Time to honour hurling cup that runneth overseas

HURLING could be described as the heroin of Irish sport, for there is no denying the addictiveness of this superlative athletic game. Little wonder that its cup runneth over — literally.

Last year saw a new addition to the legendary Liam MacCarthy and other established symbols of success, with the start of a new competition for the Joe McDonagh Cup. It’s apt that this former All-Ireland winning Galway hurler and GAA president not only had a deep love for the Irish language and culture but also took a keen interest in the growth of GAA overseas.

For though hurling is mentioned in the 5th Century Brehon Laws and the legends of Cuchulainn, its origins are a mystery. Some believe it was brought here by Celtic tribes who adopted it from a similar sport depicted in the cave drawings of ancient Egypt.

Certainly, as this column celebrated some years ago, hurling is hip — well beyond these shores. The approximately 439 clubs outside Ireland are peopled by both expats and other nationalities, whose jerseys bear the crests of teams with names such as the Viet Celts, Singapore Gaelic Lions and Jakarta Dragonflies.

A fifth of GAA clubs are now outside Ireland: North America has 130 clubs, with 40 in New York alone, while Britain has 83. The biggest growth in recent years has been in Asia, while the Kuwaiti Harps GAA club has 60 players from 15 countries.

Which got me thinking that the GAA could consider creating a special category for foreign players, perhaps calling it the Geoffrey FitzThomas Cup, after a gentle soul and Kilkenny legend who suffered for his love of the sport. Because, as the story goes, despite the ban on hurling imposed on the entire population of Ireland by British parliament in 1366, the game still had many in its grip. Which is how this nervous Norman ended up as doomed defendant at Kilkenny court, where he was “found guilty of the detestable crime of striking a ball with a stick in the manner peculiar to the Irish”. The prosecution described as “bad company” the group of hurlers with whom FitzThomas met secretly at prearranged venues, until he was spotted by a cavalry regiment.

FitzThomas was interrogated and beaten until he made a full confession; admitting to being in possession of an illegal instrument — a hurl — and to having pucked a ball repeatedly into a goal and over the bar, Irish style. However, he did not name his native accomplices, even after a stretch on the rack and river ‘dancing’ on hot coals.

“If the law allowed,” the judge intoned, “I would, without hesitation, be sending you to the gallows. Howsoever, I can tell you now that you will be flogged to within an inch of your miserable life, which gratifies me more than you could know or believe.”

The unfortunate FitzThomas was indeed sentenced to 40 lashes and two years’ imprisonment with hard labour. A high price to pay for his hurling high — but one that merits a cup named in his honour?