"Hurling, or Camogie (a form of Hurling played by women), is a field game played by two teams which dates back 2,000 years and features strongly in Irish mythology, most notably in the epic saga of Cú Chulainn."
— n.d. "Hurling." Inscribed in 2018 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Accessed October 17, 2021.
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/hurling-01263
Hurling is a ball sport with a long history. In 2018 it was recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural heritage. The sport remains extremely popular in Ireland and "is considered as an intrinsic part of Irish culture and plays a central role in promoting health and wellbeing, inclusiveness and team spirit." (UNESCO 2018) Popular both in Ireland and in the Irish diaspora, Hurling has become a symbol of Irishness.
In their 2005 Second Edition of Living Folklore: An Introduction to the Study of People and Their Traditions, Marth Sims and Martine Stephens explain what folklore is and how it is performed. The performative nature of folklore is important because it brings together both the performers and the audience in a shared experience. The shared experience builds a sense of community and group-membership.
"Performance is an expressive activity that requires participation , heightens our enjoyment of an experience, and invites response." (Sims and Stephens 2005, chap. 5, 131)
Hurling is an example of folklore because the performers (the players) and the audience understand the rules and the action of playing and watching the game build community and reinforce one's Irishness. The performers participate by playing the game, with their skill at the game entertaining the audience, and the events of the game inviting response from the audience. In turn, the audience participates by cheering, which heightens the enjoyment for the players.
Buy Sims & Stephen's Living Folklore here to learn more about performance and folklore.