Tradition in the Making - A Club History
In the 1970s and 1980s Leixlip was a typical satellite town within easy commuting distance of Dublin which was undergoing rapid residential development. This brought together people from all parts of Ireland and for those interested in Gaelic games, the long- established local GAA club, St. Mary's, became a natural focal point. This influx of new residents brought many dedicated football and hurling people who became actively involved in the development of the club to meet the needs of an expanding population. Naturally enough, a scattering of handball people arrived also but there was no tradition of handball in the area and the initiative to sow the seed awaited the arrival of Leitrim man, Vinny Wrynn.
Front from left: Noel Smith, Vinny Wrynn(Chairman), Pat Ryan (Secretary).
Back from left: Cahal McConville, John O'Rourke, John Slattery and Willie McGee.
Vinny was a prominent footballer at that time, excelling for Connaught, Leitrim and Civil Service football club. From his school days in Fenagh and later in St. Mel's College in Longford he had a keen interest in handball and decided to explore the possibility of establishing a handball club in his adopted community. There were of course no playing facilities in the immediate area but fortunately a court was available in nearby Maynooth College. He got permission from the college authorities for regular weekend use of the court for juvenile coaching and basically it began from there. Through Vinny's influence, others in their 20s and 30s, who had purchased homes in Leixlip and had come from rural towns and villages around the country where handball had been played, got involved. The club was formed in 1984 as a constituent of Leixlip GAA Club, with Vinny as Chairman and Tipperary native, Pat Ryan, as Secretary.
– Inspirational beyond words.
Those early years were a time of great enthusiasm and energy and the court in Maynooth was the focus of feverish activity. With a club structure now fully functioning, the youth coaching programme was further developed with coaching now being provided throughout the week. Coaching numbers greatly increased and internal competitions were organised on a regular basis. Bowdens, Mulloolys, McGees and Wrynns were soon supplemented by a broad cross-section of the burgeoning young population and the basis was laid for the exceptional successes at juvenile level which were to follow in the 90s.
At adult level, the activity was no less intense and successes in the many competitions which were held in the ‘home' court in Maynooth are still recalled with pride. The club received a major boost when, through the good offices of the Dublin Board officials and in particular, John Molloy and John Hoban, it was given permission to participate in Dublin competitions. There then followed a number of years of great competition and no little success for Leixlip. More importantly, great healthy rivalries and friendships developed that continue to this day. Entry to the competitive arena in Kildare was also a crucial development with the character and the tradition of strongholds of the game such as Ballymore and Moone adding greatly to the experience of the fledgeling club. A further important dimension to the club activity was the commencement of an enduring association with the Newport club in Mayo through the famed McGee International Tournament, which coincidentally celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2009.
The arrival at the club of two exceptional players more than anything else defined the competitive success story of those early years. Sue Carey, a modest and self-effacing Dubliner, had already established herself as the top ladies handballer in the country when she joined the club. Shortly thereafter she brought out the banners and bunting in Leixlip village when she was welcomed home from Kelowna Valley, Canada, as World Ladies Singles and Doubles Champion in 1986. A supreme handball artist, she continued to excel at national and international levels for many years thereafter and is by some way the club's most decorated player. Padraig McCormack, a steely and ferocious competitor from Newport, was the lynch-pin of the club's first Senior title-winning team [Dublin Senior 60x30 League, 1987] while also achieving outstanding success at national level when partnering Ballymore great, Tom O'Rourke, to All-Ireland victory in Senior Hardball. His further milestone achievements for the club were his Senior 60x30 Singles and Doubles [with Martin Moran] Kildare titles in 1986 and his similar feat the following year, this time in 40x20, with Joe Rossiter as doubles partner.
Seated from left; Martin Nugent and Willie McGee.
Back from left: Martin Moran, Gus Sweeney,
Padraig McCormack and Vinny Wrynn.
These notable successes were crowned in 1989 by the club's All-Ireland Team title win in Novice 40x20. This championship campaign, which culminated in victory over the Rossa club, Belfast, also has its special place in the lore of the club and the sense of pioneering team effort is still a source of pride to the club and to team members Joe Rossiter, Willie McGee, Martin Moran, Vinny Wrynn, Tony Monaghan and John Kilgannon.
