Page 62 - Guerin Media | Cork Airport Holiday & Destination Guide 2015
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF HURLING
Unique to Ireland, Hurling holds the honour of being the world’s oldest recorded field game.
Predating Christianity, it is believed that the game was introduced by the Celts during the last ice
age and thought to take the form of a battle between rival clans. Another theory is that hurling was
a test of skill and bravery, which is closer to the game we see today. The earliest reference to hurling
can be found in 5th Century Brehon Laws and the ancient story of Cuchulainn. A young boy named
Setanta finds himself face to face with a vicious guard dog at the house of Culann and uses a
hurley and sliotar to kill him. Setanta was forced to replace the dog as Culann’s guard, earning him
the name Cuchulainn (Hound of Culann). He went on to become the greatest warrior in Irish history.
References to hurling can also be found on 10th 16th century, none had lasting effect.
century High Crosses in Kells and Monasterboice,
where David is shown killing a lion with a stick and The 18th Century became known as the Golden Age
ball and in the tale of Cath Mhaigh Tuireadh Chunga of Hurling when wealthy landowners formed teams
(The Battle of Moytura) where the Tuatha De Danann of players and challenged neighbouring estates to
fought to take Ireland from the Fir Bolg in a gruesome matches. The sport enjoyed organisation and structure
battle. After four days the Tuatha De Danann were during this time but by the end of the 18th century,
winning and called a truce. They gave the Fir Bolg relationships between landlord and tenant had all
three choices: leave Ireland, share the land or continue but disintegrated and this, along with the Great Irish
fighting. After some negotiation, the Fir Bolg agreed Famine, had a destructive effect on Irish society and
to take the province of Connaught and peace was culture and almost totally destroyed hurling. By the
restored. 1880s, a new sense of nationalism was growing and a
need for the revival of Irish culture. On 1st November
Throughout history, hurling has undertaken many 1884, a man by the name of Michael Cusack set up a
battles, none more important than it’s existence. meeting to establish an association for Irish Athletes
Under English Law in the 12th Century, the Statute of and the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) was
Kilkenny attempted to ban hurling, declaring it founded. Almost immediately, Hurling grew in popu-
forbidden due to it’s excess violence. “.. do not, larity, as new rules and regulations were established
“henceforth, use the plays which men call horlings, and the game went from strength to strength. The
with great sticks and a ball upon the ground, from 20th century saw the establishment of the All-Ireland
which great evils and maims have arisen..” . Hurling Championship with Cork, Tipperary and
Kilkenny winning more than 20 titles each. The final
Playing Irish games was punishable by imprisonment match of the tournament takes place in Dublin’s Croke
but despite similar laws passed in Galway during the Park, named for the GAA’s first patron, Archbishop
Croke.
62
Unique to Ireland, Hurling holds the honour of being the world’s oldest recorded field game.
Predating Christianity, it is believed that the game was introduced by the Celts during the last ice
age and thought to take the form of a battle between rival clans. Another theory is that hurling was
a test of skill and bravery, which is closer to the game we see today. The earliest reference to hurling
can be found in 5th Century Brehon Laws and the ancient story of Cuchulainn. A young boy named
Setanta finds himself face to face with a vicious guard dog at the house of Culann and uses a
hurley and sliotar to kill him. Setanta was forced to replace the dog as Culann’s guard, earning him
the name Cuchulainn (Hound of Culann). He went on to become the greatest warrior in Irish history.
References to hurling can also be found on 10th 16th century, none had lasting effect.
century High Crosses in Kells and Monasterboice,
where David is shown killing a lion with a stick and The 18th Century became known as the Golden Age
ball and in the tale of Cath Mhaigh Tuireadh Chunga of Hurling when wealthy landowners formed teams
(The Battle of Moytura) where the Tuatha De Danann of players and challenged neighbouring estates to
fought to take Ireland from the Fir Bolg in a gruesome matches. The sport enjoyed organisation and structure
battle. After four days the Tuatha De Danann were during this time but by the end of the 18th century,
winning and called a truce. They gave the Fir Bolg relationships between landlord and tenant had all
three choices: leave Ireland, share the land or continue but disintegrated and this, along with the Great Irish
fighting. After some negotiation, the Fir Bolg agreed Famine, had a destructive effect on Irish society and
to take the province of Connaught and peace was culture and almost totally destroyed hurling. By the
restored. 1880s, a new sense of nationalism was growing and a
need for the revival of Irish culture. On 1st November
Throughout history, hurling has undertaken many 1884, a man by the name of Michael Cusack set up a
battles, none more important than it’s existence. meeting to establish an association for Irish Athletes
Under English Law in the 12th Century, the Statute of and the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) was
Kilkenny attempted to ban hurling, declaring it founded. Almost immediately, Hurling grew in popu-
forbidden due to it’s excess violence. “.. do not, larity, as new rules and regulations were established
“henceforth, use the plays which men call horlings, and the game went from strength to strength. The
with great sticks and a ball upon the ground, from 20th century saw the establishment of the All-Ireland
which great evils and maims have arisen..” . Hurling Championship with Cork, Tipperary and
Kilkenny winning more than 20 titles each. The final
Playing Irish games was punishable by imprisonment match of the tournament takes place in Dublin’s Croke
but despite similar laws passed in Galway during the Park, named for the GAA’s first patron, Archbishop
Croke.
62
