Paul Brady, the 3 times World Handball champion has not played much Handball in the last few months. Instead, he has been commited to completing his Post Graduate Degree in Education at University London. Saint Paul’s Academy in partnership with Dulwich Harps’s GAA Club who have set up their new Handball club at Saint Paul’s Academy, availed of this opportunity and were able to get Paul to visit the new initiative on several occasions over the last 4 months.
Paul is regarded as the most naturally gifted handballer of his generation. With 3 World championships, 7 All Ireland Senior Championships and 6 US National Champions, he certainly is a modern day sporting icon. All those at Saint Paul’s were delighted and certainly many, in awe of Paul when he came to share his knowledge and experience as well as join in fun with all the Handball enthusiasts.
Last Friday evening, Tom Denning, Dulwich Harps GAA Club underage Chairman welcomed guests and fellow Cavan man Paul to the Handball event. Niall Mc Cann, Chairman of the Handball club organised the event for all existing members and new comers to come along play and meet Paul. It was an excellent evening with as many as 30 young handballers enjoying the spectacle as they played a tournament and then put through their paces with a training session and Master class with the World Champion. The rest of the night was for senior club members who again played several doubles games and concluded the evening by watching Paul play a few exhibition games with representatives from England Handball
It was a glorious evening of GAA sport at its best, an evening that Niall is hoping will help build the club further and reach out to more GAA Gaels across London.
Niall is extremely grateful to Chris Curran and his team at GAA headquarters at Croke Park, Peter Cohen and his colleagues at England Handball, Declan Flanagan PRO London GAA, Hogan stand, The Irish Post and Paddy Cowan and his team at the Irish World for the continued support with this exciting new sport in London.
For further details contact Niall by email on mccannniall@hotmail.com.
