Lománaíocht: Hurling

More than 3,000 years old and still the fastest field game in the world, Hurling continues to serve as one of Ireland’s most popular sports which upholds the nationalism that was instated by their ancestors centuries ago.

Here James Reidy gives us an inside look of the game that many still know little about.

The All Ireland Hurling Club Championship match is held on Saint Patric’s Day every year.  More than 80,000 supporters from Ireland and around the world come out to Croke Park to cheer on their teams and experience the profound atmosphere that engulfs not only the stadium but all of Ireland.  For over 100 years, Croke Park in Dublin has been the home of the All Ireland Championships as well as other traditional Gaelic games.

Like many other Irish youngsters, Reidy started Hurling at the age of 9. However he only continued to play for about 3 years.  “I was constantly getting injured, in terms of breaking bones, so i sort of left it.”  He decided to turn to soccer… where he ended up breaking both of his hands on separate occasions as goal keeper, but that did not stop him this time.  Here at AUBG Reidy plays as the ERASMUS-UNITED goal keeper for the schools intramural soccer league.

Over the years Reidy has seen and experienced many injuries, of himself his teammates even as a spectator. As awful as injuries are, Reidy has been able to pull good out them. “When you play together, although there may be tension at some stages, if something is to seriously happen in terms of a horrific injury or a player collapsing both teams will come together and check on the player.”