Member Profile: IOHA

Sep 30, 2013

Background/History:  

Established in 1975, the IOHA is recognised by the Irish Sports Council, Olympic Council of Ireland, the European Handball Federation and the International Handball Federation as the sole governing body for the sport of Olympic handball in Ireland.

Number of Clubs:  10 and growing fast

gathering eventNumber of Participants:

  • Primary School 3,500+
  • Secondary Schools 800+
  • Adults  280+

2012 Highlights:

  • EHF Referee Course lead by Allan Lund
  • IOHA Hosted a Mummy and Me day in UCD for beginners to increase women’s partitication in handball.
  • Irelands first ever European Qualifiers – EHF Euro 2014 Qualification Phase 1 Ireland played Romania, Israel & Belgium
  • IOHA signed up to EHF Foster Program – Denmark to help develop the level of handball in Ireland.
  • Girls National team played in Sweeden in the Partille cup in June.
  • Champions league winners 2010-11 Barcalona’s  B team came over to Ireland to play in a pre season tournament hosted by the IOHA.
  • IOHA win CocaCola “Thank You Fund” to fund street handball project

grils team in scotland2013 Highlights (so far):

  • Ireland Hosted Belguim and Estonia in euro qualifiers in DCU in early April.
  • The IOHA hosted a gathering tournament for men and ladies that seen teams from England and Germany take part in September 2013
  • Irish club Lughnasa, took part in a girls tournament in Scotland hosted by Edinburgh Handball Club

What are the key events for IOHA in 2013/2014?

  • On Oct 25th & 26th, Lisburn will host a schools handball day and a tournament for men’s and ladies for being the European City of sport for 2013
  • Street handball Event for colleges 13th Oct in ITB Blanchardstown.
  • Referee course EHF Nov 15th-17th for school teachers and club members
  • The IOHA has signed up to enter an under 18 girls team for the 2014 european open that will take place from the 30th of june to the 6th of july.
  • The IOHA will host the European Handball Federation congress in Septetember at the Clyde court hotel.

irish mens team gatheringHow can people get involved in Olympic Handball?

Contact us on Facebook/Twitter/website or send us an email at ioha@olympichandball.org

Social Media Channel Links:

http://www.olympichandball.org

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Irish-Olympic-Handball-Association/130456927021610

https://twitter.com/IrelandHandball

Any interesting facts or statistics for inclusion in our Fact File

Many people mix up Olympic handball with GAA Handball, what we say to people is we have “big balls no walls” famous words from Tom Ó Brannagáin.