Hurling
Ancient Irish stick-and-ball team sport, governed by the GAA.
Hurling (known in Irish as *iománaíocht* or *iomáint*) is an outdoor team sport with ancient Gaelic Irish roots. When women play, it is called camogie (*camógaíocht*), a name that comes from the same Gaelic origin. As one of Ireland’s native Gaelic games, it shares many features with Gaelic football—including the same field and goal dimensions, the number of players, and a lot of the terminology.
The aim is to use an ash wood stick—called a hurl or hurley (in Irish, *camán*)—to strike a small ball known as a *sliotar*. Players score by sending the sliotar between the opponent’s goalposts: one point for sending it over the crossbar, or three points for driving it under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper. The sliotar can be caught by hand and carried for no more than four steps, struck in the air, or hit off the ground with the hurley. It may also be kicked or slapped with an open hand (a hand pass) for short passes. To carry the ball beyond four steps, a player must bounce it or balance it on the end of the stick (a solo). The ball can be handled only twice while a player has possession. A player with at least one foot on the ground can make a shoulder-to-shoulder charge on an opponent who has the ball, is playing it, or is moving toward it. No protective padding is worn, but since 2010, a plastic helmet with a faceguard has been mandatory for all age groups.
Forms of hurling have been played since at least the Middle Ages. The earliest written references appear in Irish law tracts from the seventh century, and the earliest archaeological evidence dates from the twelfth century. The first written rules were published in January 1883 by the Dublin Hurling Club.
Today, hurling is governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It regularly appears in art forms such as film, music, and literature. CNN ranked the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final second in its list of “10 sporting events you have to see live,” behind only the Olympic Games and ahead of the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship. After the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final, *Financial Times* columnist Simon Kuper wrote that hurling was “the best sport ever and if the Irish had colonised the world, nobody would ever have heard of football.” UNESCO lists hurling as an element of intangible cultural heritage. A 2024 survey found that 25% of Irish
- origin
- Ancient Gaelic Irish
- governing_body
- Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
- team_size
- 15 players per side
- ball
- Sliotar (cork centre, leather cover, 69–72 mm diameter, 110–120 g)
- stick
- Hurley/hurl (ash wood, 24–36 inches long)
- field_dimensions
- 130–145 m long, 80–90 m wide
- match_duration
- 70 minutes (senior inter-county); 60 minutes (other levels)
Lore & Background
Early forms of hurling have been played since at least the Middle Ages, with the earliest written references appearing in Irish law tracts from the seventh century. The earliest archaeological evidence dates from the twelfth-century. The first written rules for hurling were published in January 1883 by the Dublin Hurling Club. Hurling is today administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It has featured regularly in art forms such as film, music and literature.
Reader's Guide
Hurling is a fast-paced field game requiring skill with the hurley to strike the sliotar at speeds over 150 km/h. Scoring involves hitting the ball over the crossbar (one point) or under it into a net (three points). Players may carry the ball for four steps, then must bounce or solo it on the stick. Tackling is permitted shoulder-to-shoulder, but dangerous use of the hurley is a foul. Since 2010, all players must wear a helmet with a faceguard. The final of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was listed in second place by CNN in its '10 sporting events you have to see live', after the Olympic Games. UNESCO lists hurling as an element of intangible cultural heritage. A 2024 survey found that hurling was the favourite sport of 25% of Irish people.
Did You Know?
- The earliest written references to hurling appear in Irish law tracts from the seventh century.
- A good strike with a hurley can propel the sliotar over 150 km/h and 110 metres.
- Since 2010, all players must wear a plastic protective helmet with a faceguard.
- The goalkeeper's hurley has a bas twice the size of other players' hurleys.
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