Hurleys

INFOMATIQUE ARCHIVE 13 AUGUST 2018

I visited Kilkenny in August 2018 and for a variety of reasons did not use many of the photographs that resulted from that trip.

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A hurley or hurl or hurling stick (Irish: camán) is a wooden stick used in the Irish sports of hurling and camogie. It typically measures between 45 and 96 cm (18 to 38 inches) long with a flattened, curved bas ([bˠasˠ] BOSS, “palm of hand”) at the end. The bas is used to strike a leather sliotar ball. GAA Rule 4.5 specifies that the bas should be no more than 13cm at its widest point, however this rule is “ignored completely”, with most hurleys having a bas in the region of 15.24 to 17cm.

Different varieties of Hiberno-English call the stick either a ‘hurl’ or ‘hurley’. There are regional variations, with 22 of Ireland’s 32 counties using the term ‘hurl’ according to a poll in 2020, which found that 97% of people in County Cork preferred the name ‘hurley’, while 98% of people in County Wexford preferred ‘hurl’. The use of the word ‘hurl’, to refer to the stick, reputedly dates back to at least 1882.

Hurleys are made from ash wood; the base of the tree near the root is the only part used and is usually bought from local craftsmen in Ireland (for about €20–50), who still use traditional production methods. However, for some time in the 1970s, hurleys made from plastic were used, mainly produced by Wavin. These proved more likely to cause injury, however, and were phased out. As of 2012, at least one manufacturer was producing synthetic hurleys approved for use by the GAA.[7] On wooden hurleys, steel bands are used to reinforce the flattened end – though these are not permitted in camogie due to increased risk of injury. Bands have been put on hurleys since the beginning; the 8th century Brehon Laws permit only a king’s son to have a bronze band, while all others must use a copper band.