GAA Hurling is a widely played sport in Ireland and is organised by the Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA). The women’s game of Hurling is referred to as Camogie. It’s an amateur sport that requires a great deal of skill and physical fitness. It’s also a national sport of Ireland and therefore a definite must watch if the opportunity arises. 

To understand the basics, two teams of 15 people on each team play against each other. It’s a stick and ball game, with the stick being used called a ‘hurley’, or a camán in the Irish language, and the ball called a sliotar. Points are scored by either team by putting the ball over the opponent’s bar, for one point, or past the keeper and within the goal posts, for three points. Players play the game with the ball being carried on the stick and who must ‘puck’ or hand pass the ball to other players. The player cannot overcarry the ball in their hand otherwise a free is given to the opponent team.

With this hard-hitting and high paced game, it’s no wonder that Hurling is said to be the world’s fastest field game. It combines many skills often seen from lacrosse, field hockey, and baseball and the sliotar can travel up to 180 kilometres per hour over the course of a game! So now that you got an understanding of the basics, what are you waiting for? Get out and enjoy a game of GAA Hurling and learn more about the sport from the locals. You’ll be hooked in no time…