Cúchulainn Questions on the Text.

1) Why was Cúchulainn considered noble?
2) Who were the Machra?
3) At what age did Cúchulainn first show an interest in joining the Machra?
4) What did Cúchulainn do to shorten the journey?
5) What were the boys doing at Conor's palace?
6) Why did the boys attack Cúchulainn?
7) Why was Cullen so widely known?
8) What did Cullen do once King Conor had arrived?
9) Why was Cúcuallainn late?
10) Why did Cúchulainn volunteer to guard Cullen's fort?


noble
a soldier
a troop
oak
a javelin
a spear
a paw
an honour
fate

a hound
to shorten
to practice
to leap
to catch
to fling



length & breadth
the length of the field
an early age
heroic deeds

Student B: Read about CAMOGIE.

Camogie is one of the most popular sports in Ireland, but it is played only by girls & women. Men are not allowed to play camogie. It is fast & exciting and looks dangerous to people who are watching. The girls play with a wooden stick like in hockey, and with a small ball. The stick is called a hurley. The players can hit the ball along the ground or in the air. They can also pick the ball up & carry it - but only for four steps. The goalposts look like a letter H - they are similar to rugby goalposts but smaller. You must hit the ball into the other team's goalposts.


Camogie is similar to the men's sport hurling but there are some important differences. There are two teams with twelve players on each team. The ball is lighter than the ball used in the men's game, and players are allowed to score a goal by passing the ball from their hands. Women have played camogie for about 100 years. The women wear protective helmets. but they always wear skirts instead of shorts. The goalkeeper wears the same jersey as the other players on her team. It is fast & furious, and exciting to play or watch.

Student A: Read about HURLING.

One of the most popular sports in Ireland is hurling. It is played only by boys & men. Hurling is the fastest field sport in the world - of all team sports, only ice hockey is faster! It looks very exciting & dangerous when you watch it. It is similar to hockey - it is played with a wooden stick & a small ball. The stick is called a hurley & the players are called hurlers. They strike the ball along the ground or in the air. They can also pick the ball up & carry it - but only for four steps. They aren't allowed to use their hands to score a goal however.

The players wear helmets to protect their heads. All players must wear shorts & jerseys, and the goalkeeper wears a different jersey from the rest of the team. The goalposts look like a letter H - they are similar to rugby goalposts. There are two teams with fifteen players on each. It is the oldest field game in Europe. It was brought to Ireland by the ancient Celts - it arrived in Ireland more than two thousand years ago! It is truly a historical game.