THE Doyle family from Whitecross in Armagh will travel en masse to Canada this weekend, but they are not emigrating for good - just for the duration of the World Handball Championships in Calgary next week, when all four family members will bid for world titles, some for more than one.
“Yes, we will lock up and head off with the rest of the Irish contingent that will be in Calgary with high hopes of success," said James Doyle, father of the travelling party.
"I don’t know if we will be the only family there, but it is nice to go as a family unit with hopes of bringing back some glassware and medals, or whatever will be on offer for the winners.”
They are all one-wallers and this will be James’ sixth World Championship. He and his wife Máiréad Ní Raibhaigh Ó Dúill are probably the only husband and wife pair to have won One-World Singles Championship titles. Máiréad won in Edmonton in 2006, while James won in Portland, Oregon in 2009. Now, they are joined by daughter Cailiosa, who will play in the 13&Under Singles and Doubles, and son Fiachra, who will compete at 11&Under Singles and Doubles levels.
“Unfortunately, none of us won a place on the official Irish team and it is quite an expensive trip but, hopefully, it will be well worth the expense. At any rate, the experience of us all playing in the Wold Championships at the same time will be a terrific memory to have,” said James.
James is originally from Wexford, where he played football and hurling as well as handball. He specialises in bio-mechanics and is a member of the Armagh senior and U21 football backroom teams. However, those duties will be forgotten for the next week or so. Only handball will be on the minds of the Doyle clan.
“We will have a problem on our hands in winning championship titles as the One-Wall code is stronger in the States than here,” added James (40).
“Over there, they play a more aggressive style of One-Wall handball. Where we step back a little here, they go forward more in an aggressive manner. Particularly, the New York players are a different bred. They are certainly more aggressive than us, but we will just have to deal with that and whatever the opposition throws up”
James will play both Open Singles and in the 35&Over grade. Máiréad will compete in the Women’s Open and the Doubles along with Martina McMahon from Limerick, the 2014 Irish champion. Cailiosa and Fiachra will play both singles and doubles.
There are a number of other family foursomes, such as the Foxs from Beragh, travelling, but it seems the Doyle (Ó Duill) family make up the only father, mother and two children who will be bidding for honours.
In Beragh, it will be a case of last person off the courts must switch off the lights as 22 members, including Irish team manager Niall Kerr plus his nephew and niece, brother and sister Conor and Maeve McElduff, of the Breacadh Club will be playing in Calgary.
