Hurling

Hurling

Players

10 or more, including 2 keepers (goalies)

Equipment

a ball, called a "sliotr" and a curved stick, the "hurley" and two goals. A modern hurling field is the equivilent of 1 and a half soccer fields.

Rules

For a simple game of hurling, each team lines up on either side of the center line. The sliotr is dropped and the teams hit the ball with their sliotr.

The goal is to get the sliotr (1 point) into or over the goal. (3 points).

You cannot:

• hit another person
• lift the sliotr off the ground with your hand.
• carry the sliotr more than 3 steps

You can:

• Solo - run with the sliotr balanced on the end of your hurley

History

According to various stories, Hurling has been a Gaelic pasttime and sport for several thousand years. According to Irish legend, the opposing sides of the Battle of Moytura in approximately 2000 BC, played a fierce game before the battle. The dead were buried before the "real" battle started.

Hurling is featured in many tales in Irish folklore, played between kings, fairy folk, and war lords. The great hero Cuchulainn is closely tied to hurling. One of his pasttimes was to alternatively throw his hurley and hit his sliotr as he traversed great distances. As a child, he was known as Setanta. One day, he was attacked by a king's dog. He hit the sliotr into the animals' mouth and killed it. When he saw how distraught the king was over loosing his pet, he offered to be the king's hound, and took on the name "Cuchulainn" or "Hound of Cullin."

Hurling has become quite popular in An Tir and is often played at large events.