Amidst all the euphoria of those early competitive successes, of the developing youth programme and of the friendships and camaraderie of a new club, a parallel effort of major proportions was coming to fruition. It had been the intention of the club from the outset to have its own court and facilities as part of the main GAA club premises. This was an aspiration that was shared by many, but by no means all, of the main club membership and there followed a protracted and sometimes difficult process where new priorities as well as concerns about capacity to raise the necessary funds appeared to threaten the handball dream. It was eventually agreed that the construction of a new 40x20 court would be part of a major extension to the overall club premises on the Green Lane. Then the fundraising began. Duck races, Club Chieftain competitions, social nights and above all a monster £100 draw became the staple diet of club members. The foot-slogging continued through 1987 and 1988 and the final year of the decade brought the realization of the dream with the commencement of the building project and later with the opening of the new court in July of that year.
charge in the 90s
Deirtear gur maith an t-ancaire an t-iarta [It is said that the hearth is a good anchor] – and so it was. While the groundwork had undoubtedly been laid in the Maynooth court, the new facilities provided the catalyst for an extraordinary surge of success at juvenile level in the 90s, particularly in the case of the girls. A Community Games title in 1990 set the stage for major national achievement and the first All-Ireland Titles arrived in 1991 with the Wrynn sisters, Anna and Cliona, taking the U14 and U15 40x20 championships respectively. In the same year, the pairing of Anna Wrynn and Phelim Cribbin won the inaugural Gael Linn competition. This was followed by a catalogue of further wins at national level, both in All-Ireland competition and in Féile na nGael and Community Games. In addition to the Wrynns, names such as McGee, Burke, Healy, Leahy and Lennon now featured prominently at the highest levels of the girls' game and All-Ireland Final programmes of the time rarely failed to include a Leixlip entry.
These achievements were buttressed by an extensive coaching programme with the tireless commitment of schoolteacher Donal Fallon ensuring a continuing flow of raw material from the local national schools. Success at national level for the boys proved more difficult to come by but that milestone was duly reached in 1996 with a Féile title under the captaincy of Sean Ó Fallúin. In the same year, the international flag was raised for the new generation of Leixlip handballers when Anna Wrynn won the USHA under 19 title in California.
Front from left: Vinny Wrynn, Joe Rossiter, Martin Moran.
Back from left: John Kilgannon, Tony Monaghan and Willie McGee.
While youth coaching was the major focus of club activity it was by no means the only one and this period was one of exceptional energy on very many fronts. Adult competition at club and county level was very vibrant and a particular feature of the time was the extent to which general club membership became involved in the on-court action. This included many of the ladies who had little or no background in the game and indeed it is a tribute to their tenacity that two of their number, Anne Henry and Mary Nugent, won an O-30 All-Ireland title in 1992 and followed this with individual titles a year later. Meanwhile, further successes at national and international level continued to flow. Sue Carey added no less than another World Open Doubles title to her collection as our top young players began to make their mark in premier adult competition. Many of the seniors moved on to excel in the age-based competitions with Joe Rossiter providing the outstanding achievement in capturing Silver Masters Titles in both singles and doubles in 1995. The club also spread its wings in the administrative sense and a great many of its officials took on key responsibilities at county and national level with Pat Ryan being particularly generous in his commitment in this respect. It was not entirely surprising therefore that the range and quality of this activity was acknowledged at the National Award level in 1995 with Vinny Wrynn being the recipient of the Club Person of the Year award and the club receiving a Club Merit award.
Presentation Ceremony in the Clubhouse in July 1992
Notwithstanding these achievements and the range of playing and administrative activity, the decade of the 90s will stand out for another reason entirely. The National Handball Marathon was conceived and organized by the club in 1992 as a major fundraising project for the National Childrens' Hospital in Crumlin. This was the brain-child of club member, Martin Moran, and under his leadership a club committee organized and oversaw an enormous network of fundraising activity throughout the length and breadth of the country and indeed overseas, which culminated in a 24-hour handball marathon in all the centres involved. This effort raised a sum of £106,000 – an enormous amount at that time. Great credit is due to everyone involved in this extraordinary achievement – but credit especially to handball people throughout the country who rallied to the cause with wonderful generosity.
