ISSC 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Hurling - the Riverdance of Sport!

By JOHN O'FLYNN

VANCOUVER - The arrival from Ireland in 1922 of four religious brothers – Lannon, Keane, Reid and Murtagh of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, who came to open and direct a Catholic school for boys (Vancouver College), hold the distinction of being the first to introduce, organize and promote the game of hurling among their students.

Dublin born Bill Milne recalls seeing pictures on the school’s main hallway of their hurling teams when his own sons were in attendance at Vancouver College in the early Seventies.

Bill solicited a donation of 10 hurls and two sliotars from a Dublin team called Eireann’s Isle in the town of Finglas in the mid-Seventies. Shortly afterwards, he kindly gave the hurls to ISSC member Liam Cadogan for the club’s use.

VANCOUVER Irish Sporting and Social club
hurling team - 1975

The North American County Board Senior Hurling Championships, which began in 1959, have included a number of victorious Canadian teams. 1961 – Montreal; 1965 - Toronto Garryowen; 1970 - Toronto Garryowen; 1974 - Toronto Garryowen; 1975 - Toronto St. Michael’s; 1978 – Toronto St. Michael’s. Many former players from these great teams found their way to live in or visit Vancouver where they proudly recounted their involvement with these Championship teams.

The ISSC men first competed against teams from San Francisco (away 1975 and home 1976 – Swangard Stadium). A donation of a stack of “back-up” hurling sticks used by the Carroll’s All-Stars touring team in San Francisco (1975) were given to the ISSC by GAA Secretary General Sean O Siochan which allowed a local nine-a-side hurling league to develop for a few summers.

The ISSC traveled to Victoria at this time where an exhibition match occurred with the media in attendance and Bill Milne provided a running commentary. Over the years friendly matches among ISSC members have been played on St. Patrick’s Day and at social picnics. Many a time, in between the Gaelic football training, some hurls would surface and some mighty swings with the sliotars would dominate the field.

VANCOUVER Irish Sporting and Social club
hurling team - 1994

In 2003, two full sets of hurls and sliotars were purchased by the ISSC from a Canadian who had bought them in Ireland 10 years earlier but had let them languish in a basement unused and untouched due to a lack of interest.

A teaching colleague of John O’Flynn brought it to his attention that the equipment was for sale and the ISSC acted quickly to purchase them at a “basement” bargain price of $450. Club President at the time, Brendan O’Leary, worked at applying linseed oil and sanding them down so they would be ready for their first test, which would prove to be memorable.

The “Clash of the Ash” resonated loudly this year on August 1 at White Rock, B.C. where a Western Canadian select team of Irish and Canadian born players from Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver played the newly formed Seattle Gaels Hurling club of the North American County Board.

This was the first competitive hurling match played in 28 years between an Irish American and Irish Canadian team with the West Limerick Holdings Ltd. Challenge Plaque up for the winners.

ISSC members who played on the Irish Canadian team included: goalkeeper – Bernard Ward; full backs – Sean Quinn and Jim Fitzgerald; mid fielders – John O'Flynn and Paul Stack; and full forwards – Gavan Connolly and Richie Gough who all contributed to the 4-13 to 2-5 victory over Seattle.

It was a sight to behold for the many spectators, as the protective headgear of the Seattle team brought out an amazing similarity to the gear of a “beekeeper.” One of the Canadian players (originally from Cork) proudly wore a shower cap in the first half, so as to provide a visual target for his teammates.

It was loudly noted by one local, originally from Charleville, Cork, that overall the players seemed to spend a lot of time “plowing the ground….as if they were going to sow a few potatoes.” Only one hurl was broken that day and Jim Fitzgerald was delighted it was an ISSC hurl and not his own, which he had wisely put away just before the match.

Hurling may have a promising future for the Vancouver Irish community with the genesis of the game in Seattle. It would be a certainty that the ISSC with a capable instructor and willing volunteers, may draw continued interest in this ancient game. Certainly many will look forward to 2005, which will bring another great “clash of the ash” planned for the summer.

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