Social Hurling

The sun shone as we made our way across the M50 to the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown for the GAA National Social Hurling and Football Blitz. This proved to be a great omen for the morning ahead. 8 hurling teams and 12 football teams easily mixed over a coffee beforehand to settle the nerves. Our hurling team, although missing a few key players lined up for our first of four games against a team from Down. The result didn’t go as we might have hoped, nor did the second games against St Judes.After the break we got into our stride and convincingly bet a team from Hetfordshire who, rumour has it, were putting the ‘social’ aspect of the tournament to full effect into the wee hours the night before. Our last game was a close encounter against familiar foes from Cuala. A tight game with only one goal saw us take the spoils here again. All in all it was a fantastic morning and really captured the ethos of all things GAA. Sport, fun, respect and inclusion were abundant on the day. I’ve no doubt this will be replicated in our own blitz on Easter Saturday!

I joined the club back in 2016, bringing my son to the academy. The social hurling started in 2019 - though I didn't join in until 2021. I hadn't picked up a hurl since I was 12. I was 48 when I joined the group, 36 long years to forget any concept or skill I'd developed. I'd been sporty and active most my life, stopping all sport and exercise in 2014 - pesky kids. I missed the craic of the dressing room, the fun on the pitch, the joy of running around chasing a ball. Paul, one my boys' mentors, asked me a few times to come along for the craic and fun. I always found an excuse not to go. I didn't have a helmet. I couldn't run around a pitch at my age. How would my back hold up? How would my ankles hold up? How would my body hold up? I'm too unfit. Arthritis, sciatica - you name it, I used it as a reason not to do anything. I haven't played sports or exercised in years. I decided to take the plunge and give it a go - worst case scenario, I buy a helmet, I don't like it or don't enjoy it - I have a helmet for my son in the future, as he grows. The group has honestly given me a great avenue of expression, somewhere to chat, have a bit of craic and physical activity. Mentally, it's released a huge valve for me. The lads are welcoming, friendly and patient on the field of play. Newbies (and believe me I class myself as such) are given a lot of time to become accustomed to playing the sport. I haven't looked back.

My name is Neil Fogarty and I have been playing with Naomh Ólaf social hurlers since their formation in 2019. Born in Dublin in 1969, both parents from Kilkenny (Hurling is in the blood). My father played Hurling in both his native Kilkenny (Lisdowney) and in Dublin (Faughs). I played Hurling for Craobh Chiarain (Donnycarney, Dublin) from Juvenile and through all Adult grades. I joined Naomh Ólaf in 2016 when my son was old enough to join the Academy. I’m one of mentors with the 2012 Boys and am also the club’s Juvenile Chairman. Social Hurling is a fantastic way of keeping fit(ish), having a bit of craic (on and off the field) and meeting new friends.

I joined the club in the Summer of 2020 with my daughter going into the academy. I heard about the Social Hurling group and decided to give it a try. I didn't know anyone in the group and hadn't picked up a hurl in about 30 years. I wasn't great back then and found I was even worse than I remembered. The lads were great though. I'm delighted I started. I've made loads of friends and have great craic on the Friday nights.

I joined after seeing a message about it on twitter around 2019. I went up and was made to feel very welcome even though I'm from a different club. I had hurled up to u15s and went back and played a bit of junior in my early 20s but hadn't played in over 20 years. I enjoy going up for a puck about and the fact that nobody takes it too seriously (mostly 😀). Looking forward to a bit more of the social element this year.

I'm writing to explain why I play and joined Naomh Ólaf Social Hurling. A few years ago, I heard of social hurling being organised and being from a traditional hurling county I said I'd love to get involved. I'm 42yrs old and definitely thought that playing hurling at my age was long gone, but I was wrong. I find social hurling as a gateway that's still open for me and others like me, to "relive our youth" and to get physical exercise playing a game that we all love. It's also a great stress buster to park all the day to day goings on and meet up with guys from all walks of life with all different levels of ability and enjoy this wonderful game.I think social hurling has/is and will continue to be a fantastic social place for men and women to get together, have a laugh and get a huge amount of enjoyment out of it. Hopefully I will be lucky enough to continue playing for many more years to come.

Wrong side of 40. Asking my kids to commit to things I wouldn't/couldn't do myself. Too many nights on the sofa with a takeout and beer. Always thought hurling was one of the most skilful and beautiful games to watch. Part of my history, culture and steeped in fairy tales. Gave a sense of identity and pride. Can you hurl? No... no problem, let's change that. Randomly, I saw a Dad pucking a sliotar to his kids. Building up their confidence, hand eye coordination and keeping himself fit. Got talking to him and was invited to give it a go, head up to the pitch on a Friday after a week’s work and have a puck about. Armed with an old pair of tag rugby shorts, brand new Lidl hurley and a 20 year old helmet from my canoe polo days, I went out to meet the most unlikely bunch of lads ever assembled.As far as I could see, they were from all walks of life with one thing in common. Having the craic and beating a little leather ball around. Dip in and out when you can, get up off your arse and have a puck about. Felt just brilliant after it, bolloxed but buzzing. Keeps me coming back any chance I get. Clears the head in an instant.

I played hurling most of my life and had hung up my boots a few years back thinking that would be the end of it. I have been involved in the Friday night puck around since the beginning in 2019 and it has been absolutely fantastic to relive my youth. It's a great way to make new friends from all walks of life, have a bit of craic and try to keep some way fit. I would highly recommend giving it a try whether you have never picked up a hurley in your life or whether you played a bit and would like to get back pucking a ball about without having the commitment or pressure of letting a team down if you miss training or a match...its the same time every week and no pressure. Give it a go and if you are like me, you will never look back ! I now hope to be pucking a ball around for a long time yet, something I thought I would never say a few years ago.

My arm has been twisted to write why I play social hurling. Well......for me it's like this. Once you learn how to ride a bike you never forget. Once you have played hurling you never forget. You never want to forget. It's the touch, catch, thrill of a good strike, a hook, a block, a decent pass, skill, anticipation (in SlowMo). "No POINTS allowed" I was told on the first night - only PINTS in social hurling! That's the "social" side. It is all of that and more. The different club and county jerseys - worn proudly by men who are proud of where they come from, proud of belonging. Some of us don't have the county jerseys - have never had a sense of fashion (so the wife and daughter tell me) we don't really care - T shirts inside out - no one is looking.Some wear helmets to cover receding hair lines, others to hide the few gray ones coming through and then there are the few that played at a time when helmets were not mandatory, yes fadó fadó as my daughter reminds me.Yes there is that mix of age groups. Age is just a number - no one is counting - thankfully no upper limit. For me it is all about connecting - connecting with a group of people, initially strangers who become friends, who love the game of hurling - its the crack - the chat - the camaraderie. That's why I play.Its all fun until we are divided into two teams and the two lads that can still run are on the same team! I'm going in goals!

Having enjoyed the spectacle from afar for many years (being a brit), and with my first passion (rugby) not being a viable option anymore due to my advancing decrepitude(!), I wondered whether there were any opportunities to take up hurling? My children are in the academy at the club, and after asking around and finding out that a number of other dads wanted to play, a social hurling team was formed. So, at the age of 53, I took up hurling and now it is my new passion!