Big hurling festival in Galway has strong international flavor

AS the International Hurling Festival, taking place in the city and county from September 18 to 21, draws closer, the final preparations are being put in place by Aer Lingus Senior Project Manager and former Galway coach Mattie Kenny for this unique showcase.

While the enormity of the Festival, which will see 16 teams from right around the world compete in the hurling tournament, may only be registering with local GAA enthusiasts now, it is quite a different story in other parts of the globe where the prospect of the forthcoming event is hitting fever pitch.

It is easy to see why. All of the teams are to be flown to Ireland by main sponsor Aer Lingus – or in the case of Australia by the Festival’s partner sponsor Etihad – while the players will also be accommodated and kitted out as part of the celebration.

It is a huge undertaking for Aer Lingus and Project Manager Kenny but, as he has done in both his playing days and coaching roles, the Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry clubman is bringing a vigour, enthusiasm and passion that should ensure the event will be an outstanding success.

For most of the players travelling – including 52 Galway natives – it is a welcome chance to return home and reunite with loved ones while for the non-Irish hurlers, of which there are many, it is a superb opportunity to visit the land of a sport they love, see the game played by the best at first hand, and sample Irish life.

Indeed, the arrival of teams like Buenos Aires in Argentina, Denver/Indianapolis, Europe Non-Irish and Barley House Wolves/Allentown (USA) provide some of the most interesting stories in the lead-up to the Festival.

For example, Barley House Wolves is backboned by American soldiers from ‘C’ Company – or Charlie Company – who fell in love with hurling on a layover in Shannon on their way to Iraq. Today, the Wolves are reigning North American Junior ‘C’ hurling champions.

In any event, for all those hurlers attending the Festival, this is a huge occasion for them. “Some of the testimonials coming through have noted that the Festival has invigorated their own championships because they are playing to get on the plane to come to Ireland,” remarks Kenny.

“A lot of them are emailing us in and saying they are so excited about it. So, it has really helped them to promote the game in these strongholds in Australia, North America and London, and also in the smaller places in Europe. I was at the European finals last month in Brussels and the interest that was there!”

Among those competing were ‘Non-Irish’ players – those from the continent who have taking up the game and learned it from scratch. “Those guys learning to play hurling now have the chance to come to Ireland to play in Pearse Stadium and watch the All-Stars playing,” says Kenny, alluding to the exhibition game that will take place involving some of Ireland’s top hurlers at Pearse Stadium on Saturday week.

“So, it has had a huge impact on players abroad and, in many respects, the Festival is probably a bigger attraction for the developing teams. The majority of those players have never been in Ireland so it is a huge trip for them. They want to get involved in coaching; they want to go and see Canning hurls; and they want to see the Cliffs of Moher. So, they are really looking forward to the experience.”

While a great deal of emphasis will be on the cultural aspect of the Festival, it is, after all, about hurling and Kenny highlights that every team that comes will have a different motive and agenda. Some will come for the coaching that is being offered; others will come to get a sense of the true meaning of hurling; and a few will come to compete . . . and compete hard.

“For the likes of St. Gabriels (London) coming over, there is no point offering them coaching assistance because they know more about the game than ourselves. However, for the likes of the developing teams, their reason for coming is a lot different,” says Kenny.

“So, there are different levels of interest. There are four or five teams coming to win the competition but, again, there are other teams coming to learn the game and experience the Irish culture, like the teams from Buenos Aires and Barley House Wolves/Allentown.”

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.