Advertisement

11 Americans who can't believe that hurling is a thing

The sport has plenty of new fans after the crowd caught a glimpse of it

SPECTATORS AT TODAY’S Croke Park Classic were treated to some hurling at half-time during the college football game in Dublin and were suitably amused as a result.

Of course, this isn’t the first time a foreign audience has been treated to the delights of GAA, with the British reaction to its debut on Sky Sports drawing similar levels of bemusement across the water earlier this year.

American TV station ESPN duly attempted to explain the sport to its viewers today, inviting Donal Óg Cusack (or the “Michael Jordan of hurling” as they called him) to provide some expert analysis.

Check out some of the best responses below…

1. Sarah Kelly

2. Mitch Ward

3. Alex Libardoni

4. Matthew Dillon

5. Lucas Dvo

6. Emily Jourdan

7. Pat Forde

8. Michael Sisak

9. Nick Price

10. Ben Jones

11. Mike Gross

Boos and the blanket defence: The day there was almost more scoring at Old Trafford than Croker>

Cork lead Wexford at half-time in the All-Ireland senior camogie semi-finals>

Close
48 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bevin Reilly
    Favourite Bevin Reilly
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 4:17 PM

    I introduced my American boyfriend to Hurling last year, he was so impressed by it. I think most people are genuinely amazed when they see it for the first time.

    515
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Markonline
    Favourite Markonline
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 5:20 PM

    Oh look at me with my fancy foreign boyfriend. Tell him to keep his eyes off my field or there’ll be trouble. ;-)

    711
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bevin Reilly
    Favourite Bevin Reilly
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 5:44 PM

    You might want to start making arrangements to move them cattle out.

    382
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul
    Favourite Paul
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 10:38 PM

    Think he’s got a favourite sheep there as well!

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dolores Burke
    Favourite Dolores Burke
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 12:05 AM

    Please excuse the “it’s” instead of “its”… I used to be a teacher so the excuse of the auto-correct on the iPad is redundant since I spent years telling teenagers to “read over all you write before you hand it in”

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Startled Sapien
    Favourite Startled Sapien
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 1:07 AM

    Ah Dolores, you’re lovely. Best of luck in your next post.

    109
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Connolly
    Favourite Niall Connolly
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 4:36 PM

    It’s like a cross between hockey and murder

    450
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bevin Reilly
    Favourite Bevin Reilly
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 4:39 PM

    Brilliant!

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute S
    Favourite S
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 4:44 PM

    That you Alan Shearer?

    56
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul
    Favourite Paul
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 10:41 PM

    Good one!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Boyle
    Favourite Mark Boyle
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 7:40 AM

    With a brick shaped like a ball.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Skillington
    Favourite Tony Skillington
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 4:12 PM

    Next stop..the Olympics.

    350
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nosmo King
    Favourite Nosmo King
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 1:47 AM

    If you could integrate AK47s into the sport it would go down a bomb in yankee land.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom McCormack
    Favourite Tom McCormack
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 1:50 AM

    Probably get as many countries playing hurling as play curling

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute simon shewster
    Favourite simon shewster
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 4:14 PM

    Love us, please love us..we need reassuring

    293
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Byrne
    Favourite Liam Byrne
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 4:18 PM

    Tell me about it. Very cringeworthy.

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
    Favourite Larry L'Oiseau
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 4:22 PM

    Why do we think there is something special about *everything* we do and that everyone in the world should live us for it ??

    89
    See 10 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan O'connor
    Favourite Alan O'connor
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 4:47 PM

    The above comments are brought to you by that most loathsome of creatures, the self loathing Irishman.

    486
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
    Favourite Larry L'Oiseau
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 5:10 PM

    Try addressing the point made Alan rather than going straight to the insult.
    I really would be interested to know your view.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan O'connor
    Favourite Alan O'connor
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 5:16 PM

    My view is that I think you’re wrong. First of all you say ‘we’. So automatically you are claiming to speak for a number of people. So already you’re full of it because I don’t remember anyone electing you as spokesperson for the country as a whole.

