Cumann Liathroid Laimhe Bhearna

22/05/2026

****NEW HANDBALL PROMO' SIGN IN PLACE****

Our new handball promo' sign is now in place, and we think it look's fab!! We are mainly aiming at the 8-16yr old's, as we try to rebuild the proud history of handball in the parish. If your son or daughter is interested in learning to play this wonderful ancient sport, please get in touch, and we will fill you in on the detail's. CONTACT DETAIL'S BELOW.

Our coaching session's (during the school day), are continuing, and appear to be quite popular with all four classe's - 3rd - 6th.

The school's competition, for the OSMAN TISANI (Blackeen Bhearna), shield, is progressing quite slowly, but we are getting there. We will issue a revised date for the final's, as soon as we have confirmation of the last eight - both boy's and girl's.

Finally, over the past couole of year's, we have been contacted by numerous handbal player's of the past, and the latest one to get in touch, was former Kilkenny legend, and former all-Ireland winner, BILLY BOURKE. Billy passed by the ball alley a couple of week's ago, and it caught his eye. He turned around, and said he spent twenty minute's just looking af it, and was delighted to see it in such good shape, and most importantly, being used, again Billy has taken out a membership, just to help support the work being done, and needless to say, we are most grateful.

ALL ENQUIRIE'S (INC' MEMBERSHIP), TO: [email protected], or call 0872246332

21/05/2026

Annual sports park open day is back by popular demand!!!
June 14th

20/05/2026

***EXCITING IMPROVEMENTS AT THE BALl ALLEY**

A chairde,

During the week, we installed the first of two camera's at the ball alley, hopefully, the other one will be up tomorrow. They are motion activated, and linked to our mobile phone. We also doubled the viewing area, which was badly needed. It is also now much safer, especially fir our younger player's! We also commisioned a new 8'x4' sign, to promote the game amongst the youth of the parish, we hope you like it - if will also be installed in the next day or two. .

More to come, shortly...

30/04/2026

**SCHOOL'S COMPETITION UNDERWAY...AT LAST!!!

After much delay, our school's competition for the OSMAN TISANI (Blackeen Bhearna) trophy, got underway yesterday (Tuesday), in glorious sunshine! The enthusiasm amongst the pupil's, and support for each other was something really special to witness. We hope to conclude the competition as soon as possible, but it is extremely difficult to co-ordinate the three school's in the parish, due to the amount of activitie's, they are involved in at present.

It was also an opportunity to display our new jersey's, which were kindly sponsored by 'CHAMALEON' - Manafacturer's of paint mixer's - and especially to local resident (Pádraic Timon), for making it happen. Mile Biouchas a Pháraic!!

After recently completing the Garda vetting process for both school's, we have begun coaching - during the school day - in both Bunscoil Bhearna, and Scoil na bFhorbacha. The coaching will be for pupil's from Rang a trí to Rang a sé. Rang a trí/ceathar, had their first coaching session, today, and they seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. Hopefully, the coaching will continue [weekly] for the duration of the school term.

A huge THANK YOU to the Teacher's in both school's, for all the support.

23/04/2026

A great opputunity for handball player's of the future!

We are delighted to announce that ATU Galway are on board with GAA Handball and have aligned scoring categories for scholarships student applications for 2026/27 academic year. This allows players from various levels and sports to apply for support while attending higher education and competing at national/international events.

We look forward to working with ATU Galway in the coming months as we pilot the new system, and we would encourage any interested player to get involved.

All details available here: https://www.atu.ie/study/fees-and-funding/scholarships/sports-scholarships
Or contact [email protected] for further info.

Please note, the application process is now open for any NEW students, and will remain open to 6th June (round 2) and 4th October (round 3).
Any Existing students can apply online from 1st May to 4th October.

ATU Sport Galway
ICHA 3rd Level Handball

04/04/2026

****NEW (Jersey) SPONSOR - CHAMELEON****

On Thursday, April 2nd, we welcomed a new sponsor, who have covered the cost of our first batch of club jersey's, and, who will also be supplying a number of eye protection goggles, for our primary school's competition. The Jersey's are being produced, initially, for the last sixteen competitior's - (8 boy's & 8 girl's) - in the primary school's competition, which will hopefully be represented from all three school's in the parish.

A huge Thank you to local resident PADRAIC TIMON, who approached us recently, and offered to help out - on behalf of CHAMELEON - in some way.

We have designed - in conjunction with ATLANTIC PRINT - a Simple logo, that is specific to our local ball alley, in which we take great pride. We hope that the new jersey's will generate more interast in the game of handball, locally, and instill a sence of pride in the pupil's who wear them, and help us in our quest, to eventually form a junior handball club, in the Parish.

We hope to have the jersey's delivered in the next three week's, and display them ahead of the competition.

23/02/2026

A chairde,

We have set a provisional date for our annual 'John Connolly memorial' competition on Sunday April 26th this year. Anyone over 16yr's is eligible, so, if you are interested in entering, please get in touch. We have also set a provisional date for our schools competition, on Sunday April 19th. Both dates will be confirmed at a later date.

The schools competition - for the Osman Tisani/Blackeen Bhearna shield (for Boy's and Girl's) will follow a different format this year, as last year was quite difficult to manage - we learn by our mistake's!! Full details will follow in due course

There has been quite a bit of interest from both school's, and it is great to see many of them already getting in some practise, as it is a brand new sport for all of them, and takes time to learn

Maith sibh go léir!

02/02/2026

A chairde,

As we move in to Spring, we are seeing a little more activity in the handball alley, which is great to see.

We are currently working with our local primary schools, as we prepare to introduce two new classes of pupils to the game of handball. While we will be concentrating mainly on Rang a cúig, and Rang a sé, as we prepare them for the upcoming competition - the Osman Tisani/Blackeen Bhearna shield - in April, we will hopefully be introducing Rang a trí, and Rang a ceather, to the the game of handball, also, as we build for the future.

We will also be holding our annual Adult competition, (16yr's and over), for the 'John Connolly cup', which will be presented to the winner, by his nephew Michael Connolly.

Finally, we have some exciting news, as we hope to have some sponsored 'club' jerseys prepared for the final eight boy's and eight girl's, in the schools competition; more details in the next few weeks.

24/11/2025

Nationwide takes a look at Handball, one of Ireland’s oldest sports. Presented by Anne Cassin. Watch Nationwide 2025-11-21 on RTÉ Player for free

18/11/2025

** BEARNA HANDBALL ON NATIONWIDE**

On friday, November 21st, a feature that was filmed at our local ball alley during the sumner, will be broadcast on the RTE programme 'NATIONEIDE' @ 7pm. A huge THANK YOU to John Kilraine, and his cameraman (Martin), who made the whole event so relaxed, and enjoyable for all involved.

We would also like to thank two local people who have help in no small way, to get us NATIONAL attention - Brendan McDonagh of Salthill Handball club, and Dara Bradley of the City Tribune - for which we are most grateful!

We have already visited two of the three primary schools in the Parish, as we look forward to the 'schools' competition next April. Hopefully, there is a bright future for the game of handball in the Parish.

08/08/2025

We had some unexpected, but very welcome, visitors, to our ballalley this evening. It was quite late (9.30pm) when they made contact with me, but we hope they enjoyed their time with us.

The group, who are here on holidays from Kilkenny, included seven time all-Ireland champion - Paddy Berry. They hope to have another couple of games tomorrow evening, before they head home on Monday.

It is always great to meet handball enthusiasts from different parts of the Country - especially the younger generation.

I look forward to meeting you all tomorrow evening.

Denis O'Dwyer