Hurling is an outdoor team sport of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years. Hurling is the world's fastest field sport. One of Ireland’s native Gaelic games, it shares a number of features with Gaelic football, such as the field and goals, number of players etc.
The object of the game is for players is to hit a sliotar between the opponents’ goalposts either over the crossbar for one point, or under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper for one goal, which is equivalent to three points. The sliotar can be caught in the hand and carried for not more than four steps, struck in the air, or struck on the ground with the hurley. It can be kicked or slapped with an open hand (the hand pass) for short-range passing. A player who wants to carry the ball for more than three steps has to bounce or balance the sliotar on the end of the hurley and the sliotar can only be handled twice while in his possession.
Side-to-side shouldering is allowed. No protective padding is worn by players. A plastic protective helmet with faceguard is mandatory for all age groups, including senior level, as of 2010. The game has been described as “a bastion of humility”, with player names absent from jerseys and a player’s number decided by his position on the field.
Hurling is played throughout the world, and is popular among members of the Irish diaspora in the United Kingdom, North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina. In Ireland, it is a fixture of life. It has featured regularly in both film and literature. In 2007, Forbes magazine described the media attention and population multiplication of Thurles town ahead of one of the game’s annual provincial hurling finals as being “the rough equivalent of 30 million Americans watching a regional lacrosse game.”
The video below is the best way to explain hurling to someone who has never seen it before. The Fastest Game on Grass:
Youth Program
Monday, 01 March 2010 18:46
The Barley House Wolves Youth Program
The Barley House Wolves initiated a youth program in 2009. Our goal for the first year was to introduce the sport to young athletes in the area. We do this through some basic skills drills and teaching the rules and object of the game. As we progress over the next year we will increase the number of youths exposed to Hurling and concurrently increase the level of skill and introduce small scale competition. The Wolves are proponents of the GO! Games philosophy and are using the First Touch, Quick Touch and Smart Touch method.
Have a question for the Barley House Wolves Hurling Team? Would you like to play? Please email us at
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. We'd love to hear from you!
In early spring, we start outdoor practice. Practice is held on Tuesday (4-6pm) and Thursday (5-7pm). We practice at our regulation size field at Hall Street, right on the Bow/Concord Town Line (directions).
