A GAME of hurling will be played in Boston’s famous Fenway Park for the first time in 61 years as Galway and Dublin have agreed to put on a showpiece event in November.
Not since a Christy Ring inspired Cork side beat a team of New England all-stars in 1954 has the world-renowned baseball ground played host to Ireland's ancient sport.
The exhibition game, which will take place on November 22, is named the AIG Fenway Hurling Classic and is part of an Irish Festival taking place in Boston that week.
Traditional rules will be altered to allow the match to be played within the proximity of a baseball pitch, which is considerably smaller than a hurling field.
There will be only 11 players on each side and only goals can be scored in what is known as the ‘Super 11s’ format. Mayor Martin J. Walsh, whose parents are from Galway, is excited at the prospect of bringing the sport back to his hometown.
“Hurling is one of the greatest games in the world,” he told the Boston Globe. “[I’ll do my] best to remain neutral for the match, but I certainly can’t say that for the rest of my family.”
Mayor Walsh taking a hurling swing at Fenway. pic.twitter.com/ZCl5pChqqH
— Andrew Ryan (@GlobeAndrewRyan) September 15, 2015
Both Dublin and Galway county boards, as well as the GAA and GPA, have welcomed the idea, and all parties will be flown out courtesy of Aer Lingus.
In August, baseball in Fenway Park was named by renowned travel advisors Lonely Planet as one of the top ten local sports to enjoy when abroad, with hurling in Croke Park also making the grade.
