Gaelic Football and Hurling are the two sports which originated in Ireland and are organised to be played all over Ireland by the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Both games are scored in the same way, 3 points for a goal and 1 point if the ball is kicked or hit over the crossbar and between the goalposts which continue over the crossbar.

Hurling is the more popular sport in Wexford, and it is played with a wooden stick made from ash and recently from bamboo due to a shortage of ash trees!

Hurling is the world’s fastest sport played on a field and involves 15 real life warriors on each team who try to keep the ball away from their opponent and score points. Hurling is a very physical sport and minor injuries are common.

The players are all amateur and all have normal jobs in society. In Ireland a national sporting celebrity may also work as a teacher!

The other sport played is Gaelic Football and this is like a mix of basketball and European football. The players aim to score points while kicking the ball from their hands.

The Slaney Language Centre brings you on a journey through Irish culture and on this journey you will become familiar with the GAA and what sport means to Irish people.

The SLC organise trips regularly to a local GAA club where a local legend and all Ireland champion – which is the highest achievement as a GAA player – teaches you.

His name is Larry O’ Gorman and he uses his masterful knowledge and experience to introduce the games of hurling and Gaelic football to our students and does so in a manner that is fun, safe, rewarding and most importantly educational as our students will learn first hand about our sports while also having the time of their lives playing fun games.

If you are visiting us this is an activity that you cannot miss.