Grace on fire
Grace Castro, Arts Editor

I suddenly found myself in the midst of the competitive world of Hurling.  Most people know hurling after a drunken night, crawling on the bathroom floor, to pray to the porcelain god, but this is quite different.

By definition, hurling is an outdoor team sport of Celtic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks and a ball (dictionary.com). 

Hurling is an insanely popular sport in Ireland and has made its way to CSUMB.  I met with TAT major and Hurling Club hopeful, Brendan Lee.  He showed me how hurling is played.  Hurling can be best compared to field hockey and lacrosse and has the reputation of being the fastest field sport in the world.  Hurley is traditionally played on a large field, with 15 players per team; a curved wooden stick called a hurley is used to hit a hard ball named a sliotar.  The hurley is used to knock the sliotar between the opposing team's goal posts. Although Lee couldn’t show me first hand, hurling is a rough and tough sport.  Just image 15 men armed with a stick, all going after the same ball. Testosterone is bound to kick in.    

While witnessing the demonstration, I couldn’t help but notice the overwhelming interest.  I wasn’t sure if it was the big sticks or the small round ball but everyone took notice.  “What the hell is that?” was the most common used phrase among passer Byers.  They stopped, grabbed a hurley and jumped right in.                 

Hurling is a sport for those who don’t mind getting rambunctious, chasing a ball up and down a field while getting a bit mangled.  It’s an Irish sport, need I say more?    
So my suggestion, grab a Guinness, leave the corned beef and cabbage baking, throw on your wee little shorts and try it out.    
           
Lee plays hurling whenever he and his friends have time, usually, in the Main Quad out in the grass.  Lee is planning on starting a club on campus where competitive hurling can be played against other teams.  If you are interested in trying out your skills, contact Brendan Lee via first class or catch em’ mid game in the main quad.