Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Gaelic Athletic Association


A week ago I ventured to Casement Park in southwest Belfast to watch two of the original Gaelic sports: Hurling and Gaelic Football. Both of the games are played on the same field with the same scoring, but while Football combines hand and foot with a soccer sized ball, hurling includes a field hockey size ash-wood stick and a baseball-size ball. Football is a bruising game full of hits and rugby tackles (without pads), and Hurling is the fastest ball sport on grass.

Gaelic Football:



Hurling:



Yet again, I was very impressed with the sportsmanship involved in the activity. The athletes and the coaches are unpaid/volunteer athletes that play for local club and county and the fans travel from around the country to support their local athletes. This is how sports should be supported.

1 comment:

  1. I find the hurling athletes to be incredibly athletic and coordinated. When they smash the ball downfield do they use the end or spoon section of the "hurler device" or is it the shaft ? I need to watch this in slow motion on a big screen

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