5 facts of the Irish Olympic Handball

Handball, a sport that nowadays is starting to spread all around Ireland in schools and being very well known by the expats as back in their countries is a top sport played.

It is not the case of Ireland, where sports such as Gaelic football, hurling, Gaelic handball, rounders, basketball, rugby and football are more engrained in traditions than handball.

How much do you know about the history of handball in Ireland?

Here are 5 facts to give you a little insight on the people and events that made what Olympic Handball is today in Ireland.

1. The introduction of this sport was back in 1973 by a Scottish player and teacher, Lidsay Pennycook who was the goalkeeper of the British team and in 1975 the foundation of the Irish Olympic Handball Association started at his initiative.

2. 1980, is the year when Lidsay Pennycook authored the first English language training manual for handball with Robin Sykes, "Olympic Handball, The Complete Training Guide for Teachers and Coaches".

3. In September 1999 at the EHF tournament that took place in Cyprus, the victory over Malta, was the first-ever international match won by the Irish National Team.

4. Tomas O' Brannagain was the Irish captain at the first victory of Ireland over Malta and the leading goalscorer. He was a player, coach of the national team, and the voice of handball for the European Handball Federation having commentated on Champion's League finals across Africa, America, Israel, and Europe.

5. The Irish tradition inside the European Handball Federation, continues with Chris O’Reilly who played for the Irish national team and now is the EHF commentator. He is also a journalist and co-host of (Un)informed Handball Hour podcast.

Did you have any idea of these facts? What surprised you the most?

Our goal is to give a voice to Irish handball stories, past and present, and to share our passion for handball with you.

For all the support shown so far, thank you!