GaelicSportsCast

Journalist Denis O’Brien, releases new ebook on the growth of the Irish sport of hurling in America.

Book Title: ‘Hurling USA: America discovers an ancient Irish sport.’
Author: Denis O’Brien

NOW AVAILABLE on AMAZON at B008FCS51G

(ebook for PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android Phone or Tablet, Blackberry, and Windows Phone 7 here:
Free Reading Apps)

The story of how the Irish team sport of Hurling is spreading like wildfire across the United States. The book examines how to play. It explores hurling’s ancient legacy, early American years and what Irish America has been missing for generations. And, why today, from Orlando to Seattle, Americans are getting “hooked” on hurling.

Ireland, June 29 2012. New ebook, ‘Hurling USA: America discovers an ancient Irish sport,’ by Irish freelance journalist, podcaster, and former U.S. migrant Denis O’Brien, tells how hurling is spreading to American towns and cities that until recently never knew the sport existed. The author reveals why the sport is hooking Americans young and old, and why Americans are ‘blown away.’

Readers follow a trail to Mesopotamia, Egypt, across Europe and Canada to sample ancient stick ball games. Hurling’s Irish roots are traced in myth, law, iconography, history, lecture and fascinating first-hand accounts of old matches. In the middle of the 19^th century, hurling arrives in America with immigrants and prospers in the big cities until squabbling, assimilation, depression, war and exclusiveness see it fade into the background of ethnic entertainment in place to this day.

‘Hurling USA’ goes on to outline exactly where, how and why the sport is growing on college campuses and on American public parks. The author brings into focus the hit-and-miss Irish summer player model adopted by older ex-pat clubs in big cities in comparison to steady growth at new hurling clubs.

In the concluding chapter, he examines what hurling’s growing presence could mean for the sport’s governing body in Ireland, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Irish immigrants and the American sporting landscape.

Quotes

“Maine has a fairly large Irish population, and you know, it’s just a shame that the sport never spread north of Boston for the longest time, but we’re trying to change that right now.”

“The game as we say in America is a gimme. You see it and you can’t help but fall in love with this game.”

“An end to Irish domination of the sport could make it more popular in America”

NOW AVAILABLE at ……….http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FCS51G