Boy from Brazil playing handball for Ireland

Born in Brazil to an Irish father; Seán Buckley is a second-year DCU student, currently studying journalism. He was recently pre-selected for the Irish national handball team. He talks to Dave Hanratty and explains how he came to play for the national side.

Dave HanrattyOlympic handball isn’t much of a spectator sport in this country; could you give a brief overview of how to play the game?

Sean BuckleySure, it’s a seven-a-side indoor game in which the object is to score goals by throwing the ball into the opposition goal. There are two halves of 30 minutes each. It’s a very fast and physical sport.

DHWhen did you first start playing?

SBWhen I was 12 years old. My school in Rio de Janeiro produced some of the best players for the Brazilian national team, but I only played there for a year before moving to a different school where the level of handball wasn’t as strong. I played there for three years, as a goalkeeper.

DHYou then moved to Switzerland?

SBYes, to Geneva where I played for CS Chênois, a prominent Swiss handball team. Over five years I progressed through the ranks as a left winger, going from the under-18 team to the juniors and eventually getting into the first team itself, where I played my final two years in a professional league. It was the highpoint of my time there.

DHAnd then you found yourself moving again, this time to our lovely shores. Were you worried that this would spell the end of your career?

SBI had reached a very high level in competitive handball, and knowing that it isn’t as popular in Ireland I didn’t plan to keep playing it, I expected to end up playing rugby or soccer, but I found out about the DCU handball team so I signed up, mainly for fun. I enjoyed playing with the team but didn’t really expect it to go anywhere.

DHWell you were proven wrong.

SBIt’s a funny story. In March the Irish Olympic Handball Association organised a match between the national team and an all-star side made up of the best players around the country and I was selected to play. During the warm-up we had to give our nationalities and the Irish assistant coach overheard me saying I was Brazilian-Irish and asked to talk to me.

He asked my name and laughed when I told him I was Seán Buckley from Rio. He introduced me to the national team and they asked me to play with them. So I switched sides before the game had even started and ended up playing with the team I had come to play against!

DHWere you nervous?

SBA little. I didn’t play well. I was excited about the idea of playing against the national team and proving myself to them. I certainly didn’t expect to play with them! I enjoyed it even though I knew I could play better.

DHYou went on to play in a friendly tournament in Germany and have now been pre-selected for a competitive tournament.

SBYes, it’s the European Handball Federation challenge trophy in Malta at the end of the month. We are in a group with Malta, Scotland and Finland. I’m eager to play. I feel I am in good form. Of course it would mean I could never play for Brazil but I see it in a positive way because I am proud to play for Ireland. I feel as much Irish as I do Brazilian.

DHFinally, with the announcement that Rio will host the Olympics in 2016, could we see you take part?

SBWell that’s the dream but it is unlikely. The standard in European handball is very high and Ireland isn’t quite on the same level as some of the bigger teams, but hopefully I can help to change that. Either way I will be at the games, even if only as a spectator!