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spectator sports
| Here is a short list of some of the sports and pastimes for you to watch around here, many have a distinctively Irish flavour to them, others are fairly universal sports. As fixture dates are often difficult to obtain far ahead, I will include links where possible. |
| Gaelic Football is one of the two main sports controlled by the Gaelic Athletic Association - the GAA. Not at like soccer but has huge local followings all over the country and causes much rivalry between villages. Unlike soccer, the rivalry almost never erupts into more than craic (witty banter). Ask locally for fixtures...usually Sundays. For a very brief introduction look here or for more detail look here |
| Hurling is a fast and furious game related to hockey, the same sport is played in Scotland and known as Shinty. The ladies' version is called carmogie and is nearly as frenetic. Hurling is also controlled by the GAA and local enquiry will tell you when & where. For primer look here or for more detail look here |
Road Bowling. When you come across white lines painted across the road in the middle of nowhere, you will know that it is road-bowling country and season. This game is now only survives in Co. Cork and Armagh I believe. The basic rules consist of throwing a 28oz cast iron ball as few times as possible to complete a course of about a mile. When out driving you may come across a crowd of people blocking the in some remote place, who will smile and wave you through cheerfully. They will seem to be paying close attention to odd clods of turf and carefully positioning them in the road. All a very strange experience if you are not familiar with it. A game is called a scor and the dates and times can be found by enquiry at Siopa O'Duineen in Ballingeary. look here and here |
| Trotting Races mainly take place a little west of here, usually in winter and on public roads. The horses wear a special harness to prevent them breaking into a canter or gallop. It is quite usual for a primary road to be totally blocked for the whole of a weekend afternoon. I can't seem to find a weblink to get me dates of races yet, but I am still trying. |
| Horse Racing in this area is at two courses: Killarney and Cork (actually at Mallow, quite a way from Cork City). A very popular pastime in this part of the world. Follow the links for more details. look here |
Motor Rallies. There are a number of motor rallies which take place in the area, starting around the end of March, through to September. The Rally of the Lakes usually passes through the parish causing excitement and disruption.
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