Travel bible Lonely Planet has put the Irish sport of hurling on top of its list of Unique Sports to Try on Your Travels in 2020.
Coming ahead of the likes of volcano boarding in Nicaragua and freediving in Australia, Lonely Planet says a trip to experience the Gaelic game will not only leave you with a potential new hobby, but a deeper understanding and a stronger connection with the Irish people.
“Lightning-fast reactions are an advantage for those taking up hurling, which is the fastest field game on Earth” the travel bible states. “Learning to play offers not only a physical workout but an opportunity to delve into Irish culture; the sport is practically a religion in parts of the Emerald Isle, where it has been played for around 4,000 years.”
Full of pace and power and recognised by UNESCO as global cultural asset, the ancient game has been shaped by myth, history and geography and, with Gaelic football, is deeply engrained in the Irish national identity and culture.
From Antrim to Tipperary and from Dublin to Down, rival county clubs play fiercely competitive hurling matches across the island, and there are numerous opportunities to learn, play and spectate the game regardless of age, gender or skill level.