Handball Open in Edinburgh was fantastic fun for all ages

A GREAT day’s play of handball was had recently at Broughton High School in Edinburgh, with some brilliant skills on display too.

The fifth code of the GAA is fast-paced, fun and strategic and the event buzzed with excitement. There was immense enjoyment on the day for those playing for the first time as youngsters or as more experienced novices with the skill challenges.

In the Men’s Open, Willie Quaile of Coolboy Handball Club defeated Thomas McCurtains’ Fionn Ó Súilleabháin in a clinical display.

It was revenge for the Wicklow man for an earlier reverse in the group stages and it saw him crowned the Scottish Men’s Champion for 2026.

The Men’s B saw Gort na Mona’s Aoibheann Muldoon-McGurk defeat the hometown player John Dolan of Dunedin Connollys. Aoibheann’s serving and ability to end a rally on her terms also saw her claim the Women’s Open title too.

It was an all-Edinburgh derby to end the Men’s C with Barry Owens defeating Dunedin clubmate Christy Looby to claim bragging rights for the rest of the year. Though Christy was not without a winner’s medal as he claimed the Over-60s title by seeing off Abbeylara’s Ollie O’Sullivan in a tightly-contested technical final.

“Thank you to the organisers and volunteers who made the day possible,” a spokesperson from Thomas McCurtains London Handball said. “We had players from the ages of six to 67 turn up with I think represents the greatest age span of competitive Gaelic games at the one location in Britain this year!”