Growth of the Mullingar Handball Club has been amazing

“To see the growth of the club is just amazing; to have an awards evening with 120 people was fantastic and something we could only dream of when we started out.”

Those are the words of Natasha McCarthy, Secretary of the Mullingar Handball Club, who was MC at their inaugural Dinner Dance and Awards Evening in Bloomfield House Hotel on Friday. The club was celebrating 70 years of handball in Mullingar, a sport that has helped enrich the lives of so many local people over the decades.

Handball President Conor McDonnell was the guest of honour at an event that also included Westmeath GAA County Committee Chairman, Frank Mescall and local Oireachtas members

Natasha was especially proud to honour the people who worked so hard to establish the club.

“Without their great work and dedication it wouldn't be here for the youth to benefit,” she remarked, noting that Andy Byrne, who won a 60x30 doubles handball title in 1973, was like a celebrity in the build-up to the evening.

Minister Peter Burke addressed the gathering and presented the All starts graduate awards and the youth leadership awards. Frank Mescall presented the awards for the youths who competed in the worlds.

Conor Brennan presented all of past All-Ireland champions with the exception of Aoife McCarthy and Niamh McCann. This was presented by former Westmeath County Board Chairman Tom Farrell.

Mr Farrell was a neighbour of Niamh in the past, so it was appropriate for him to present it.

Deputy Troy presented the award Robbie McCarthy Junior, who’s a multiple All-Ireland champion and recently teamed up with Joe McCann to win the World Doubles title. Deputy Troy is a parliamentary colleague of Minister of Sport Thomas Byrne who is a great supporter of handball and has a close affinity with the Kells club.

“It was Joe’s first world title and he has been carrying the trophy around all week,” remarked Natasha. “Niamh won the hero of the year in Mayo with Goff.ie. She won it and had been slagging him for a while, but now he can say he’s a world champion.”

Deputy Troy’s parents Paddy and Sarah were involved on the committee of the Ballynacargy Handball Club for many years with the late Matt Slevin and he shared memories of that with those present. He recalled Robbie McCarthy Snr and Michael ‘Ducksie’ Walsh of Kilkenny playing handball in Ballynacargy.

Each of the speakers focused on the importance of volunteerism, inclusivity and participation. Tom Hunt, Westmeath GAA’s Central Council Delegate and Mullingar Shamrocks GAA PRO, was overwhelmed with the award he received on the evening. Natasha said Mr Hunt has been a great supporter of her in her role, providing advice and assistance when required. Conor McDonnell presented Mr Hunt with his award.

“He was a great help with the history of the club. He is so supportive and it’s fitting that he was recognised,” said Natasha.

She admitted feeling daunted by the MC’s role, but said it was a great occasion for the club. “I was nervous, even though I knew what to say, it’s pretty daunting when you're in front of a crowd,” she said.

For Natasha the development of the club has been nothing short of sensational.

“We have outgrown our facility and I didn’t really expect that when I became secretary three years ago. I've been involved in the development of the club since 2017 and we had 900 school students this year. At the moment, we can’t cope with the bookings. There is a need for more land to develop the facilities,” she remarked.

“The handball club is not part of the Mullingar Shamrocks club but if they are going to include handball in their development, we’d be delighted,” she said. “Players are travelling from the outskirts of the town so it's a growing sport.”

The club is planning a small extension but is limited with space and has no room for more courts. They currently have two handball courts, one 60x30 and one 40x20.

President feels the sport brings joy to participants

Addressing a packed house at the Mullingar Handball Club’s special celebration, Handball President Conor McDonnell referenced the club's rich history, recent achievements, and dedication to inclusivity.

McDonnell opened by praising the club's legacy, remarking, “It’s a great honour to celebrate 70 years of Mullingar Handball Club. This fantastic club continues to flourish and grow.”

Natasha McCarthy received special recognition from McDonnell for her efforts in building and organising the event. "Listening to Natasha speak about the club’s structure, it’s incredible to see such a strong foundation being laid for the next generation," he said. Her dedication and hard work recently earned the club a well-deserved award from the National Lottery for its commitment to inclusivity, a point McDonnell highlighted. "When you see the happiness in the children from the All Stars programme at events, it’s clear how proud they are to be part of this club."

Mr McDonnell also paid tribute to the club's longstanding members, like Andy Byrne, an All-Ireland winner, and shared a humorous anecdote about his annual visits to Mullingar, where he looks forward to Tina’s tea and cakes but finds himself “hammered” on the court by local players Robbie and ‘Cass’ (Liam Cassidy).

Reflecting on the achievements of club stalwarts, he congratulated siblings Robbie and Aoife on their recent All-Ireland and World Championship wins, describing it as an "absolutely fantastic achievement."

Mr McDonnell acknowledged the recent World Handball Championships held in Leinster, with 2,000 matches played across 20 venues in nine days. He praised the dedication of volunteers, particularly the women who took on key organisational roles at the event. “You don’t have to be a handball player to get involved,” he emphasised. “Everyone brings their unique skills, whether it’s IT, hospitality, or event management, and these contributions are vital to our clubs.”

The president expressed his pride in Mullingar Handball Club’s inclusive spirit and wished them every success in the years to come, as they continue to foster a welcoming and vibrant handball community.

Importance of inclusivity noted

Minister Peter Burke noted the significance of Robbie McCarthy’s great success in the sport and the fact that he was part of the recent TG4 programme, Liathróid Láimhe. He said he has been doing Mullingar made and indeed country proud and he paid tribute to the club for all the success it has achieved to date.

“I was just doing a bit of research and looking between the world titles and the doubles and how many have been won. It's just incredible,” he said.

“Inclusivity is important, to really reach into all parts of society and make everyone feel that they can play their part; to give everyone a chance to excel in life. And there is no greater mechanism to do that than sport and we can really see that. I wish everyone the very best and look forward to more success for Mullingar Handball Club in the next 70 years ahead,” he added.