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IRELAND-HISTORY-CULTURE-SPORT-HURLING
Ancient Irish sport of hurling wins UNESCO heritage status
DUBLIN, Nov 29, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The Irish sport of hurling — often
described as “the fastest game on grass” — was granted UNESCO special status
on Thursday, adding it to the register of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity”.
“I am delighted that hurling has achieved international recognition,”
Irish Culture Minister Josepha Madigan said.
“Hurling is a key element of Irish culture. For centuries, hurling has been
an important part of the Irish identity, with men and women passing on this
living tradition to each rising generation.”
Hurling is known for its brutal contact tackles and during play the ball
regularly travels at speeds in excess of 150 kilometres per hour (93 mph),
meaning players wear face masks.
The game is played by teams of 15 on a pitch with “H” shaped goals at
either end.
Players use carved wooden sticks called “hurleys” — resembling paddles —
as well as their hands and feet to move a “sliotar” — similar to a baseball
— up the field.
Points are gained by striking the sliotar between the goalposts with the
hurley. A goal, when the ball passes below the bar, is worth three points
while a shot over the crossbar is worth one point.
Hurling and Camogie — a form of the game played by women — have a deep
cultural and political history in the Republic.
According to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) the sport is one of the
oldest field games in the world, and has been popular for at least 3,000
years in Ireland.
Tales of the sport are enshrined in Irish myth and legend, which emphasise
it as a form of training for the rigours of the battlefield.
The early Celtic legal system codified compensation for hurling accidents –
– with provisions for deliberate injury and even death during a game.
In the 12th century hurling was outlawed, following the Norman invasion of
Ireland. In the history books there are also reports that when the Irish
fought the British for independence members of the Irish Republican Army
(IRA) sometimes trained with hurleys — using them as stand-ins for the
rifles they lacked.
Hurling enjoys a vigorous following across Ireland.
It is played widely in schools, and counties regularly play against each
other in well-attended league and championship competitions presided over by
the GAA.
“This UNESCO award is international recognition for our native game and an
acknowledgement of its cultural, social and sporting importance to the people
of Ireland,” said GAA president John Horan.
“It reaffirms the fact that Hurling is more than just a sport. It is a
national treasure; an ancient tradition that connects us to our Celtic past
and a part of our DNA.”
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation.
BSS/AFP/RY/1828 hrs