The clash of the ash on the way out?

May 1976

If the plans of an Irish manufacturing concern are fulfilled, the game of hurling as we know it may be radically altered. No more will there be ‘the clash of the ash’ - the sound of the full-blooded striking that has thrilled millions down through the years.

For Wavin Ireland Ltd. are ‘perfecting’ a hurley that they claim will ‘revolutionise’ the national game. The company has already produced a number of hurleys for juveniles and they claim they are flawless.

Two well-known Dublin players, who have used the plastic hurleys, are on record as stating that ‘they can do anything the traditional-type hurley can do…and they have the additional benefit of lasting forever’’.

It is claimed on behalf of Wavin that they have been experimenting for some years in this field and that they are now on the threshold of ‘a major break-through’. Who knows, but within a year, or perhaps two years, everyone playing hurling from the schoolboy upwards may be wielding a plastic camán.

Certainly, there is a suggestion that if there is an advantage in them, the switch will be rapid.

Our national game is considered one the of the most expensive field games in the world. If a boy had to pay for the hurleys he breaks, a single game could cost him in the region of £10. Wavin say however their plastic hurley will sell for in the region of £2.50 and that it is unbreakable.

That may seem attractive, if true. But there are other very serious aspects in all of this. What of the livelihood of the traditional hurley-makers? Has the GAA any responsibility towards them?

There is nothing in the rules that says hurleys must be made from ash. In fact, the way is clear for a ‘big sell’ by any manufacturing company. All they have to do is convince the consumer.

There are now only for major hurley-manufacturing houses (traditional type) in the country. One is in Co. Wexford – the famous Randalls of Killurin. Another, the largest, is in Cork and is financially backed by the GAA itself.

Frank Randall was quite philosophical about it all when I spoke to him. He said it was something that had always been at the back of his mind, and something we should be prepared to meet. With the advancement in technology, it was a possibility that some day, someone would come up with an idea that would at least provide serious competition for the ash hurley.

He understood that he could be put out of business if popularity for a synthetic hurley became great, but he pointed to the fact that an earlier move to introduce a fibreglass camán, some fifteen years ago, was a failure.

We can only await developments. But there is an important role for the GAA as an organisation in all of this. What is to be their policy? Will they allow the traditional craft to die? Will they allow their own Cork industry to die?

It may that rule changes will be required to protect the industry, but, would that be good for the future of the Association? Only time will tell.