School: Fothanach (roll number 7980)

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1. Hurling and Football Matches

   

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   A hundred years ago, the custom was for a parish to play against another. There were twenty-one players on each side. The ball would be thrown up in a suitable field near the parish mearing and the best side would hurl it home as there were no goal posts then. About that time there was a hurling match played between Kilconnell and Killalaghton in a nine acre field in Coraneena, South of Kilconnell adjoining the latter parish. They hurled for three quarters of an hour without either side being able to take it out of the field until one of Kilconnell's best players Martin Lynskey got his leg broken after which Killalaghton won the day and hurled it home to Cappatagle.

   The hurleys were made of crooked ash much the same as now but stronger. Some players used straight sticks as one could give a better hang with it. Caye Kelly is the best Kilconnell player never used anything else.

   Hurley balls were made locally with corks and woollen thread. They used to put a few grains of shot in a quill barrell in the centre to make it carry straight and then they got the local shoemaker to cover it with leather. It was a larger size than the ball used now.

   
   Written by,

   Martin Kenny
   Kilconnell

   Told by his father

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
         1. entertainments and recreational activities (~5,933)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Martin Kenny

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Kilconnell, Co. Galway

   Collector

   Norman Ferragher

   Gender

   Male

   Informant

   James Miskell

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Doon Lower, Co. Galway

   Informant

   Martin Clinten

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Lenaloughra, Co. Galway

   Informant

   William Glynn

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Fohanagh, Co. Galway