The handball alley constructed on Church Road, next to the Boys’ Club has vanished long since and now there is a mini car park there (always full whenever I try to park there).  Of course we have two car parks at the other end of the town, the smaller one at Harbour View in front of the house I was born in, and the other where once was the railway station.   The latter is good for every day except Friday for those who don’t mind the walk back up town (or if there isn’t a circus or amusements set up there for a few days).  That area from Harbour View as far as the new pier was our “playground” where we played football, hurling and sometimes even cricket and marbles.  Also we had many a “sod battle” with invaders from the other ends of the town.  Across the water of the slob was Mrs “Christy O’Sullivan’s” stores on The Quay, and up against the doors every night were long sessions of handball by the Quay men.  My neighbour, Podgy O’Sullivan used to shout across the water – a loud “yahoo!” to be answered in like manner by the Quay men.On summer nights there were dances in the old Rink Cinema and I used to lay in bed at night and listen to the music wafted across the water – I particularly remember the tune of “Sober la sola” (“Over the waves” – I think)….Alas, gone are the days!