Court legend Martin to enter the Hall of Fame
Swinford's Martin Hennigan remains a legendary figure in the sport of handball for his achievements in the 1980s.
He has won what no other Mayo man has won before or since, and to this day the achievements of Martin Hennigan on the handball court mark him down as one of the greatest players the game in this country has ever seen.
A native of Cloonfinish near Swinford, Martin enjoyed a handball career that brought success at the very highest levels of the sport both in Ireland and the US.
As a 22-year-old in 1979, he won his first All-Ireland Novice 40x20 singles and doubles titles, and the Novice 60x30 singles, and stepped up a grade to add the All-Ireland Junior 40x20 doubles the following year. It was the beginning of a near total domination of the sport by Martin in the 1980s with victories on both the 40x20 and 60x30 courts.
By 1984, Martin had reached the senior ranks and it was there where he truly made history. That same year he captured both the All-Ireland Senior 40x20 singles title and the prestigious All-Ireland Senior 40x20 Centenary singles title, before defending his senior singles title in 1985.
His success, however, was not confined to Irish courts. In 1983, Hennigan won the Senior 40x20 Atlas Championship, earning him the right to represent Ireland at the USA National Championships in Baltimore. He returned in 1984 to compete in Tucson, Arizona. That same year, he achieved his crowning glory, which was becoming the first Irish handballer to win the RTÉ 40x20 Top Ace Championship.
The Top Ace, a televised competition launched in 1973, pitted Ireland’s best handballers against America’s professionals. Until Martin Hennigan’s triumph, every title had been previously claimed by the Americans. His victory broke the USA’s dominance of the competition and it remains one of the defining moments in Irish handball history.
A journey that began in Cloonfinish handball alley, where he spent every free moment sharpening his skills, Martin’s story is one of raw talent, relentless dedication and courage, which carried him through to conquer the ancient game at the very highest level.
To this day, Martin Hennigan remains the only Mayo man to have won the All-Ireland senior singles handball championship in the most prestigious 40x20 division.
In breaking sporting barriers and rewriting history, he lifted the people of Mayo and proved what can be achieved when ambition meets hard work. His inspiring sporting achievements were previously recognised with four Western People Mayo Sports Star Awards for Handball, in 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1985, with his induction now to the Hall of Fame truly recognising Martin as one of Mayo’s sporting greats.
