Gaelic Athletic Association promotes new sports on P.E.I.

A group of Irish Islanders is getting kids interested in the sport of hurling, a much-loved Irish sport that encompasses the skills of lacrosse, hockey and baseball.

The Gaelic Athletic Association promotes Gaelic games and wants P.E.I. schools to offer hurling, as well as Irish football — sports that have existed for thousands of years. 

Our goal is to re-introduce this to P.E.I. and really have a lot of crack [fun] in doing it.— Shane O'Neill, Gaelic Athletic Association

They say if they can raise enough interest, the association will supply the schools with free equipment and also train gym teachers.

"We know that there's a very strong collection of Celtic heritage in Prince Edward Island," said Shane O'Neill, who hails from Ireland's County Clare.

"When individuals emigrated to Canada during the famine year, they would have brought with them their language, culture and sports. Our goal is to re-introduce this to P.E.I. and really have a lot of crack [fun] in doing it."

Hurling is played on a rugby-sized field, with a ball like a baseball, wooden sticks called hurlies and helmets. There are 15 players per side (one is a goalie), and the object is to hit the ball over the crossbar or into the back of the net. 

O'Neill said hurling in Ireland is as common as hockey in Canada.

"Every kid ... as soon as you're born, you get a hurley."

O'Neill describes Gaelic football as a cross between rugby, soccer and Australian-rules football. Players kick, slap or dribble a soccer-sized ball. 

"Like soccer where you can handle the ball," explains O'Neill.

A level playing field

O'Neill and his friend Peter Connaughton, a teacher in Montague, are starting up a P.E.I. branch of the Canadian Gaelic Athletic Association. They've done demonstrations at schools in Montague, Souris, and Kensington. 

O'Neill said students in Grades 9 to 11 enjoyed hurling because it was new and different, and because everyone is starting at the same level since none of them have tried it before. 

"Kids who tend to shy away from participating were willing to try it out," said O'Neill.  

The association also wants to develop senior mens' and womens' teams on P.E.I.

There are already a handful of hurling teams in Canada, including eight in the Toronto area, and one each in Ottawa, Quebec, Montreal, St. John's and Halifax.

"We're looking at community-building and getting people together Island-wide, while also inviting GAA clubs from Halifax, St. John's, Montreal, to visit our Island and take us on in Gaelic games," said O'Neill.

The GAA has had two demonstration nights for adults, including one this past Monday, showing people what Gaelic football is all about. 

They plan to meet once a week, and know it will be a challenge to introduce new sports.

The group plans to keep costs very low, with registration fees about $20 a year.