    After that, well, it’s just nonsense you’re spouting.

    268
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Doctor
    Favourite The Doctor
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 5:18 PM

    You didnt make a point. What you did do was throw us all in together as having the same opinion as you.

    There’s nothing wrong with being proud of a great thing) And this article was only highlighting peoples reaction to a bizarre sport. (if you’d never seen it before)

    149
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
    Favourite Larry L'Oiseau
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 5:43 PM

    But why do you think I am wrong ?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan
    Favourite Dan
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 6:00 PM

    What’s wrong with being proud of something unique to Ireland.

    I think it’s all that Catholic guilt in you!

    141
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan O'connor
    Favourite Alan O'connor
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 6:04 PM

    Why? Because you used the phrase ‘everything we do’. Patent bullschite. Now stop looking for attention.

    106
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mark
    Favourite mark
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 9:02 AM

    Why do you think that we need to know your point of view on anything. Why do you feel the need to share your opinions publicly? Why do you feel the need to vindicate your own comments by asking strangers to argue with you? And by we I mean the rest of the world.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Burke
    Favourite David Burke
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 9:11 AM

    I think the point is the baseball is a legit odd sport. But the American don’t particularly care what other people think and proudly proclaim they have won the world series.

    Hurling is great we shouldn’t need validation from anyone else.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Amy gaffney
    Favourite Amy gaffney
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 2:16 PM

    Its nothing to do with that David, its called the world series cos it was sponsored by a newspaper called The Daily World. Americans are just as proud and try just as hard to promote their sport, otherwise, what was yesterday all about??

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Justin Healy
    Favourite Justin Healy
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 5:04 PM

    Have to hand it to Donal Óg, I think this 11s is his idea/he is driving it. More that see the game the better. As for the begrudgers, feck them.

    154
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Sullivan
    Favourite Peter Sullivan
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 1:11 AM

    We play 11′s in football and hurling in continental competitions. Much faster than 15 man game and on a soccer pitch. No space for Junior B full forwards to hide!

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry O'Hanlon
    Favourite Barry O'Hanlon
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 7:48 PM

    Greatest field game in the world and it’s ours!

    111
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Potts
    Favourite Andrew Potts
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 7:51 PM

    Why do some Irish people have a problem with a organisation promoting their sport. Hurling is special, and as a sport it has everything that a sports fan wants to see. It’s fast, you must out score the opposition because you can’t out defend a hurling team. Its just a great game. Period

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Startled Sapien
    Favourite Startled Sapien
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 1:30 AM

    .. Periods

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jillian Milam
    Favourite Jillian Milam
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 5:17 PM

    I got turned onto Hurling a few years back… Love it!! :)

    100
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger
    Favourite Ger
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 6:28 PM

    Next stop the “world series” of Hurling

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Burke
    Favourite David Burke
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 7:57 PM

    Please validate our sport! Oh please tell us it’s good.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute PatvanBasten
    Favourite PatvanBasten
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 9:08 PM

    It’s a swell sport

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Startled Sapien
    Favourite Startled Sapien
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 1:34 AM

    You’re darn tootin’ it is.

    21
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Burke
    Favourite David Burke
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 9:06 AM

    It is a swell sport, maybe we shouldn’t be looking for someone else to tell us that.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Sullivan
    Favourite Joe Sullivan
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 12:47 AM

    Dumb yanks. Dumber paddies. Sad.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bevin Reilly
    Favourite Bevin Reilly
    Report
    Aug 31st 2014, 5:55 AM

    Yes, it’s so sad isn’t it. How dare anyone outside of our country praise or show any interest in our ancient indigenous sport.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Modern Day Ireland
    Favourite Modern Day Ireland
    Report
    Aug 30th 2014, 6:06 PM

    Watch joe rogan on hurling …
    On youtube.. hilarious !

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.