Hurling once again in Vancouver!
By JOHN O'FLYNN
VANCOUVER - One of Ireland's national sports - hurling - was proudly on display at Vancouver's David Lam Park. A highly promoted part of CelticFest on March 13, members of the Irish Sporting and Social Club and St. Patrick's Day parade participants basked in the summer sunshine of the day.
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| MEMBERS OF THE VANCOUVER Irish Sporting and Social Club who took part in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade were: (L-R) President, Gavan Connolly; Vice-President John O’Flynn and avid fan Kyle Cooke. |
Fans were thoroughly entertained by those who had the opportunity to play this skillful game. Global TV’s Mike McCardell was in attendance and all of British Columbia learned more about this game that same night as part of his nightly news piece.
Hurling is a game similar to field hockey, in that it is played with a small ball and a curved wooden stick. It is Europe's oldest field game. Hurling features in Irish folklore to illustrate the deeds of heroic mystical figures and it is chronicled as a distinct Irish pastime for at least 2,000 years.
The stick, or "hurley" (called camán in Irish – pronounced “kay-maan”) is curved outwards at the end, to provide the striking surface. The ball or “sliothar” (pronounced “slit-er”) is similar in size to a hockey ball but has raised ridges.
Hurling is played on a pitch approximately 137 meters long and 82 meters wide (150 yards x100 yards wide). The goal posts are the same shape as on a rugby pitch, with the crossbar lower than a rugby one and slightly higher than a soccer one.
You may strike the ball on the ground, or in the air. Unlike field hockey, you may pick up the ball with your hurley and carry it for not more than four steps in the hand. After those steps you may bounce the ball on the hurley and back to the hand, but you are forbidden to catch the ball more than twice.
To get around this, one of the skills is running with the ball balanced on the hurley. To score, you put the ball over the crossbar with the hurley or under the crossbar and into the net by the hurley for a goal, the latter being the equivalent of three points.
The two teams on March 13 consisted of a couple of first time players: one from Melbourne, Peter Campion, Surrey resident Ted Murray and Glasweigan Jim Ritchie. A number of players who have served in their local GAA clubs back home in Ireland were very pleased to have a go once again.
Bernard Ward of Antrim provided a half of solid goal keeping that brought many positive responses from the sidelines. Vancouver’s Chris Cyr was tired of chasing wides as the first half goalie and decided to become quite a “mullocker” for the benefit of the spectators.
Tyrone’s Marty McCann proved to be a darling of the fans as he “lamped” a number of opponents without breaking his hurl. Clare’s Paul Stack and Dublin’s Jamie D’Alton provided confident displays of hurling skill while Cork man Billy Flynn provided inspiration to Vancouver’s Connor Flynn (18) who was participating in his first competitive match.
It is understood by some that Gavan Connolly and Sean Quinn were participating as “hurlers in a ditch” and that a number of potato seeds were sown by them over the course of the match.
Referee Richie “Namajaysus” Cannon was rather active in chatting for the TV cameras than blowing the whistle and catching some “schkelping” (the removal of living tissue in the absence of surgical procedures) that was performed on me by Ian Kelly!
An international match of hurling will be hosted by the Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club and the White Rock Irish Club for July 3 at 12:30 PM at the South Surrey Athletic Park located off 20th Avenue between 146th and 148th Streets in Surrey, B.C.
The Seattle Gaels hurling team, which will be competing in Philadelphia at the North American County Board Championships, will take on an Irish-Canadian team of Albertan and British Columbian All-Stars. Limerick man Thomas O’Flynn of West Limerick Holdings Ltd., to honour the occasion, has donated a plaque that will be presented to the winning side. For more information, call (604) 929-0683 or isscvancouver@hotmail.com.
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