Ballintleva Handball Alley, Co. Roscommon

The handball alley at Ballintleva, County Roscommon is undoubtedly the most modern monument selected to be part of this scheme. Though it was constructed relatively recently in the 1930s, the structure is of great social and community significance. Ballintleva handball alley was a community focal point for generations until it was deemed unsafe recently. The community group wants to revive the long standing tradition of using the handball abbey as it had once been a very popular sport both here and across Ireland. Handball is similar to squash, where players would use their bare hand or fist to strike a ball against a wall in such a way that the opponent could not return the shot.

Ballintleva Handball Alley was Adopted by Ballintleva National School Board of Management

The handball alley is situated beside the local national school and it has been adopted by Ballintleva National School Board of Management which aims to conserve the monument for future generations. In 2016, the Adopt a Monument Scheme helped the community to engage a conservation architect who completed a report regarding works required to make the structure safe.  The structures restoration will help to reintroduce handball to the school and to encourage children to engage in this healthy outdoor activity.

“We are delighted, at local level, to make our mark in keeping our heritage alive.”

Martina Tully, Ballintleva National School Board of Management

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