The revival of GAA Handball in Limerick inner city was formally recognized last weekend when both Donal Hayes and Ger Downes were honored with a Special Achievement All Star award from the Munster GAA Handball council presented at the National GAA Handball's Gala All star awards in Croke Park. Both Hayes and Downes have been credited with reviving the game from near extinction when both started as Development officers employed through the Limerick Regeneration agencies and Limerick GAA, a programme which was initiated just two and a half years ago. It is presently estimated that close on 1500 children are actively playing GAA Handball in the city week in, week out. Reviving the game was not a straightforward task but came through hard work and excellent co-operation from the primary and secondary schools in the city. "We just started coaching in a number of schools in the inner city and the game just exploded" explained Donal Hayes. "We just couldn't believe it, kids were mad for it and what we saw was players who had a very natural talent and love for the game" he continued. There are seventeen schools, both primary and secondary, in the city all of which receive handball coaching at some stage during the school year and three schools blitzes are run then as part of the coaching programme, one at Christmas, Easter and just before the summer holidays. "We have two new Handball clubs in the city, one which was formed in July 2010 out of An Mhodh scoil in O Connell Avenue, a place where two of the oldest alleys are in the city are situated and the other club was formed in Southill out of the Area centre which is home to a 40X20 alley and that was in February of this year, we are hopeful through the continuing excellent work of Gavin O Mahony and Pat Murphy that we will have another new club in the Northside of the city early next year" said Regeneration GAA officer Ger Downes. The success of the game in the city has received national television airtime with the GAA Handball Showdown programme featuring the story on its weekly slot on TG4 earlier this year with action and interviews from the key teachers and supporters of the initiative along with both Donal Hayes and Ger Downes. "Its been a great journey and one in which there has been many milestones and great achievements along the way, but to receive this special achievement All Star is excellent recognition of the work of not alone Ger and myself or Pat and Gavin have done or are doing, but a recognition of all the great efforts that have been made by the teachers and players over the last 2 and a half years and long may that continue", concluded Hayes. Tweet

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