Handball & Camogie Memories

"Paddy O'Shaughnessy, local publican and public representative, from Delvin, Co. Westmeath has been synonymous with Handball in Westmeath since 1941. He played in and hosted an Annual Handball Tournament in Delvin for over 50 years and was awarded a plaque in Croke Park for running the longest Handball Tournament in Ireland. He also travelled to USA in 1964 as Coach & Trainer with the Irish Team of Joey Maher & Des Dillon. After the tournament was over, he was challenged to a game against one of the winners of the world handball title, and much to his delight an all the players, won the match. Photo enclosed shows Paddy been presented the World Handball jersey by the President of The World Handball Association in N.Y. Along with his amazing handball feats, he also won a Camogie Medal in 1937 in the Longford Championships, while dressed as a GIRL, and scored 4 goals in the game. He said he could not speak during the game as he would give the game away and he was delighted to get his County Medal. It wasn't until months later, his identity was discovered. He was very proud of his camogie medal and it held pride of place in his Medal Cabinet in his bar in Delvin, Co. Westmeath along with his County Hurling and Handball Medals. All the greats of Handball played in Paddy's Tournament down the years, Pat Kirby, Joey Maher, Ryan Brothers, Gilmore Brothers, Duxy Walsh, D.J. Carey etc. etc. "