Terry Reilly, chairperson of the Hurling Development Committee, during the Hurling Development Committee media event at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
Growing the game of hurling in a meaningful and sustainable way outside of the counties where it has always been traditionally strong has proven to be a tricky challenge for the GAA throughout the Association’s existence.
In some counties a love for the game has always blazed but in others the flame has waxed and waned, flickered, or even come close to quenching altogether.
The jarring duality of hurling is that at the highest level of the game it has never been healthier, and yet children in large swathes of the country don’t even have an opportunity to play it.
Addressing that unfortunate flip side of the coin is the priority of GAA President Jarlath Burns’ Hurling Development Committee which is headed up by Antrim native, Terry Reilly.
Their chief term of reference is to sow the seeds for a significant and sustainable growth of hurling in what has become known as the ‘Táin Region’ of the country.
Considering this has never been previously achieved in the 140 year history of the GAA, it’s going to be a monumental task to turn this aspiration into reality.
HDC Chairperson Terry Reilly believes it can be done though, and he certainly has the drive to do everything in his power to follow through on the mandate given to him by Jarlath Burns.
“I do believe it's a great opportunity and I also believe that the Association owes hurling a lot more than what has done to date,” Reilly told GAA.ie.
“I think we have the best product. We're standing here in Croke Park where on July 21st we witnessed the best All-Ireland Hurling Final we've seen in recent times.
“Before that on July 6th we witnessed Cork and Limerick produce a game for the ages. It had unbelievable levels of skill and intensity and warriorship. It just had everything.
“And the day before that we watched Clare put Kilkenny to the sword in the second-half of that All-Ireland semi-final which was incredible to watch.
“So, we have this absolutely amazing product and I believe every child in Ireland should be afforded the opportunity to participate at some level.”
Anyone who has coached hurling or camogie will tell you that children love the game if they’re given the chance to play it, so why is that opportunity routinely denied them? Why isn’t hurling nurtured and promoted as enthusiastically as Gaelic football is in so many clubs and counties.
A lack of confidence can be one issue. Coaches/parents who admire hurling and enjoy it as spectators but who didn’t play the game themselves might not think they’re knowledgeable enough to coach the game to the next generation.
Attendees, from left, former Antrim hurler and current Hurling Development Committee member Neil McManus, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns, Terry Reilly, chairperson of the Hurling Development Committee, Camogie Association president Brian Molloy and former Kilkenny hurling manager and current Hurling Development Committee member Brian Cody during the Hurling Development Committee media event at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
Unfortunately, in some parts of the country there is apathy bordering on hostility towards hurling from those who believe putting time, energy, and resources into would be to the detriment of Gaelic football.
Those attitudes might be challenging to overcome but Reilly is determined to tackle them head-on.
“We are a Gaelic football-heavy organisation in relation to participation and numbers in attendance,” says Reilly.
“I believe there are areas where hurling is neglected. I believe there are areas where hurling is stymied. We need to put our resources into supporting counties who feel it's difficult to encourage and provide for hurling.
“Part of our terms of reference are exactly that - to develop tool-kits based on best practices to promote hurling in communities. Working with schools, working with clubs where we can foster relationships between them and provide them with the support they need to enable that.”
There are zealots in every county with a much stronger tradition of Gaelic football who do great work to keep the game of hurling alive.
It can feel like an isolated existence at times, but Reilly is hopeful they and others like them will soon feel supported in a very real way by a soon to be appointed National Head of Hurling.
“They’re looking for a bit of light from Croke Park because there's hurling people dotted all over Ireland and in football-dominated communities that are looking to the Association for support and looking for leadership and they haven't found that as of yet,” says Reilly.
“We had (former National Hurling Coordinator) Paudie Butler a number of years ago driving initiatives, we had (former National Hurling Development Manager) Martin Fogarty a number of years ago driving initiatives, and they were very, very good initiatives.
“They came to my club, both of them, and it was great to see. But we need a coordinated approach, we need a strategic approach, we need a committee and it's great we have a President now who is so strong in his support for us.
“I’m also a member of the GAA’s Management Committee, Jarlath has asked me to chair this Hurling Development Committee, and I want to do it to the best of my ability.
“Most importantly, the people on the committee carry quite a bit of weight and whoever we appoint as the new National Head of Hurling will have the support of this Hurling Development Committee, they're also going to have the support of the Games Development Committee because we have a line with GDC to ensure that these building blocks that we put in place will endure.”
Former National Hurling Development Manager (2016 to 2021), Martin Fogarty, is a member of Reilly’s Hurling Development Committee and will surely have a valuable contribution to make.
Former GAA National Hurling Development Manager, Martin Fogarty.
Having worked at the coalface for five years in his previous role he has a keen appreciation of both the potential for growth of hurling in the developing counties and the possible challenges the new National Head of Hurling will likely face when trying to carry out that mission.
“I met with Martin Fogarty last February and over the course of two hours he laid it all out for me,” says Reilly.
“He's totally infectious and his ideas and concepts are a solid foundation for everything that we're doing. Martin did his very best during his time as National Hurling Development Manager but maybe he wasn't supported as well as he could have been. His experience will be invaluable to the new National Head of Hurling.
“When we get this person appointed we will row in behind them. For the first time in the Association's history there will be someone out there supported by a full committee and also with the support of Management.”
If Reilly’s energy and sense of purpose is an accurate barometer, then this Hurling Development Committee will do all it can to realise Jarlath Burns’s ambition that his presidency will be the catalyst for an explosion of new hurling clubs and teams.
Only time will tell as to what extent the seeds that are sown in the next three years will lead to new growth and, just as importantly, how well any green shoots are nurtured by successive GAA administrations.
Reilly, at least, is very hopeful that a few decades from now we’ll look back on 2024 as a watershed year in development of hurling into a national sport in the truest sense.
“I firmly do believe that,” he says. “That's why we're committing so much resources and time to it. We're building the foundation blocks here.
“Hence the fact I say the alliance with the Games Development Committee is so important because it has to endure after we leave the stage and after Jarlath leaves the stage. This needs to be a 30-year project, unlike the football review committee where they're getting things ready for a Special Congress here later in the year.
“We're here to build foundation blocks, bed in with our current Games Development, get the staff deployed in order to do this and not just whilst we're here but long-term.
“I believe that in 20 years’ time the number of hurling clubs will have grown exponentially and kids throughout Ireland who in the past wouldn't have had the opportunity to play hurling will do and we'll be looking back at this moment in time as a catalyst for all of that.”
