GATES, N.Y. — For some, there's no better place to be on St. Patrick's Day than out on the pitch for a game of hurling.
The sport of hurling is a super fast stick and ball game. Thursday night, you can see the players in action at Total Sports Experience in Gates.
Hurling is described as field hockey meets lacrosse, soccer and even a little rugby and football, and boy, is it fast.
“This is considered the fastest game on grass,” ROC City Gaelic member Scott Fry said. “In hurling, the ball will travel from one end of the field to the other end of the field in less than a couple of seconds.”
ROC City Gaelic is all about celebrating and sharing Ireland‘s cultural heritage. Sports is a great way to show it off. They have 50 members who play hurling and Gaelic football.
“Almost all of my family traces back to Ireland,” Gaelic co-founder Tim Russell said. "I am originally from Milwaukee, but my wife and her family are here. I married Katie Maguire. Gaelic sports has really become a passion for me. I started playing as something fun to do back in Milwaukee, but I moved here and was able to help grow the Irish family here and the Gaelic sports family here in Rochester. It could not have happened without a lot of work from a lot of different people. “
The guys aren’t the only ones hitting the pitch. The league is co-ed and will soon have a youth division.
“We have had girls who walk on the club and have never played a team sport and do amazing,” ROC City Gaelic player Bridget Herrmann said. “There are so many different skills that transfer to Gaelic sports that anybody can pick it up.”
You can see hurling and Gaelic football March 17 at TSE and Gates. Game time is 7 p.m.
The hurling travel team begins their spring season next month. They’ll play teams all over New York state, Pennsylvania and Ohio. New players are always welcome.
