NationStates Jolt Archive

Recently I expanded my cable tv package and one of the channels included in the upgrade was Setanta Sports. I didn't pay too much attention to it, since I'm not terribly interested in televised sport (but to get the channels I want to see, I HAVE to purchase some sport channels). The other day as I was flipping through the channel guide, I saw they had a listing for "Hurling." That piqued my interest somewhat, so I tuned in expecting to see a bunch of British/Scottish/Irish/Welsh drunks puking outside a pub.

Much to my surprise, Hurling is an actual athletic activity. It looks like it was invented by a bunch of argumentative Irish drunks (are there any other kind) that couldn't decide on what sport to play, so they played them all...at once. It contains elements of American football, soccer, rugby, baseball, and lacrosse. Oh - and golf.

The goal - The goal looks like a soccer goal with American football uprights.

Scoring - There's not one way, but two ways to score. A player may hit the ball through the uprights for a point. Or a player can hit the ball into the net for a goal. One goal equals three points, from what I've been able to gather. The score is reflected as goals-points (ex. Clare 3-7 to Cork 2-3.)

Equipment - The ball looks almost exactly like a baseball. The players are all armed...excuse me - EQUIPPED with an axe handle that has a spoonhead whittled into the end of it. This is called a hurley. Helmets are optional.

To advance the ball, players may hit, throw, or kick the ball. They may even toss, kick or bat the ball to themselves (Kinda like dribbling a basketball) though I'm pretty sure that the only way to score is to bat the ball through the uprights or into the goal. Penalties result in loss of possession or a free swing by the opposing team. On a free swing, the player tees the ball up, then grips it and rips it.

Play is pretty fast paced with very few stoppages even for serious injuries. I saw one match where a player's situational awareness was non-existent and he got hit in the back of the head with the ball, knocking him silly. Play continued as the First Aid crew came out to see to him. The color guy, who was obviously in his cups (you could hear the clinking glasses) made the statement, "Ah, but Seamus is a tough, strapping lad. He'll not let the side down and I'll think we'll certainly see him in the second half." as the guy was carted off the pitch in a stretcher.

Color me hooked.

Speaking of Gaelic sports, what's the Scottish one which involves tossing giant staffs into the air? (There is actually a sport like that.)

Speaking of Gaelic sports, what's the Scottish one which involves tossing giant staffs into the air? (There is actually a sport like that.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caber_toss

Here's a good quote from Wikipedia:

"27th June, 1827, Feast of Saint Peter and Paul. A holiday... Hurling on the Fair Green. It was a good game. The sticks were being brandished like swords. Hurling is a war-like game. The west side won the first match and the east the second. You could hear the sticks striking the ball from one end of the Green to the other. I was watching from the top end myself with Doctor Céatinn and two priests. The well-to-do young men and women were strolling up and down the Green and on the level causeway in the center."[13] From the Irish language diaries of Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin, a 19th century schoolmaster and politician from Callan, County Kilkenny.

Nowadays, you don't have to wear a helmet if you're 21 or older - I guess they figure you've reproduced by then, and if you get killed while playing, then you had fair warning.

I've never seen it on tv, so I can't make a fair comparison, but I can say that it is a lot of fun to go to a hurling match. The one thing is, it's a little hard to follow -- gameplay is so fast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caber_toss

Thanks.

I was always told it's the fastest field sport in the world.

I was always told it's the fastest field sport in the world.

Possibly, however it is one of the oldest. The Hurley itself is a rather lethal instrument, due to the harsh "breaking edge" on the inside. The first British soldier killed in the war of Independence was felled by a hurley during an attempt to break up a Sinn Fein rally in 1919.

Possibly, however it is one of the oldest. The Hurley itself is a rather lethal instrument, due to the harsh "breaking edge" on the inside. The first British soldier killed in the war of Independence was felled by a hurley during an attempt to break up a Sinn Fein rally in 1919.

A few friends have had broken jaws thanks to a friendly hurley heading their way. I don't doubt it at all

(Been googling and apparently both lacrosse and hurling lay claim to fastest field sport)

Possibly, however it is one of the oldest. The Hurley itself is a rather lethal instrument, due to the harsh "breaking edge" on the inside. The first British soldier killed in the war of Independence was felled by a hurley during an attempt to break up a Sinn Fein rally in 1919.

It certainly looked lethal. Are people killed by accident during play?

Equipment - The ball looks almost exactly like a baseball. The players are all armed...excuse me - EQUIPPED with an axe handle that has a spoonhead whittled into the end of it.

Not entirely so, as the end is flat, and there is no receptacle for the ball.
http://www.camanireland.com/hurling-sticks.html

I was always told it's the fastest field sport in the world.

Yeah I heard that. I played gaelic football for a while but never hurley. I think its an awesome game though. Its one of those games that you might need to be a little insane to play (maybe thats why its us that invented it :p) . On the otherhand, Im a rower and apparently we are insane, so maybe its a certain type of crazy.

I was always told it's the fastest field sport in the world.

And one of the oldest.
Ireland has High Crosses dating from the 7th and 8th century that are decorated with figures with hurling sticks.

It certainly looked lethal. Are people killed by accident during play?

Not very often, but more or less regularly, yes.

http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2001/04/07/story9217.asp

We call it Shinty in Scotland, although the rules are different here than in Ireland - although the Scottish shinty and Irish hurling teams play each other yearly in a game with composite rules.

Mostly its just a sport played by highland teuchters, presumably because its too hard playing golf on the side of a mountain.

And one of the oldest.
Ireland has High Crosses dating from the 7th and 8th century that are decorated with figures with hurling sticks.

Its actually far older, having been in Brehon law.....Suffice to say that as long as Irish people have had sticks, its safe to say they were hitting something with them....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Hurling

Speaking of Gaelic sports, what's the Scottish one which involves tossing giant staffs into the air? (There is actually a sport like that.)

Actually, it should be called "turning" the caber, not tossing. Very fun event, most difficult thing is getting the balance right...

(Yes, I get pedantic about the highland games...)

There's something about the celtic peoples and really cool sports...

The clubs look pleasantly lethal.

There's something about the celtic peoples and really cool sports...
I think that something is an assload of beer.

I think that something is an assload of beer.

Beer! Hah! Try whiskey.... lots of whiskey.....