Survey Data
Reg No
21834010
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Social, Technical
Original Use
Handball alley
In Use As
Handball alley
Date
1930 - 1970
Coordinates
112591, 135155
Date Recorded
03/09/2009
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Freestanding former handball alley, built c. 1950. Having rendered enclosing walls to sides (south-east, north-east, south-west). Concrete paved court. Earthen bank and stone-faced abutments rear (north-west). Situated to the north-east of Athea, overlooking the River Galey.
Appraisal
A fine example of a twentieth-century handball alley that utilised the versatile material of concrete in its construction. The structure is situated, due in part to its large scale, on the outskirts of town. The sport of handball was once a very popular activity with handball alleys springing up around the country leading to many social events. Often overlooked, handball alleys are becoming an increasingly rare feature within the Irish landscape as they fall into disuse. This alley occupies a picturesque location overlooking the attractive River Galey.