Memorable age active event for Mullingar Handball Club
Gerry Baker was a prominent figure in Mullingar Handball back in the day known to have reinvigorated handball in Mullingar, alongside Robbie McCarthy.
It was therefore only fitting that he was remembered by all in the club when the Gerry Baker Age Active festival took place in Mullingar.
Mullingar GAA Handball Club hosted 'come and try' sessions during the recent weekend event and they proved to be in popular demand. The inaugural social tournament kicked off on the Saturday, giving viewers some fantastic games to watch. Following this, our age active crew sat with community pharmacist of the year, John O’Shaughnessy of Woods Healthpoint Pharmacy Mullingar for their health checks.
The crew then headed to the Annebook House Hotel on Saturday evening for a delicious meal which was followed by a small session. The session was led by none other than our very own Mick Foster alongside friends and family of Mullingar Handball Club.
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Mary Anna and O'Reilly on Friday evening.Image 2 of 9
Rico, Tito and Bruno Patrizi from Mullingar.Image 3 of 9
Martin Hickey and Noel Battle at the handball social night.Image 4 of 9
Orla Hickey and Moyra Fraser at the Annebrook House Hotel.Image 5 of 9
Paddy and Liz Maguire from Emper.Image 6 of 9
Willie and Kathleen Kavanagh in The Old House.Image 7 of 9
Ziva Patrizi on Friday.Image 8 of 9
Katie Groome and Marzio D'Amore at Friday evening's trad session.Image 9 of 9
Philip Clarke and Peter Hegarty at the handball night out.They were up early on Sunday morning for their exercise and nutrition class with none other than body builders, Laura and Conor McCarthy. This was followed by the most exciting event of the day, the final of the Gerry Baker Social Tournament. It was a Mullingar and Dublin pairing of Mick Foster and Peter Hegarty against Longford’s John Ward and Cavan’s Philip Clarke.
Mick and Peter shot off to a flying start, reaching a 17 to 6 lead when John and Philip came back in control of the game, bringing it to 20-all. However, Mick Foster then served to take the first game.
After a brief rest period they were back on court and although Philip and John were hot on their tails, it was Peter and Mick who kept the lead throughout. The game came to a finish with Mick Foster securing the win for himself and Peter with a fabulous dump shot to the right-hand corner. It was a fabulous end to a great weekend of handball, music and craic!
Congratulations to all four finalists and to all players who supported the festival.
Mullingar GAA Handball club wish to thank all the ladies in Westmeath County Council, the North Midlands Credit Union, Age & Opportunity Ireland for all of their support with the festival. We also need to express a huge thank you to John O’Shaughnessy and Woods Healthpoint Pharmacy; Laura in Genesis for her assistance with the prizes; to the ladies in the Annebrook House Hotel for all of their support in arranging the evening dinner; to Chris in KC Sports for his assistance with the jerseys, and such a quick turnaround; to both Laura and Conor McCarthy for their fantastic class; to our friends from other clubs who joined us over the weekend, and to all of the musicians who supported us over the weekend. You were amazing!