IRISH HANDBALL (BIG ALLEY)

 WHAT IS IT?

Big Alley, or 60x30 Irish Handball, is the classic Irish version of the ancient wall game. Two or four players hit  either a small hard ball or a bouncy heavy rubber one against a front wall using only their hands - no racquets, just grit. It’s the Gaelic game that shaped champions and bruised knuckles for generations. It has been developed over time into a smaller alley game as well.

  • The aim is simple: strike the ball so your opponent can’t return it before the second bounce. You can use either hand, and rallies can get fast, tactical, and savage. Singles or doubles are both common, but either way — expect sore palms and serious respect.

  • The 60x30 court — nicknamed the Big Alley — is a huge, echoing rectangle with a front wall, side walls, and a long back court. The size gives players space for deep shots, crazy angles, and booming serves that sound like cannon fire.

  • The traditional big alley ball is a hard, like a mini baseball, but you can play with the ‘soft’ ball too (more popular today) which isn’t really that soft and has completely unnatural bounces. Really unforgiving stuff. It flies fast and hits hard, so it’s not a game for casual beginners.

  • Games are typically played to 21 points, with points earned only when serving. Rallies are intense and momentum shifts fast. It’s old-school scoring — reward for dominance, not just participation.

  • The Big Alley game was once played in open-air courts attached to pubs and churches across Ireland. Some of those courts still stand today, silent monuments to a sport that once defined local pride - and still draws crowds at All-Ireland Finals.