Ballinrobe Ball Alleys
Painting of Egyptians playing hand-ball from a tomb interior
Donor
Site of the Abbey St. ball-alley at the apex of the Claremorris Road and The Bog Road, Ballinrobe
Tim O'Sullivan 2008
Site of ball-alley at the Barracks on High Street
Donor
Site of ball-alley at Barracks on High Street close to the present Garda Station
Donor
Detail from 1833 map with the Bridewell complex indicated
National Library of Ireland
Prisioners playing hand-ball titled "The darker side of things in Jail.
Donor
A brief overview
By Averil Staunton
Brief history of the Game
Handball was played in Egypt over four thousand years ago and known as one of the oldest games, with variations still played to-day. Paintings and drawings of games have been found in tombs at Saqqara, near Egypt's old capitol of Memphis, where some of the oldest stepped pyramids can be seen. Their hand-balls would have been made of leather and stuffed with hair or plants.
It is claimed that King James I enjoyed the game and in 1427, paid a heavy price for his addiction to the game!
Ireland
The military and landlords were encouraged to play the game in Ireland, and it is thought that police may have promoted the addition of side walls. Locals were excluded for these purpose-built courts and often used the gable end of large buildings e.g. castles, high walls, houses or churches. Records of games being given by 18th century writers indicate that one-wall handball was being played in Ireland from at least 1700 A.D.
Ballinrobe
According to an unnamed writer in the Bridge Magazine of c 1969 there were six alleys in and around Ballinrobe with one each at:
- Roxboro
- Cloongowla
- Knockroe
- Neale Road
- Abbey Street
- the Barracks, High Street (near the Telecom tower).
Abbey Street, Alley
In The Bridge it states that the Abbey Street, ball-alley was erected in 1776. There is little trace of this alley and it is now the location of an I.R.A. memorial. It stood at the apex of the Claremorris Rd and the Bog Road. A school was also located in this area and two Cuff/Knox plaques are located on the wall behind the sculpted memorial.
High Street Alley (The Barracks)
I recently came across this appropriate poem in Footprints in the Water – chronicle of a Ballinrobe childhood, by Declan Varley and with his kind permission it is reprinted here.
“The Alley, it is silent now, thru summer’s longest days,
Its patrons, they have fled the nest and gone their separate ways,
No longer do the handballs, thud out thru the evening air,
As they did, those years ago, when all the gang was here.
In winter time, thru slushy streets, from school, we’d homeward set,
When snow would fall in January and our feet were soaking wet,
We’d stop and stare at Hughes’ toys, as Christmastime drew near,
Oh yes, we did, those years ago, when all the gang was here.
Early Saturday morning, we’d all be out of bed,
For soccer in the Green and togging in the shed,
Messing at the pictures and chucked out by the ear,
As we were, those years ago, when all the gang was here.
But now, we’re spread o’er far and wide,
As most are on the other side,
Of Ireland’s bitter bowl of tears,
That’s carried them from us, o’er the years.
Those days of youth and innocence, as memories, they’re dear,
Never can we say again, “Hail, Haik, the Gangs all here.”
According to E. Timony, in October 2010 when discussing Ballinrobe, he states “all that remains of the Old Alley at the Garda Station is the Back Wall. The section of cut stone wall which was part of the Alley can clearly be seen as this part is plastered smooth. The Alley would have been knocked down when a new Garda Station was built approx 7 years ago.”
The Neale Road Alley
The location for this alley was possibly in or near the grounds of the old Jail. The gable wall would probably have provided a suitable surface and have provided exercise for the police/personnel stationed there. In The Bridge it states that “The Neale Road alley was more than likely in or around one of the two exercise yards attached to the Bridewell”.
Roxboro, Cloongowla, Knockroe
I’m hoping somebody will provide further articles, information, memories, or photographs of these alleys as this article is aimed at those who have probably used these alleys in the past and like Declan Varley has great memories of many games played over the years.
I’m appealing to all of you that know and love Ballinrobe to “Capture it before it disappears” and either write an article or pass on some information please for others to enjoy.
Sources:
Varley, Declan. Footprints in the Water – chronicle of a Ballinrobe childhood, 1989.
http://www.irishhandballalley.com/2010/12/garda-station-ballinrobe-comayo.html
Other misc. sources.