Hurling

I have decided to do my blog post on one of the two traditional Irish sports: hurling.

Hurling is quite the particular sport. It is believed by most to have been played in Ireland for over 4000 years. This sport has always been part of the Irish culture, it is mentioned in many traditional Irish legends such as in the one of Cúchulainn (it is said that this legendary Irish warrior killed a giant dog while using hurling equipment)

Now a bit more about the game: it isn’t easy to describe because it is quite a complex game. The game is played on a pitch similar to that of rugby; there are fifteen players on the pitch including the goalkeeper (yes there is a goalkeeper). The game is played with a special ax shaped bat or Hurley stick and a ball made of leather (and wood inside) called a sliotar. The game is organized in two halves of 35 minutes. It doesn't look like any other sport I have ever seen and is very fast. Some people tend to say it can be violent, but that is a lie. If anyone is interested in seeing what the sport looks like here is the link to a video (beware: the music is awful)

Hurling

It is also important to say that Hurling is played as an official sport only in Ireland, but in most countries where there is an large Irish presence such as the USA, Australia, Canada or South Africa there are a few amateur clubs. Hurling is part of the Gaelic heritage in Ireland and is promoted by the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) and there are teams in most counties and they play against each other in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, which is a much appreciated sporting event for most people in Ireland.

Thank you for your attention.

Cailan

                                                      A hurley stick