The
Parish of Ballymacelligott and the game of Handball have, throughout the past
five decades, been inseparably linked. It all began in 1950 when Fr. Denis
Griffin C.C. organised voluntary labour to build a handball court on land
provided by the late Mr. Jimmy McEllistrim. The court was an open 60
X 30 four walled structure with a gallery which had accommodation for 200 spectators.
From its earliest years it became a popular venue for Inter-County Championship
games. In the sixties annd seventies, Ballymac's fame in handball circles rivalled
such venues as Talbot's Inch, Croke Park, Ballymore Eustace, Tuamgraney, Ballymote
and Kells. A major advance was achieved in 1968 when the court was roofed and
so ended our worries about the vagaries of the weather. Yet another milestone
was reached in 1976 when a new International Regulation Size 40 X 20 court was
added.
The greatest handballers of the era graced the Ballymac courts, cheered on by
thronged galleries. Let me mention a few:- Joe Bergin, Joe Hassett, Paddy Downey,
Jimmy O'Brien, Joey Maher, Paddy Hickey, Tom and Pat McGarry, Martin Mullins,
Peadar McGee, Mickey Walsh, Paddy Bollingbrooke, Joe and Christy Delaney, Pat
Sheeran, The Kirby brothers Mick, Pat, Rip, John and Joe, and Pakie Ryan. All
the above-mentioned were star players but the crowds flocked to the Ballymac
venue, not because of them, but to support the McEllistrim brothers Roundy
and Murty - both of them worthy All Ireland Champions and ranked among the
finest exponents of the game. Roundy was the complete stylist and possessed
every shot in the book. His exploits on and off the court are already enshrined
in folklore. He stands alone in handball history as the only man ever to win
four junior All Irelands in the same year. And none of us who were there will
ever forget his historic Gael Linn Cup win on a memorable night before a packed
Croke Park Gallery. And who could forget the many titanic battles waged by Roundy
and Murty which yielded All Ireland senior titles and Tailteann Games awards.
Murty may not have Roundy's range of shots but his agility on the court, allied
to his never-say-die spirit, made him a very difficult opponent to beat. In
addition to his numerous victories as a member of the McEllistrim duo, Murty
went on to partner another great player, Nicholas Kerins, to All Ireland
glory, and his many memorable tussles with Joey Maher were unforgettable. Remember
too that it was Murty who brought the first All Ireland handball medal to
Ballymac when as a frail youngster he beat Sligo star Marcus Henry in a
Minor All Ireland final
. If the McEllistrims were the trailblazers, several others followed in their
footsteps and wore the green and gold with distinction in handball courts throughout
the length and breadth of Ireland. Let us start with the O'Connor brothers,
Thomas, Sean, Michael and Brendan. Then we had J.P. and Kelly Leen, Tony O'Doherty,
J.J Bonn, James O'Connor, Michael Leen, Denis Dunne and Murty McEllistrim's
sons Seamus, Don and Kevin.
We remember too the great contribution made by our girls to Ballymac's handball
success. I refer to the Twomey sisters, Marie, Shiela, Eileen and
Deirdre, Siobhan Leen, Joan Hanafin and the O'Doherty sisters, Aine and Marian.
The all-round strength of handball in Ballymac was proved beyond doubt in 1975
when Roundy and Murty McEllistrim teamed up with Nicholas Kerins and the Leen
brothers, J.P. and Kelly to win the All Ireland Club Championship, beating the
renowned Kilkenny club, Talbot's Inch in the final. Ballyporeen was the venue
on that memorable occasion. It was indeed my good fortune and privelege to have
been Kerry Board Chairman during Ballymac's greatest years. At this point we
would like to pay tribute to many others who contributed handsomely to Ballymac's
handball story. In this context we list Georgie Groves, Dick McEllistrim, Bill
Laide, Christy Redmond and Michael O'Sullivan.
There were, of course, many others who got and gave a great deal of enjoyment
in the ballcourts of Ballymac and they will be remembered for their contributions
to the game of handball which they kept alive through good times and bad. Behind
the scenes, several others served us well down the years. The late Tom O'Connor's
contribution was immense. Indeed, but for 'Foxy Tom', the local club would have
gone out of existence. Others we remember are Fr. O'Donoghue, who blessed the
courts at the inaugural opening, Fr. Kissane, Jack McEllistrim, Mick Falvey,
Seamus Byrnes, Tom McEllistrim T.D., Michael Lynch, Jerry Savage, Paddy Groves,
Thomas Dowling and very many others. Let me at this juncture pay tribute to
another group of people.
Some years ago the game was at a very low ebb in Ballymacelligott. It was then
that Brendy Bonn and Tom Leen and their families did trojan work. Through the
good offices of Tom McEllistrim T.D., they applied for and obtained a grant
to repair the roof and put down a new floor in the 40 X 20 court. On the day
of the re-openinng of the refurbished courts, a number of games were played,
with the reigning All Ireland Champion, Duxie Walsh of Kilkenny playing
Mickie Walsh of Roscommon in an exhibition match. The crowds flocked to the
alley once more to see the champions in action, and particularly to support
Roundy McEllistrim, who came out of retirement for the occasion. The old champion
did not let them down. Though a little stiffer and a little greyer than of old,
he treated spectators to a great display of all that is best in the game. The
crowd loved it and cheered his every shot. And when he killed the ball 'stone
dead' like of yore, it was like old times as the gallery 'lifted the roof'.