A thousand years ago, a boy named Setanta had magical powers as a hurler. Though he was only eight, he could play against 100 men and win and one day when he was playing a game against 128 grown men hurlers he was defeating them all. While this remarkable thing was happening, the Ard Ri (high king) walked by and saw this amazing skill. He talked with the young Setanta and realized that he was a child unlike any other and so he invited him to join his council meeting that evening and then he went on his way. Sadly he forgot that he had invited Setanta and when it came time for the meeting he rolled up a big stone at the entrance of his castle to keep everyone out and he placed his huge dog to guard the entrance. A few minutes after that along came Setanta to join the meeting, but the huge animal snarled and threatened, opening its enormous mouth and so Setanta took his hurley and the sliothar (the ball) and with one stroke hit the sliothar right into the animal’s throat slaying him immediately. From then on Setanta was known as Cuchulain, the hound killer, and he became one of Ireland’s greatest warriors. The game of hurling disappeared throughout the years of English colonization but was restored and is now played all over Ireland particularly in the east.
The Irish History & Culture class play a match each year and its a wild and exciting time. This years’ match was no exception.
– Elaine Weintraub