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.
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