5100 Balls Roll Down Barrack Hill For Charity

Former Cobh Ramblers stalwart Paul O Neill and Luke Ronan the official Horn Blower at the start of the 7th Annual Barrack Hill Ball Roll in Cobh last Sunday afternoon (Photo from Jim Shealy)

Warm conditions brought the public out in large numbers once again on Bank Holiday Monday to watch the 7th Annual Barrack Hill Ball run take place late afternoon. Earlier in the day the events started with the Up-Hill Challenge with relay teams having to run up Barrack Hill pushing large exercise balls. Many families also took part in the Crab Fishing competition in Cobh’s Promenade

Teams taking part in the ‘Uphill Challenge’ before the 7th Annual Barrack Hill Ball Roll in Cobh last Sunday afternoon – (Photo – Mike Bardsley)

Balls for the Ball Hill Roll proper, which cost €2.00 each, were on sale until approximately 4.00pm, just fifteen minutes before former Cobh Ramblers favourite Paul O’Neill, father of current Cobh Ramblers player Davin and brother of the infamous striker Frank ‘Sniffer’ O’Neill, had the honour of letting the 5100 balls loose down one of Ireland’s steepest hills. Paul was chosen to do the honours as he was a member of the Cobh Ramblers team that took part in the historic FAI Cup semi-final saga versus Sligo Rovers exactly 30 years ago.

The 5100 balls on the way down the hill at the 7th Annual Barrack Hill Ball Roll in Cobh last Sunday afternoon – (Photo – Mike Bardsley)

Great credit for the organisation of this annual event must go to Paddy & Lil Histon and all the volunteers who once again made the afternoon one to remember.

This was a charity fundraising event in aid of two charities – the Ontology Dept at Cork South Infirmary Hospital and the Cork branch of Epilepsy Ireland, with the first five balls through a finishing line pipe at the end of the hill winning cash prizes.

Results are as follows:

1st prize €500 – Aaron Murtagh
2nd €300 – Amelia Burt Wales UK
3rd. €200 – Stephen Kelly Cork
4th. €100 – Ava Quinlan Cluan Ard Cobh,
5th €50 – Olivia Histon Cornwall

Families enjoying the Crab Fishing Competition before the 7th Annual Barrack Hill Ball Roll in Cobh last Sunday afternoon – (Photo – Mike Bardsley)

Volunteers collecting the balls after a very successful 7th Annual Barrack Hill Ball Roll in Cobh last Sunday afternoon – (Photo – Mike Bardsley)

Over 100 more photographs to view on the Cobh Edition Facebook page at the link below: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.611079188914036.1073741876.175857379102888&type=1