From the Archive: February 24, 1962

It is an odd thing but true that on Sunday, many young Cavanmen - and indeed some not so young - will see the game of hurling for the first time. Even greater will be the number of those who have yet to hold a hurley in their hands. That is the sorry situation here in the very heart of Ireland and one which must pose the most pertinent question to ears that want to hear - what has the GAA been doing all the long years of its life? It is not as though, as is so often claimed, that the tradition for hurling does not exist. For many years, from the early 20s, Cavan had a thriving hurling championship. Tradition, however, runs far more deeply into the past than that. For it is recorded that hurling was the chief athletic game of Breffni from the time of St Patrick until well nigh the present century - long enough indeed for the Sons of Breffni to have attained no mean proficiency in the noble game. The late Miss Bridie M Smith recalled in the course of her historical works that 'at Shantamon, a few miles from Cavan Town, the epic hero Finn and his followers played the game of Caman or hurling on the 'Faitche'. Ancient hurling fields are still pointed out at Farragh (near Crossdoney), Magh Slecht (Templeport), Shantamon (Cavan) and Tullac Mongan... Saffron and red were the favourite colours of the tunics of the pagan hurlers of Breffni. The 'Faitche' was a level green square located beside the chieftain's residence, reserved for the use of games and activities, hurling being the favourite amusement. The Faithche today are still reserved for games and activities but hurling has long since given way to the antics of the big marquee. On Sunday, Leinster and Ulster provincial teams play in the Railway Cup hurling semi-finals. Regardless of the result, this game is a silent indictment of a notable failure in Cavan gaeldom and it is, too, an indication to those who preach in lofty rhetoric the maxim of Cusack, Davin and Croke that it is high time to put it into practice. • First published in The Anglo-Celt on Friday, February 24 1962.