THE GAME OF HURLING IS AN ANCIENT GAELIC SPORT WITH UNKNOWN ORIGINS STEEPED IN MYTHOLOGY AND FOLKLORE. THIS FAST-PACED AMATEUR STICK AND BALL GAME IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF IRISH SOCIETY AND CULTURE WITH THE ONLY PAYMENT FOR SUCCESS BEING VICTORY AND HONOUR. IN THE PAST, THE BEST WARRIORS WERE CONSIDERED TO COME FROM THEIR RANKS, AND IT OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG MEN TO TEST THEIR COURAGE ON THE FIELD OF PLAY. THERE USED TO BE TWO MAIN TYPES OF HURLING - WITH A MULTITUDE OF RULES AND REGULATIONS. ONE OF THEM WAS PLAYED WITH A NARROW, CROOKED STICK (PRIMARILY ON THE GROUND IN A CLOSED FIELD OF PLAY) AND DID NOT ALLOW HANDLING WITH THE HAND. IT WAS MUCH LIKE MODERN DAY HOCKEY AND IS THE ANCESTOR OF SHINTY PLAYED IN SCOTLAND. IT WAS PLAYED IN WINTER IN THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF IRELAND AND WAS KNOWN AS CAMAN. THE OTHER VERSION OF THE GAME WAS PLAYED ON A WIDER NARROWER CROOKED STICK, PRIMARILY WITH THE BALL OFF THE GROUND AND CARRIED IN THE HAND OR ON THE FLAT HEADED HURL. IT WAS PLAYED IN THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF IRELAND IN THE SUMMER AND IT WAS KNOWN AS IOMAIN OR BAIRE. IN LATER YEARS IT WAS REFERRED TO AS SUMMER OR LEINSTER HURLING. THIS IS CLOSER TO THE IRISH GAME, TODAY KNOWN AS HURLING.

WITH CONFUSION REIGNING, DUE TO TEAMS PLAYING DIFFERENT RULES, NEW RULES AND AN ORGANISATION WERE FORMED, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MICHAEL CUSACK, TO ENABLE TEAMS FROM ALL OVER THE ISLAND OF IRELAND TO COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD (METAPHORICALLY SPEAKING!). FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS GAME AND HOW IT IS PLAYED TO DAY WITH OUR INTERACTIVE HURLING INFO-GRAPHIC. HOPEFULLY IT LEADS YOU TO START PLAYING THIS FAST PACED SKILLFUL GAME YOURSELF! ENJOY!