Spring Break Day 2: Field Trip!

Everyone seemed more awake and chipper today, which was good because we went on a large-group field trip plus the Bauer family! Owen, the bus driver, picked us up at 11, and carted us off to Castlebar to watch a double-header of County Mayo in two sports: hurling and Gaelic football...

On the bus!

Joe and Ma outside the stadium -- I forgot we were doing the tourist thing and walked away (me in the green jacket way back there)

The littlies welcome the big boys into the stadium :)

Hurling -- Mayo vs. Meath.

Game basics that I've picked up: each player gets a helmet and a stick. The point is to whip the baseball-like ball over the posts or into the goal. Also, don't die.

The game wasn't too bad for injuries, except for when people would start bleeding everywhere. Having helmets helped, since this can be a really violent game. As you can see, though, the stands over on that side are mostly empty -- we were some of very few spectators during this game.

As far as I can tell, this game is essentially lacrosse meets running baseball meets field hockey meets rugby. Crazy cool.

Players can catch the ball for a certain period of time, balance it on their stick while running, or bat it to one another. Or all three, if you're feeling frisky.

SMALL CHILD HALFTIME SHOW! Westport versus someone else. Westport pretty much dominated the action -- way to be, Co. Mayo, way to be.

On to the second game, Gaelic football!! Taoiseach Enda Kenny was in attendance at this game, since he used to live in Castlebar and loves the game. It was weird to see our equivalent of President running around without security, though. Here, Mayo gets ready for the game!

This game is a lot more like rugby, but with a soccer ball, and no evident fouling rules. There was one red card on Mayo's best player, for accidentally swinging his elbow back during a foul. Dumbest thing ever. Hence, why Mayo lost the match :(

Players can either kick, throw, grab, or toss the ball, but have to dribble the ball off their feet after a certain number of steps, same as hurling or basketball. In fact, this game is pretty much basketball meets soccer meets rugby, especially in the disregard for bodily harm. People started bleeding a lot more often in this game than in the last.

The crowd in our section (the covered section for those leery about the weather turning Irish) was superb during this game -- lots of cheering and booing and noise. It was really cool to watch, though it was slower than hurling because of the stoppage time for fouls and an abundance of yellow cards.

 After that awesome double-header, we came back to Louisburgh, hit up the Red Rose Cafe and the pub, and turned in for the night. In the morn, DUBLIN!!


-S