All-Ireland Handball Champions from Swinford District
Compiled by Fr Martin Jennings
Handball championships as we know them in recent years were orgainised on a regular basis with an increasing number of grades since the foundation of The Irish Handball Council in 1924. Before that the game was professional, and games were played for considerable size of purses. In the early 1900s Dick Mc Nulty was the leading handball Champion in Connacht for a number of years.
Batty Carney
In the early 1900s , according to a western people comment, Batty Carney, (from back street, now dublin road) was regarded as a World Handball Champion. The date of his victory, or the venue, is not given.
Billy Durkin
Billy won three All-Ireland Colleges' Senior Softball Doubles in 1934 with Tim Laffey, Toomore, 1935 and 1936 with Matt Marren, Cloongoonagh, Aclare.
Paddy Bolingbroke (1931-1989)
Paddy Bolingbroke
All-Ireland Minor Softball Doubles 1949 (with Kevin Swords, Charlestown)
Junior Hardball Singles 1964
Junior Softball Singles 1964 (According to Steve Casey, Mervue, Galway, who was Connacht Handball secretary for many years in comhairle Liathróid Láimhe Connacht 1884-1984 Handball History)
All-Ireland Senior Hardball Doubles 1965, 1966, and 1967 (with Peader Mc Gee, Newport)
Connacht Titles
Minor Doubles 1949 (with Kevin Swords Charlestown)
Junior Softball Doubles 1961 (with Mickey Walsh Charlestown)
Junior Hardball Doubles 1962 (with Mickey Walsh Charlestown)
Junior Softball Singles 1963
Junior Softball Singles 1964
Junior Hardball Singles 1964
Senior Softball Singles 1965
Senior Softball Doubles 1965 ( with Peadar Mc Gee, Newport)
Senior Hardball Doubles 1965 (with Peadar Mc Gee, Newport)
Senior Hardball Doubles 1966 (with Peadar Mc Gee, Newport)
Senior Hardball Doubles 1967 (with Peadar Mc Gee Newport)
Junior Hardball Singles 1964
Junior Softball Singles 1964 (According to Steve Casey, Mervue, Galway, who was Connacht Handball secretary for many years in comhairle Liathróid Láimhe Connacht 1884-1984 Handball History)
All-Ireland Senior Hardball Doubles 1965, 1966, and 1967 (with Peader Mc Gee, Newport)
Connacht Titles
Minor Doubles 1949 (with Kevin Swords Charlestown)
Junior Softball Doubles 1961 (with Mickey Walsh Charlestown)
Junior Hardball Doubles 1962 (with Mickey Walsh Charlestown)
Junior Softball Singles 1963
Junior Softball Singles 1964
Junior Hardball Singles 1964
Senior Softball Singles 1965
Senior Softball Doubles 1965 ( with Peadar Mc Gee, Newport)
Senior Hardball Doubles 1965 (with Peadar Mc Gee, Newport)
Senior Hardball Doubles 1966 (with Peadar Mc Gee, Newport)
Senior Hardball Doubles 1967 (with Peadar Mc Gee Newport)
Matt Groake
1968, Matt Groake (with Mickey Walsh, Charlestown) won the over 40s Tailteann Games.
Gus Daly (Swinford and later Belmullet)
1977, (with Mickey Walsh, Charlestown) won Golden Masters Softball Doubles
1978, All-Ireland Golden Masters Doubles (with Mickey Walsh, Charlestown)
1979, All-Ireland Golden Masters Doubles (with Mickey Walsh, Charlestown)
1982, All-Ireland Golden Masters Doubles (40 x 20) with Mickey Walsh, Charlestown
1982, All-Ireland Golden Masters Doubles (60 x 30) with Mickey Walsh, Charlestown
1978, All-Ireland Golden Masters Doubles (with Mickey Walsh, Charlestown)
1979, All-Ireland Golden Masters Doubles (with Mickey Walsh, Charlestown)
1982, All-Ireland Golden Masters Doubles (40 x 20) with Mickey Walsh, Charlestown
1982, All-Ireland Golden Masters Doubles (60 x 30) with Mickey Walsh, Charlestown
Kevin Geraghty
1973, All-Ireland Colleges Team Event : Senior Doubles Softball
1974, All-Ireland Colleges Team Event : Senior Doubles Softball
1974, All-Ireland Colleges Team Event : Senior Singles Softball
1984, Novice Singles 40 x 20
2006, Golden Masters A Singles 40 x 20
2007, Golden Masters A Singles 40 x 20
2007, Golden Masters A Doubles 40 x 20, (with Martin Cronin, Killala)
2007, Golden Masters A Singles Softball
2007, Golden Masters A Doubles Softball, (with Martin Cronin, Killala)
2007, Masters Hardball Singles
2007, FBD Irish Nationals: Golden Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2008, Emerald Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2008, Emerald Masters A Singles Softball
2008, FBD Irish Nationals: Golden Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2009, Emerald Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2009, Emerald Masters A Singles Softball
