The History of Hurling

Hurling is the oldest field game in Europe and widely considered to be the fastest game on grass.

Hurling figures largely in Irish history and legend. The first recorded reference to hurling dates to the Battle of Moytura, near Cong in County Mayo (in the West of Ireland) in 1272 BC between the native Fir Bolg and the invading Tuatha De Danann. When both sides were preparing for battle they decided to have a hurling contest instead, between twenty-seven of the best players from each side. Both sides fought a bloody match and in the end when they were bruised and broken the match finished with the he Fir Bolg victorious who then slew the Tuatha De Danann. (Source: Northern Gaels Hurling Club)

One of the earliest references to hurling and by far the most famous and widely known is from the 12th century document which tells the story of Cu Chulainn and clearly mentions the word camán which is the Irish word for hurley. Cu Chulainn was one of the greatest Irish mythological heroes and legend tells us of his famous feat when, as a young boy and known then as Setanta, he defeated a viscous hound by hitting his ball through the mouth of the hound with his hurley. For this feat he won the name Cu Chulainn, the Hound of Chulainn. This story is told in Táin Bo Cuailgne (The Cattle Raid of Cooley). (Source: Northern Gaels Hurling Club)

The sport was probably a central part of the annual Tailteann Games, which is said to have been the oldest and longest recorded continually organized sports event in the world. They occurred continuously from about 1800 BC to 1180 AD when they died out shortly after the Norman invasion.

After the Norman invasion, Anglo-Norman rulers attempted to eliminate hurling and other forms of Irish culture by issuing the Statutes of Kilkenny in 1366 and the Galway Statutes in 1527. Despite these ordinances, the game’s popularity amongst both the Irish and Normans enabled it to endure.

In 1884, the Gaelic Athletic Association was founded to support and promote Irish games and traditions. As a result, the game's popularity continued to grow and today, the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship finals held in Croke Park, Dublin, are a highlight of the sports calendar in Ireland.