handball alley

Freestanding handball alley, built 1932, having higher wall to north end, sloped east and west walls, and lower wall to south end. Mass concrete staircase leading to viewing platform at south. Roughcast rendered walls, concrete floor. Viewing platform has rendered retaining wall to west. Square-headed door opening with sheet metal door. Smooth rendered walls to interior, with markings painted on walls and floor.

One of the few building types unique to Ireland, along with the spirit grocery and the round tower, handball alleys are important secular social spaces in the rural landscape. Typically of handball alleys, this one was built by the local community, resulting in a functional structure, with no additional decoration. This is a four-walled example, but three-walled ball alleys were also common. The sloped site is utilised to create a viewing platform for spectators, to the south end. Handball tournaments are normally played indoors nowadays, but this ball alley is still in playable condition. Situated near the former pub/shop, and the Roman Catholic church, it forms part of a group of socially important structures to a dispersed rural community.