Celtic Handball Legends: More Than Just Sport
Ireland has long been a home for people from all over the world — arriving on the Emerald Isle for careers, education, adventure, or even fleeing persecution. While building their futures here, many sought out familiar sports. And for those who found the handball community, they often discovered much more: a home, a family, and sometimes even soulmates.
The story of Dublin International Handball Club is just one of many that reflect this journey. Founded in 2007 by a small group of immigrants who met through handball, the club quickly became a brotherhood, its name reflecting the 64 nationalities that have passed through its doors since. Season after season, this family grew closer, both socially and competitively. In 2013, the club expanded again when our sisters joined, forming the ladies’ team.
Today, Dublin International is the most successful handball club in Ireland. But it’s not just the trophies and medals that define its greatness — it’s the bonds, friendships, and love born out of a shared passion for this beautiful sport.
Dublin International’s story is not unique. Clubs like Astra and, more recently, Dublin City Handball have followed similar paths.
As time goes on, some of us age out of competitive play, but the love for the game remains. Three years ago, whispers about the Masters Handball World Cup began circulating in the Irish handball community. Inspired by the amazing scenes from past tournaments, the idea for a 2024 team took shape. Like any good endeavour, it was driven by a few dedicated people — most notably Dublin International’s head coach and former player, Nicholas Fredin. With his deep connections across clubs, unique charisma, and unifying leadership, Nicholas brought people together.
In 2024, 38 players across three teams — united under the name Celtic Legends — travelled to Omiš, Croatia, for the Masters Handball World Cup, eager to feed their passion for handball. As the tournament slogan says, we were hoping “it’s not over yet.” What we found was a powerful bond of support among ourselves, no matter which club we came from. By the end of the first night, we had also forged new friendships with teams from Turkey, Finland, Slovakia, and beyond.
Although our sporting achievements left room for improvement, the tournament was an absolute success for every one of us. We got to play the sport we love at a high, competitive level — and had a tremendous amount of fun, both on and off the court.
All of this was made possible by the dedication and professionalism of the organizers, whose excellent accommodations, delicious food, and flawless planning allowed us to fully enjoy the experience.
After the magic of 2024, returning in 2025 was a no-brainer. As I write this, just two days after the tournament, I can still feel the adrenaline and the butterflies in my stomach. This year, Celtic Legends grew to 45 players, with former teammates traveling in from as far as Brazil. We came hoping for another unforgettable experience — and we found it!
It was truly heartwarming to reunite with the friends we met last year and instantly revive those connections, even after a year apart. With a little more sporting success and an insane amount of fun, Celtic Legends became, as someone described, “the social force of the tournament,” gaining new friends, brothers, and sisters from all over the world.
The plotting for 2026 has already begun — and we will be there, with even more people and more joie de vivre than ever before.
A heartfelt thank you to Pochet and Dicken for being our closest friends and supporters. Thank you to Zika, Mario, Bili, Ante, and the rest of the incredible hosts. And thank you to everyone involved in the Masters Handball World Cup for letting us be Legends once again.
TEXT: Boris Selak
