Construction of Collooney handball court begins
 The eagerly awaited start to the new Collooney handball 40 x 20 court finally began on Monday last August 12th The Club has been in existence since 1928. The then Chairman Alfie Higgins a signal man on the Midland Railway and WP McElroy and Secretary approached the land owners the Cooper Family of Markree Castle who kindly donated a plot of ground on the Fairgreen. At the official opening in 1928 Joe & Paddy Bergin who had local connections and were residing in Tipperary played Jim Hunt & Eddie Perry from Sligo. Others who played included Joe Lane, Guard Cunnion from Ballintogher, Jim & Mickey O’Rourke from Ballisodare. In 1996/97 the height of the walls was extended to 27ft and the installing of a new floor. Dressing rooms were added in 1999.The old galvanised roof was replaced in 2001 with a modern roof. With the added facilities Collooney hosted many Connacht handball championships matches and a number of All-Ireland semi-finals & finals. Fundraising for the new handball court began in 2008 with tickets sales bringing in €13,000 initially. In August of 2009 Andy Healy (a Sligo native) President of the Boston Sligo Association handed over $2,000 to the club following a St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser in Boston to club officials in Collooney handball club. Most recently the Club was grateful to receive €50,000 from the Department of Arts Sports & Tourism in January. The Club have
taken a loan out of €76,000 from “Clan Credo and the money is being paid back
by two sources of revenue the Bingo and from the club members themselves who
put in €5 every week. The club welcomes anyone who is willing to
contribute to the project to come on board. The bingo will be running for
3 years in September each Thursday night and is successful to date |
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