2009, FBD Irish Nationals: Golden Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2010, Emerald Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2010, Emerald Masters A Singles Softball
2010, FBD Irish Nationals: Golden Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2012, World Emerald Masters A Doubles 40 x 20 (with
1974, All-Ireland Colleges Team Event : Senior Doubles Softball
1974, All-Ireland Colleges Team Event : Senior Singles Softball
1984, Novice Singles 40 x 20
2006, Golden Masters A Singles 40 x 20
2007, Golden Masters A Singles 40 x 20
2007, Golden Masters A Doubles 40 x 20, (with Martin Cronin, Killala)
2007, Golden Masters A Singles Softball
2007, Golden Masters A Doubles Softball, (with Martin Cronin, Killala)
2007, Masters Hardball Singles
2007, FBD Irish Nationals: Golden Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2008, Emerald Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2008, Emerald Masters A Singles Softball
2008, FBD Irish Nationals: Golden Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2009, Emerald Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2009, Emerald Masters A Singles Softball
2009, FBD Irish Nationals: Golden Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2010, Emerald Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2010, Emerald Masters A Singles Softball
2010, FBD Irish Nationals: Golden Masters A Singles (40 x 20)
2012, World Emerald Masters A Doubles 40 x 20 (with
Martin Hennigan
1979, All-Ireland Novice Singles 40 x 20
1979, All-Ireland Novice Doubles 40 x 20 (with M Mc Donnell)
1980, Novice Singles Softball
1980, Junior Doubles 40 x 20 (with Murt Sweeney)
1983, Atlas Trip to USHA Championships to compete in Senior Singles and Doubles in Baltimore, USA
1984, Senior Singles 40 x 20
1984, GAA Centenary Cup, Senior Singles
1984, "Top Ace" (RTé Televised programme) Senior Singles 40 x 20
1984, Atlas Trip to USHA Championships to compete in Senior Singles and Doubles with Tony Ryan in Tucson, USA
1979, All-Ireland Novice Doubles 40 x 20 (with M Mc Donnell)
1980, Novice Singles Softball
1980, Junior Doubles 40 x 20 (with Murt Sweeney)
1983, Atlas Trip to USHA Championships to compete in Senior Singles and Doubles in Baltimore, USA
1984, Senior Singles 40 x 20
1984, GAA Centenary Cup, Senior Singles
1984, "Top Ace" (RTé Televised programme) Senior Singles 40 x 20
1984, Atlas Trip to USHA Championships to compete in Senior Singles and Doubles with Tony Ryan in Tucson, USA
Eugene Maloney
2012 Emerald Masters B Doubles 40 x 20 (with Michael Munnelly)
Michael Munnelly
2012 Emerald Masters B Doubles 40 x 20 (with Eugene Maloney
Oliver Cassidy
All-Ireland Second Level Schools' Championship
2004, Junior B Singles 40 x 20
2004, Junior B Doubles 40 x 20
2006, Third Level Colleges Men's A Plate (Representing ITT)
2004, Junior B Singles 40 x 20
2004, Junior B Doubles 40 x 20
2006, Third Level Colleges Men's A Plate (Representing ITT)
Pauline Gallagher
Pauline's achievments at intermediate, senior and open grades include; intermediate 40 x 20 singles and doubles finalist in 2012; senior 60 x 30 doubles Champion 2011; World collegiate 40 x 20 open doubles Champion 2011; Irish one wall team - Italian Federation Plate in 2010; one wall national open finalist in 2010; World Championship 40 x 20 'A' finalist in 2009; Eleven All-Ireland Medals in singles and three doubles; six runner-up All Ireland medals; Irish Junior team representive 2006 with two junior national titles, as well as numerous county and provencial titles from juvenile level to the present.
2012 Pauline won World Gold Ladies Junior A Singles 40 x 20 at the World Handball Championship in Citywest Dublin.
2012 Pauline won World Gold Ladies Junior A Singles 40 x 20 at the World Handball Championship in Citywest Dublin.
Jennifer Fahey
Jennifer's achievements at junior B grade include; junior B 40 x 20 2012 finalist; two All-Ireland single medals Under 15 all Ireland singles 40 x 20 & 60 x 30; eight interprovincial medals on Connaught girls team from 2006-2011, national finalist 40 x 20 doubles, as well as numerous county and provincial titles. Jennifer has also recently won All-Ireland junior ladies B singles 60x30.
Kevin Fahey
Kevin won diamond All-Ireland masters B singles 60x30 2012
Kevin won diamond All-Ireland masters B Doubles 60 x 30 2012 (with Gus Heraty)
Kevin won diamond All-Ireland masters B Doubles 60 x 30 2012 (with Gus Heraty)