Description In 1883 Michael Cusack founded the Dublin Metropolitan Hurling Club and organized games in the Phoenix Park every weekend during the summer months.
These matches were relatively well supported. Publicity was provided for Cusack’s venture by the appearance of these illustrations in a weekly sporting magazine.
The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, which was published in London from 1874
to 1943, occasionally included pictorial items of Irish interest. The illustration is made up of ten tableaus which give an artist’s impression of hurling as it was played by Cusack’s Metropolitan Club. It contains representations of a few archaic features of hurling which the GAA did not continue, including the horsewoman who began the game by galloping across the field and ‘tossing the ball in the centre amongst the
players.’ The text which accompanied the illustrations also explained how in open play ‘the ball was to be ‘coaxed’ and ‘lifted’ with the hurley – never with the hand – and when off the ground hit with the full strength of the player.’ |