Paul Rouse: Hurling folklore preserved in scholarly cache of the ash

Scéal na hIomána Ó Thosach Ama Go 1884

The launch this month of an abridged English language translation of Liam P. Ó Caithnia’s remarkable book ‘Scéal na hIomána: ó Thosach Ama go dtí 1884’ opens his research to a whole new audience.

When he wrote ‘Scéal na hIomána’, Liam Ó Caithnia transformed our understanding of the history of hurling. Along with Art Ó Maolfabhail’s ‘Camán: 2000 Years Of Irish Hurling’, he emphasized the notion that modern hurling was just the latest variation of a game with an ancient history.