SA New Generation of Hurlers
Now Training in Seattle
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
Rob Mullin with the Seattle Gaels hurling team never tires of talking about the Gaelic games and hurling, one of Ireland's national sports. Rob is a mover and shaker in the Pacific Northwest promoting the game of hurling, and helping to make it so well-known in the area.
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ROB MULLIN (R) is seen here with John Keane.
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I spoke to Rob recently about the sport and the team's upcoming schedule and he told me, "This year we have a national team that we will send to the North American County Board finals in Philadelphia which takesplace on the Labor Day long weekend.
"We also run a Seattle hurling league in which we have three teams from Seattle with a total of nine to 13 guys and gals. Actually, we're intermixed this year. We play games every Sunday and conclude our year at the end of August, but we may do a short Fall season, depending on the level of interest after the nationals are over.
"Playing at the national level is where the rubber really hits the road, where we try to challenge ourselves. Last year we made it to the finals, but we lost to Washington, D.C. It was a hard fought game but we lost in the end. Still the team did a great job."
Ron Mullin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and he grew up playing hockey. He discovered the ancient Irish game of hurling while participating in the Society for Creative Anachronisms.
The focus of the society is medieval re-creations and Rob learned about the sport while on a camping trip to Mount Rainier with another member of the Society. He said, "this fellow did extensive research on ancient Irish culture, and he had made his own hurleys and sliotars (sticks and balls). It was while we were on this camping trip that he brought out these hurleys and balls and asked if I would like to play hurling.
"We were at the base of the mountain and we started hitting the ball around. We played for about a second and a half before we had to stop to catch our breath because of the altitude. I thought it was awesome and after that I was hooked on the game.
"When we came back to Seattle, we started a little hurling group within the medieval society. But when more people joined they did not want to dress in medieval costume, so we split the group and began to make it a competitive sport.
"At this point we talked to John Keane who helped us through the North American County Board. John is like The Godfather here in Seattle!
"The North American Board has helped out an awful lot with our equipment, but from here on in we must buy our own equipment. We look to the Irish community in Seattle for sponsorship and we also run a couple of large fundraisers every year.
"It's always a struggle financially. It takes a lot of money to run a club, so we're always looking for help.
"Liam Boyle is our youth development person and he has been running regular youth training sessions on how to use the hurls and sliotars. I predict that within the next few years, you will see a whole new generation with more interest in hurling."
For more information about hurling in Seattle, call Rob Mullin at (206) 953-8460, or e-mail: robm@seattlehurlingclub.org or gaels@seattlegaels.com.
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