Hurling is a game similar to hockey, in that it is played with a small ball and a curved wooden stick. It was one of the unique pastimes the Celts brought with them during their settlement of Ireland as the last ice age was receding. The rules have changed as the game modernized however the roots of the game can be traced back to the Celts. It features in Irish folklore illustrating the deeds of heroic mystical figures the best known story being how the mytical celtic warrior Santata slew the hound of Culeann with his camán and sliothar

The ball or sliothar is constructed of leather with raised ridges and is of a similar size to that of a hockey ball. The hurley or camán is used to strike the ball. is curved outwards at the end, to provide the striking surface. The grass surfaced playing pitch is approximately 135m long and 80m wide with goal-posts at both ends. Rugby has copied the hurling style goal-post however the hurleying crossbar is lower. Players who have developed their skill can drive the ball at speeds of up to two hundred miles per hour. A powerful hurleyey is a must to perform this skill.

A player may strike the ball on the ground, or in the air. Another skill is pick up the ball with your hurley. The ball can carried for no more then four steps in the hand. The ball may be bounced on the hurley and back to the hand, however you are forbidden to catch the ball more than twice. One of the games great skills is running with the ball balanced on the hurley. This is known as soloing or to go on a solo. Scoring is accomplished by using the hurley to strike the ball over the crossbar for a point. Striking the ball below the crossbar and into the net is a goal (worth three points). To perfect these skills you will require a balanced hurley. The other requirement is practice and dedication.

A team can make up to three substitutions per game and the positions described above are not absolute as players may switch during the course of any given game. Substitutions and switches are usually made by the team coach or manager. Blood substitutions are allowed for injuries which require off field treatment. A temporary substitution may be made whilst the injured player is treated. Once the injured player is fit to continue they take the field of play and the temporary substitute resumes their place on the bench. A blood substitution may last a maximum of five minutes before the change becomes permanent. Each team wears distinctive color jerseys, the goalkeepers jersey being of a different color to that of the outfield players.

The game is controlled by a referee, two lines people and four umpires. Referees and lines people normally wear black, whilst umpires wear white coats. The referee keeps the time and score on the pitch, awards frees where a foul has been committed. Serious or persistent fouling is punished by sending off. Players sent off cannot be replaced. The showing of a red card indicates that a player has been sent off, the showing of a yellow card indicates that a player has committed a serious foul. Two yellow card fouls will result in a red card. Lines people indicate when the ball has left the field of play and assist the referee in controlling the game. Umpires decide and signal scores. A goal is signaled by a green flag and a point by a white flag. The referee may upon consultation with the umpires disallow a score. A typical situation where a score is disallowed is when the scoring player arrives in the small parallelogram (an area around the goal similar to the crease in ice hockey) before they received the ball. The supporters of the team conceding the score will normally let the referee know their opinion on such situations with a chorus of 'square ball ref!'

If a goalkeeper or defender plays the ball wide of the goal they are defending the result is a sixty five. This is a free shot at goal from sixty five meters out from the goal the angle is determined by where the ball went wide and set by the umpire and lines person working in tandem. A sixty five is signaled by the umpire raising their right arm vertically above their head. All the successful teams will have at least one player who has developed skill to the level required to point sixty fives irrespective of the angle. A well made hurley is an absolute requirement for pointing sixty fives.