Hurling

[Hurlingnovice]

I have no idea what's going on but I'm really enjoying it! Can any Irish mumsnetters explain what is happening other than it seems like a mix of hockey, quidditch and lacrosse.

experiencegaelicgames.com/authentic-irish/hurling/#:~:text=The%20primary%20objective%20is%20to,end%20of%20the%20match%20wins.

Fastest field game in the world! No skin in the game (Baile Átha Cliath) but it's savage, have a scar on my eyebrow from a rogue sliotar when I was supervising during my teacher training years ago 😆

I was just talking to my (Irish) mum about it. It's mental. The commentary was almost up to speed with the game 😂

It's awesome! Never seen or heard of it before

Did he just say these guys are amateurs and back to work tomorrow? This is mad! Why isn't this sport bigger? It's far more entertaining than the Euros was.

What a nice post !!
It's an amazing game - so fast . It's very big over here .
My son plays and it terrifies me to some extent . They end up very tough . He's much 'tougher' than my rugby playing son !!

My son is watching it with his mouth open - after all those Euros games where NOTHING HAPPENED for 90 minutes, he is finally seeing some real sport

OP I presume you have picked it up by now but it is points above the bar, goals under (worth 3 points), you may hit, kick or slap the ball, and there are plenty of other rules if you want to take up the game.

We’ve been glued to the match! I have no allegiance to either teams, but it’s a shame either of them have to lose after such a close game.
DH has never seen a hurling match before and was gobsmacked at the speed and ferocity of the play. I said I’d get the hurl out of the loft (belonged to my late DM who played Camogie as a girl) and he could have a go with a tennis ball in the garden, but he declined, saying he values his intact limbs! 😂.

It's his teeth and retinas he should worry most about tbh

Hurling is both the oldest and fastest field sport in the world ☘️ Much loved on the island, but unfortunately as both Gaelic football and hurling are both recognised as “amateur” sport which I think has snubbed them as you can’t make a career from them (despite being much more skilful and entertaining than football). All the players are only there for a hobby- as they aren’t recognised as professional they aren’t paid. Most have full time jobs too.

Watching here too… it’s been a fantastic game, no doubt either team deserve it!!

They do mostly have jobs in which they are supported to play at a high level - a friend used to work with a guy who played for Limerick and he could come and go as he needed.

I played lacrosse as a kid and thought that was bad. This is definitely next level. I'm glad it's made it to the bbc.

My family all play Gaelic football and it's firmly a way of life.

Yep no pay, they might get a holiday after 😄It's awful really but it's the way the GAA has always been, I've worked with teachers & they play for their county, it's intense & a priviledge

We're a hockey household and the injuries from that are bad enough I can't imagine what Hurling or Lacrosse are like. I assume a hurling ball isn't the same as a hockey ball? Or is it?

Wow!

The sloitar (apols if spelling is incorrect) is slightly smaller than a hockey ball but just as hard IIRC.

Never played hockey, thought it was a puck?!? Anyway the sliotar is a weapon in its own right. Very hard if you get a whack off that with any bit of force.

I’ve just turned it on, on the basis of this thread!
Coming from a footy mad household, it’s much faster and also terrifying!

Do kids play it in school?

Yes. Start quite young. Nearly every town and village in the country has a gaa team. Some more focused on football than hurling but others big on both.

That save!

Thanks. It looks like something you wouldn't want to mess with. Ice hockey is a puck, field hockey is a ball (a very hard one).

We were watching the euros all the last month and I'm just reminding of the huge deal made every time theres and a score or big save. In hurling there's barely time for a fist pump!

It must be carnage! There are a lot of uncoordinated kids out there, and they are waving their sticks about - worse than hockey!

Best game in the world! 🇮🇪

Incredible