From left: Anna Wrynn, Eimear Ní Fhallúin,
Sinéad Gallogly and Fiona Healy.
Since the establishment of the club, great emphasis had always been placed on quality youth coaching, directed particularly at skills development. This emphasis is reflected not only in the competitive successes already referred to but more especially in the success rate in specifically skills based competition. The Féile na nGael record in this respect is outstanding with a continuing flow of skills champions from the early nineties. It is an achievement of which the club is justly proud.
at the Inaugural National Awards Ceremony for 1995
But there were summits still to conquer. An All- Ireland Boys' title had still eluded the club and the new millennium brought this long awaited breakthrough when Paul Moran triumphed at U15 level in 2000. National and International success continued with young prodigy, Eimear Ní Fhallúin, leading the way with a catalogue of All-Ireland and World titles between the years 2000 and 2003 and with Sinéad Gallogly and Angela Lyons also achieving very significant successes.
Eimear Ní Fhallúin and Paul Moran
More recently, another peak was scaled when emerging talent, Niall O'Connor, won the most prized and fiercely fought-for National juvenile title of all, the Boy's Under 14 Singles All-Ireland 40x20, in 2007. Prior to that he had established his credentials with successive wins in Féile Skills and FBD Nationals and he followed it in 2008 with an All-Ireland U15 title in 60x30.
Handballer of the Year Award for 2002
These successes of the latest generation were more than adequately complemented by continuing achievement at adult level, the most significant of which came early in the decade when the partnership of Fiona Healy and Anna Wrynn swept both Senior All-Ireland Doubles titles in 2002. Anna also added the Senior Singles 60x30 title and had the honour of being named Ladies Player of the Year. Paul Moran confirmed his high ranking with successes at senior level in the Irish Nationals and the old guard was well represented by John O'Neill who took a well deserved title in the Emerald Masters Grade.
medal from President-Elect Tony Hannon in 2007
While the range of playing activity has slackened somewhat in recent years the prospects for the future are positive. No longer ‘wired to the moon' as a prominent member once put it, a major focus now is on consolidating the club's position as a significant presence in the social and community life of Leixlip and the surrounding area. The profile of Leixlip handball seems securely established on the wider national scene; the club court is used extensively as a venue for provincial and national competition and has also hosted international events, strong linkages have been nurtured with clubs and communities throughout the country and a highly respectable record of service to the game in its widest sense has already been established.
From left: Hannah Dagg, Áine O'Keeffe,
Doireann McNamara, Rebecca Timmins and Amy McGrane
But there is a recognition that the home base must always be secure and, significantly, the club's anniversary programme highlights the importance of assessing and renewing both the vision and the structures for the future. A first step has already been taken in this respect with the development of a series of operating principles which will be the template for all club activity, both within and outside the handball court. These principles cover both the working culture of the club – basically how the club does its business – and the broader issues to do with respecting the game, such as sportsmanship, transmission of values and above all about creating an environment where the young people of Leixlip will find it worthwhile and self-enhancing to play the game. This also requires that the club continue to develop a strong sense of representing its community, a pride in the jersey and with that, a robust and healthy competitive instinct.
the One Wall Nationals, 2009 from Uachtarán Comhairle
Liathróid Láimhe na hÉireann, Tony Hannon
Much remains to be done and it will be the challenge of club leadership to create and sustain a culture – and change it where necessary – that will enable the club to continue to grow and prosper and in so doing enrich the game and the community that supports it. It is a challenge worth taking on.
Footnote: This account does not make reference to all national/international winners – the intention was to provide a reasonably detailed picture of the origin and the development of the club through, among other things, reference to key events and milestone achievements over the 25 years of its existence. A full list of all champions at county, national and international level is available in the Roll of Honour section on this site.
