Experience Gaelic Games

Once again, another brave group of students went to Experience Gaelic Games at Na Fianna GAA Club in Dublin.

 

Though largely unfamiliar with Gaelic sports they took to the field to learn the rules, practice ball handling skills and play an exciting scrimmage in both Hurling and Gaelic football… of course, not without loads of help from their wonderful coaches at Experience Gaelic Games!

  

 

 

 

 For more detailed explanation of the rules and history of Gaelic Games check out our post from last semester Champlain Dublin Experience Gaelic Games – Fall 2010

 

Our first game was hurling, the fastest field game in the world. Played with a stick called a hurley and a ball called a sliotar which resembles a small baseball. The ball is moved by striking it in the air, striking it on the ground, kicked or slapped with an open palm, carried in hand for three steps or balanced on the end of the hurley indefinitely.

Though this is a very fast and rough game where players run around with large ash sticks and a small, hard ball can be shot at upwards of 150km/hr (90mph) helmets are only mandatory as of 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 Next up was Football; fifteen players to a side and a leather ball similar to a volleyball. The ball may be moved down the field by kicking, hand passing (striking the ball with the thumb knuckle of a closed fist) or soloing every three paces (running down the field while kicking the ball into your own hands). Oh, and you can’t pick the ball directly up off the ground; you have to either catch a pass or scoop it up with your feet… this sounds much much easier than it actually is.