he also had two hip operations in 2004 & 2005 and has come back to his brilliant best since then. 

Paddy was honoured at the G.A.A Handball All-Stars banquet in Croke Park where he received the “Special Achievement Award” from the then Irish Handball President Tony Hannon in 2009.

The affable player also trains the Juvenile handball players in Collooney and has already coached many young players to numerous Connacht handball titles and takes great pride in his young stars achievements. He is a vital team player to the Collooney handball club fundraising project for the 40 x 20 handball court currently in progress. He has worked vigorously to make sure the project will be a great success and was one of the first players to suggest a 40 x 20 court to be built in Collooney back in 2007.  He has undertaken fundraising for the Collooney handball court from as far away as America. Because of this and his unstinting work in the Collooney handball club he was nominated to deliver the commencement notice to Sligo County Council for the new handball court.  Just last Thursday (October 10th) Walsh received a Civic Reception from the Sligo Lord Mayor Marcella McGarry for his outstanding achievements in handball. His exploits on the handball courts all over Ireland are legendary. Walsh has already left an indelible mark on Sligo handball and he will go down in history as Sligo’s greatest ever handball player. Today we applaud all 3 stars (Aoife Quinn, Gerry Coleman & Paddy Walsh) for their extraordinary feats on the handball courts all over Ireland in 2013, with breathtaking results in the Sligo colours.