Subscriber OnlyGaelic GamesBook extract

‘If I were to take up hurling now, at 41 years of age, how bad could I possibly be?’

Book extract from Old Parish, Ciaran Murphy’s account of taking up Ireland’s national game as a late (very late) starter

"I had a few questions I wanted to answer. Why did I feel like less of an Irishman for not having played hurling? Why wasn’t I given the chance to play it competitively as a kid? And: if I were to take it up now, at 41 years of age, how bad could I possibly be?" Photograph: Inpho/James Crombie
"I had a few questions I wanted to answer. Why did I feel like less of an Irishman for not having played hurling? Why wasn’t I given the chance to play it competitively as a kid? And: if I were to take it up now, at 41 years of age, how bad could I possibly be?" Photograph: Inpho/James Crombie
Ciarán Murphy's picture
Ciarán Murphy
Sun Sept 14 2025 - 07:00
Ciarán Murphy

Ciarán Murphy

Ciarán Murphy, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a sports journalist. He writes about Gaelic games
GAAHurling