Catch the Gaelic game of hurling in Greenville, SC

We’re breaking down the Irish sport of hurling including its rules and where you can catch a game.

A worn white ball with curved stitching like a baseball lies on a pitch of sunny grass.

The ball is called a sliotar, pronounced “slit-er.”

Photo by Adrian via Pexels

Table of Contents

There are many ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but have you heard about hurling? No, not that kind of hurling. We’re talking about the Irish sport.

What is hurling?

This ancient Gaelic game is the national sport of Ireland and looks a bit like field hockey played with a baseball.

Players use a wooden stick to pass and score points by shooting through the opponent’s goalpost. Players use the stick (called a hurl or hurley) to hit and balance the ball (called a sliotar).

Want to learn all the official rules? Check out the US Gaelic Athletic Association (USGAA).

Get involved

Whether you want to hurl yourself onto the field or be a spectator, the Greenville Gaels has you covered. Scope out the competition, as well as other Gaelic sports, with the USGAA’s interactive map.

More from GVLtoday
We spoke with Andrea Ciavardini-Royko minutes after she found out she was a James Beard Award semifinalist.
Ice storms in SC have caused widespread damage in the past, and as we brace for winter weather, we spoke to a meteorologist to find out why.
The updated plans were presented to Greenville County Council as the arena requests funding to make the renovations possible.
We compiled all of the feedback from our Giving Campaign to learn what readers love most and want to see more of in our newsletters. Here’s a peek at what they said.
We’re hopping on the latest social trend and reminiscing on some of 2016’s biggest moments, including our very own launch.
Spoiler alert: Traffic isn’t great. We dove into the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s congestion data so you don’t have to.
Help us create a growing guide to small businesses by submitting your favorite local makers, restaurants, and professionals, and sharing this page with a friend.
“WHEN I think about Greenville, South Carolina architecture this is exactly what comes to mind,” the post said.
The new Meals on Wheels building features a 15,000-sqft kitchen with 5,000 sqft of storage for food.
The event, which also took place in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Nashville in January, urges participants to explore new coffee shops in their city.