A Powerful Season Closes with Triumph, Transition, and the Call for True Leadership

The 2024–2025 Olympic Handball season in Ireland concluded this weekend with a thrilling double fixture between the two top-performing clubs — Dublin City Handball and Dublin International. These final matches were more than just contests for medals; they were a celebration of talent, determination, and the evolving spirit of the game in Ireland.

Silver and Gold: Highlights from the Court

In the women’s match, Dublin City Handball secured a hard-earned victory over Dublin International, claiming the silver medal after a consistent and passionate season. The championship title and gold medal went to Astra Handball Club, who led the table from start to finish with dominant performances and strong team cohesion.

In the men’s match, Dublin International once again demonstrated why they are one of the most respected teams in Irish handball. Their win over Dublin City confirmed their position at the top of the league and earned them the gold medal. Dublin City Handball, with another strong campaign, took the silver medal, further proving their sustained excellence in the sport.

A particularly remarkable achievement stands out: Dublin City Handball is the only club in recent years to win medals in both the men’s and women’s leagues — a true testament to their commitment, structure, and high-performance culture.

As the legendary coach John Wooden once said, “Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” This season, Dublin City Handball has shown not just skill, but also resilience, respect, and balance across all levels of the club.

A Medal Ceremony Worthy of the Sport

This season’s medal ceremony marked a welcome return to tradition — held in the hall, in the presence of players, supporters, and officials. The event was well-organised, and once again, Dublin International showed great professionalism by creating an uplifting and respectful celebration of the sport and its people.

The presence of the federation president at the ceremony was noted and appreciated as a gesture of recognition for the efforts of clubs, players, and fans. However, important questions remain regarding the legitimacy of how this leadership has been maintained.

Good Governance: A Cornerstone of Sports Integrity

While the president eventually called for elections — after two full terms without one — concerns had already been raised by several clubs regarding the lack of transparency and democratic fairness in the process. Even when the elections were finally organised, the conditions effectively prevented any other candidates from participating, resulting in an uncontested and predetermined outcome.

In the world of sport, good governance is as essential as fair play. According to the International Olympic Committee, governance in sport must be “characterised by transparency, democratic processes, accountability, and inclusiveness.”¹

If such restrictions were applied in a national election — where potential candidates were barred from standing — the process would be considered undemocratic. The same standards must apply to our sporting institutions. Leadership must be earned through open competition, not preserved through procedural control.

A Positive Note on Refereeing — and a Caution

For the final matchday, the association appointed one qualified and neutral referee — a move that was both welcomed and appropriate for a fixture of this importance. Although the final league positions were mostly decided, choosing fair and neutral referees still showed respect for all the teams and the game itself.

Unfortunately, this same standard was not upheld earlier in the season, when refereeing in several key matches raised serious concerns. These decisions may have influenced final placements, and such inconsistencies risk undermining the sport’s integrity. Fair and professional refereeing must be the rule throughout the entire season — not just at the end.

In Closing

We extend our congratulations to all players, coaches, and clubs for their dedication, sportsmanship, and passion throughout the 2024–2025 season. As Nelson Mandela once said:“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people.”

We sincerely hope the association will carry this message forward — with wisdom and vision — to guide the continued development of handball in Ireland.

We will be here to watch build a sport that is competitive, inclusive, transparent, and fair — both on and off the court.

We look forward to a new season!