Hurling is not only one of the oldest sports in the world, with over 3,000 years of history, but also Ireland’s most iconic game, as integral to Irish identity as Celtic music or a pint of stout. On Lanzarote, it has become closely linked to the annual Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in Puerto del Carmen.
Hurling is played on a pitch similar in size to a rugby or Gaelic football field. It’s played by two teams of fifteen, with a wooden stick called a hurley and a small leather ball known as a sliotar. Despite its huge popularity, it remains an amateur sport.
The objective is to score points, which can be done in two ways. If the sliotar is sent over the crossbar, like a kick at goal in rugby, it’s worth one point. If it’s driven into the net, like a goal in football, the team earns three. The sliotar, struck both in the air and along the ground, can reach speeds of over 120 km/h. Players can catch it in their hand, balance it on the hurley while running, pass it or send it flying down the pitch.
What hooks first-time spectators is the sheer speed. Hurling is fast, full-on and deeply woven into Irish identity, blending raw power with technical finesse. Its frenetic rhythm is contagious, creating a powerful sense of shared energy in the crowd.
