Willie Relihan lends support to Liscarroll Handball Club which is going from strength to strength ... >>>

Liscarroll Handball Club was founded over a hundred years ago and in 1987 the alley was completely renovated. At that time the old 60 x 30 alley was demolished and a new enclosed 40 x 20 alley with changing rooms and showers was built.

Club members have had great success over the years up to and including winning world handball titles. In 1934 Liscarroll born Michael Fitzgibbon won a world title in New York. Sixty years later in 1994 Pat O'Brien and Joe Collins won the Golden Masters B Doubles in O'Callaghan Mills, Co Clare and in 2006 John Hedigan and Pat Flaherty won the World Masters B Doubles in Canada. The Club also won the 2007 All Ireland Junior B Club Championship the Millennium Club of the Year Award in 2000. Club members have won numerous All Ireland, Munster and County titles at all grades including: Jimmy Hurley and Tim Twohill in 1938, Pat O'Brien and Tim Healy 1997. Shane Hedigan has already won three all Irelands and he is only 17 years of age. Shane will be competing in another All Ireland Junior B Final in November 2007.

Twenty years after the last major restoration of 1987 the Club is embarking on a further redevelopment to bring the facilities up to International standard so that the Club will have an opportunity to offer its facilities for the 2012 World Handball Championships which will be held in Ireland. The development is being phased and the fist phase including the construction of a glass back wall and seating for 50 people is already completed. The current phase involves upgrading the playing surfaced by installing a maple floor and heating. The Club requires substantial funding to complete phase 2 and will be looking for grant aid and other support. A number of fundraising initiatives will be launched over the course of 2008 to include a sponsored walk and handball tournaments. A major juvenile tournament will take place over a week starting on 27th December 2007. This year the Club expects a number of All Ireland medallists to be competing.

Well known Club member, Willie Relihan is also helping the fundraising by donating 100 copies of his very popular CD "My Hometown" to the Club. Club members will be selling the CD locally for €20 per copy. The CD will make an ideal Christmas present for home and abroad. Copies of the fundraising CD are available from Club Members, Margaret O'Brien's bar and Donal Ó Cainte's shop

The alley was originally donated by the O'Brien family to the community back in 1984 and Liscarroll Handball Club is grateful for the support of the local Community Council who own the premises and lease it to the Club. The Club is also grateful to all its supporters over the years from the parish and surrounding areas.

For further information:

Tim Healy, Club PRO, Knockardbane, Liscarroll. Telephone 022 48608

Picture caption: (L to R): Back: Pat O'Brien, Tim Healy, Willie Relihan (presenting his CD) and Ger Healy. Front: Colin and Gearoid Healy. Photographer: Eamon Collins