Why Irish Sport Is The Best In The World
Hurling is the greatest team game on earth as it allows its players to truly identify with themselves and one another
Imagine the fastest field game on earth, so fast that you`ve never seen it yet.
That’s my game.
Not only have I seen it but I’ve stood and defended myself from wielding sticks clashing with my bruised body just and all just for the thrill of it.
And it’s called hurling, the national game of Ireland.
Played with a spherical ball similar in size and design as a baseball, but about double the weight of a tennis ball, this game is not for the faint-hearted. Wooden sticks as long as golf clubs with the striking face twice as wide as a baseball bat, a smack of these ‘hurleys’ can cause quite the injury.
I should know because I`ve scars and had broken bones to prove it.
The game of hurling arises from a story of true legends. History proves it to be true.
The story of Cú Chulainn:
As a five-year-old boy, Setanta who was the son of Deictre and Lugh, showed great strength, skill, and speed.
He left his parents to join the Red Branch Knights. They were the army headed by Setanta’s uncle King Conor Mac Neasa. Legend has it that Setanta would strike the hurling ball forward (called the sliotar in Gaelic) and was so fast that he’d hit it a second time before it dropped to the ground. His skill and ability surpassed over 150 other boys as he gained possession of the ball from them all.
One evening Culainn who was a blacksmith to Setanta’s uncle held a feast in his home. His watchdog was unchained and trained to warn of intruders. As seven-year-old Setanta arrived there the dog showed his anger towards him.
He hurled the ball down the dog’s throat before the dog passed away. Alarmed by the sounds, those at the feast ran to the doorway to discover what had happened.
Setanta explained his feat and offered himself as the replacement for the dog to guard Cullain’s house. As his great ability was already proven it was agreed and Setanta was renamed Cú Chulainn, meaning the hound of Cullain.
The Warrior in Every Irish Hurler:
Every young Irish girl and boy is fed the story of Cú Chullain from a very young age.
Upon hearing it, dreams and ambitions are cemented in young hearts. The need to play the game of hurling is established and soon after the battle begins for many.
With two teams of fifteen pitting their wits against one another in a pitch not much bigger than a football field, the tackles are aplenty and the ball can travel a long and fast journey from one end to another at over a hundred miles per hour.
With close physical contact permitted, hurlers come in all shapes and sizes.
Bravery is a must and skill surpassing that of most sports is required. With the average athlete in each team covering as much ground as a soccer player in a game and open to body checks similar to a rugby game, players’ stick work must be clever and slick.
Skill:
A hurler is allowed to do anything with the ball so long as they keep it alive either in the air or on the ground when they are in possession. That said, they can handle it and even carry it for a couple of steps. But, in doing so, you`ll risk collision and may lose the hard-earned possession earned by your team.
Injury:
That’s when you`re open to injury. As I type my hyper flexed fingers worn from a youth of practicing the game bend crookedly over the keyboard while memories of bangs suffered from the opposition’s strikes are front of mind as well.
Cruciate knee injuries, torn cartilages, broken limbs, and replaced hips are regular complaints even years later after playing. That, together with a litany of other injuries live long into old age where the wounds of old hurling warriors are laid open but still unrewarded for their feats.
Pay:
The game of hurling is traditionally an amateur game. But the big games draw a crowd as large as ones seen in other professional team sports. Tens of thousands of people will pay to watch their heroes who line out for teams characterized by their geographical location only.
If you happen to be born in a place where the game is weak you miss out on the medals. But, if you`re from a hurling stronghold you’re a folk hero once you help your area win the annual cup. Most teams lose but revel in the fact that they represented their locality in the toughest game of all.
Identify:
Hurling is at least 3,000 years old and is ingrained in the Irish psyche.
So much so that even if a professional Irish sportsman or woman plays soccer, rugby, tennis, golf, or any other sport with success, they are not considered very talented unless they’ve some form of a hurling background.
The sport of hurling has speed, strength, size, and skill. This is all mixed with bravery, class, creativity, tactics, teamwork, and pride of place.
Hurling is the true identity of Ireland.
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