So as another bit of information about me I am Irish! Ireland is known for many things, potatoes, leprechauns and drinking but what it should be known for is creating one of the most dangerous sports in the world.
Yes I am talking about hurling. The Sliotar (The ball) can travel at over 150 kilometres per hour and only 11 years ago was wearing helmets made compulsory.
Hurling is a game formed from Irish mythology. This game is so old that it existed before Irish written history. The story of Cú Chulainn, or ‘Culann’s hound’ is a story about a young boy who was on his way to a war meeting he was late due to being out playing Hurling with his buddies. On his way to the meeting house an Irish wolfhound attacked him and Cú Chulainn had to defend himself, killing the dog. Turns out this was the guard dog for the leader of the war meeting, to show his apologies to the leader he pledged himself to the leader of the rebellion being called Cú Chulainn or Culann’s hound.
This game was repeatedly banned by the english because they would use ‘game practice’ and plan uprising. Banned in 1336 for the reason that the game was ‘more Irish than the Irish themselves’ in 1527 hurling was banned again this time for ‘excessive violence’. Now this game is very dangerous don’t get me wrong but like come on this country have all been raised to have to defend themselves and you are surprised by the excessive violence.
Hurling is a game that is segregated by gender not for sexist reasons but for the fact that if you are a 6,5 man you hit a solid ,originally concrete, ball at a 5’5 woman you might actually kill her. From personal experience it very much hurts to have a solid ball hit you. The female version of Hurling is called Camogie. Same rules, same team numbers, same gear just separated for safety.
People outside of Ireland have complained that it is sexist but honestly when i played as a kid against my cousins and my brother when I got hit by one of the boys it hurt so much and we were all like 10 I cannot imagine how much it would hurt to be hit now that we are all older.
I think more people should play Hurling or Camogie it is such a fun game. I mean have you ever wanted to smack one of your friends across the face with a wooden stick while chasing them for a small solid ball. The chaos of this game is something I very much enjoy.
As a little funny story from my Irish household we actually use our hurling sticks to catch or kill rats that come into our house.
Thanks again for reading
Myllo
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