The game of hurling is Europe's oldest field game. When the Celts came to Ireland as the last Ice Age was receding, they brought with them a unique culture, their own language, music, script, and unique pastimes. One of these pastimes was a game now called hurling. There are records and folklore dating back 2,000 years where heroic mystical figures played the game and showed off their abilities and deeds.
The game of hurling is very much like it's sister game: Gaelic football. The main difference is the amount of blood spilt. Hurling is played roughly on the same size of field as soccer. In fact, there is even a goal much like a soccer goal at both ends. That is where the similarities end. Each team is made up of 15 players. The ball is a small hard ball much like a baseball but much harder. Each player is armed with a hurley. A hurley is about the size of a baseball bat, but is flat and curved like a hockey stick. Each player is attempting to capture the ball and move it closer and then into the goal. It is possible to catch the ball, but to carry it more than just a few steps one must bobble it on the end of the hurley as they run. You can not throw the ball and must hit it in order to pass or score a point. The opponent is trying to get the ball away from you by blocking with their hurley. Scoring is achieved by either hitting the ball into the opponents' goal or hitting it through two (American football looking) uprights that are in position over the goal. The former scores three points and the latter only one. Scoring a point through the uprights is the easiest, (and is often done from midfield) but it is usually the goals that will win the match.
There is an old saying that I have heard on the streets this past week... "Hit them hard... They're of no relation..." Now... The players do not intentionally try and hurt their opponents (yea, right), but they do swing their hurlies as hard as they can in order to score. There is no rule that you have to wear protective head gear, and many opt not to.... So... Needless to say you see a lot of hard hits and whacks to the head.
There is a girl's version of hurling which is called Camogie, and it is just like men's hurling.
Now... in case you ever wanted to know... Gaelic football is played on an identical field as hurling... And is scored the same... But is played with a large ball that is about the size of a volleyball, and there are no sticks used during play. The player must move the ball into their opponents goal (worth three points) or through the uprights (one point) just like in hurling. The main difference is that the player must alternate dribbling the ball once or drop kicking it to himself every three steps as he carries it down the field. Now - that takes a lot of coordination! So... There you have it... The most simplified explanation of the Gaelic games ever. I really didn't do it justice... These games (the great-grandparents to many of our modern games) are thrilling to watch, and the energy displayed on the field is translated into the crowd. As I said before... it is really refreshing to watch a game being played for the love of the game and one that takes ordinary lads and allows them to represent their own villages and home towns on a national level. As a result, there is a certain pride there that I fear is lost in other professional sports.
You might be wondering... "Does Wallace ever play these games?" Yea right! Are you crazy? Do you really think that I have that much coordination?
