Getting to know...hurling

To the uninitiated, hurling at first appears a fairly dangerous sport: thirty men viciously swinging sticks, whacking a small leather projectile about the pitch at head height. In fact, the game is played with such skill and concentration, that it is no more dangerous than any other field game. But it as exciting as it looks. Thought to predate Christianity, hurling has been an Irish pastime for over 2,000 years.

The game involves two teams of fifteen, each comprising fourteen outfield players and one goalkeeper. Each player uses a slightly curved wooden stick made of ash, called a ‘camán’, to control, pass and shoot a small leather ball called a ‘sliotar’. Scoring is achieved by goals, when the sliotar is fired into the net (worth three points), and points, when the sliotar is hit over the crossbar for a single point. 
 
The highest level of competition in hurling is at inter county level, when traditional powers such as Kilkenny (or the ‘cats’ as they are fondly known) and Cork battle it out for the All-Ireland trophy. A trip to Croke Park, one of the finest sporting arenas in Europe, to watch a thrilling game of hurling is a memory that will stay with you for ever. But who knows? Besides being a spectator, you may even get to practice a little hurling yourself during your stay in Ireland!

Useful links:
www.gaa.ie
What is Hurling? - see for yourself!