People often think of Gaelic football or hurling when it comes to Irish sports, but among the Gaelic Athletic Association’s family of traditional games is a dynamic, fast-paced, and fiercely competitive sport played by women: Camogie.

Camogie is more than just a version of hurling for women—it’s a proud and growing sport with its own culture, history, and global community. Played with a wooden stick called a hurley and a hard leather ball known as a sliotar, Camogie combines athleticism, strategy, speed, and grace. It’s one of Ireland’s oldest and most beloved sports, and in recent decades, it has gained popularity beyond Ireland—including right here in San Francisco.

The Origins of Camogie

Camogie was officially established in 1904 with the founding of the Camogie Association (An Cumann Camógaíochta). It was modeled closely after hurling—one of Ireland’s oldest sports, with roots tracing back over 3,000 years. While men had been playing hurling for generations, there was no organized outlet for women to participate in the sport. A group of progressive Irish women, including Máire Ní Chinnéide and Cáit Ní Dhonnchadha, led the movement to create a version of hurling for female players.

A camogie team pictured in Waterford in October 1915

Their goal was to provide opportunities for women to participate in traditional Irish athletics and, by doing so, strengthen cultural identity and equality in sport. The first official Camogie match was played in 1904 at Pairc Tailteann in County Meath.

In its early days, Camogie had slightly different rules and equipment from hurling. Today, it remains largely the same as the men’s game with minor differences—such as game duration and tackle restrictions—but it has established its own identity and a dedicated global following.

How Camogie is Played

Camogie is played on a rectangular grass pitch that’s roughly the size of a soccer field, typically 142 to 158.5 yards long and 87.5 to 98.5 yards wide. Each team fields 15 players: one goalkeeper, six defenders, two midfielders, and six forwards.

The object of the game is to score by striking the sliotar either over the opposing team’s crossbar (1 point) or into their net past the goalkeeper (3 points). The team with the highest score at the end of the match wins.

Key Features of Camogie:

The Hurley: Also known as a camán, this is a wooden stick made from ash, typically around 28 to 33 inches long. It’s slightly curved at the end to strike and lift the ball.
The Sliotar: A small leather ball, similar in size to a tennis ball but harder. It can be hit on the ground or in the air, and can be caught, carried, or hand-passed.
Soloing: Players can run while balancing the sliotar on the hurley, a skill that requires incredible coordination.
Passing: Players pass the ball using hand-passes or by striking it with the hurley. They may also catch the ball and carry it briefly in their hand before passing or soloing again.
Scoring: A shot that goes over the crossbar and between the upright posts earns 1 point. A shot into the net, past the goalkeeper, earns 3 points.
Duration: A standard Camogie match is 60 minutes, divided into two halves of 30 minutes. In championship play, extra time may be added.
Tackling: Physical contact is less aggressive than in hurling. Shouldering is not allowed, and stick-to-stick challenges (known as blocking) are closely regulated for safety.

Skills and Strategy

Camogie is a game of precision, agility, and speed. The best players possess excellent hand-eye coordination, quick decision-making, and a strong tactical understanding of the game. While strength and endurance are important, Camogie often emphasizes finesse, teamwork, and technical skill over brute force.

The Culture and Community of Camogie

Camogie, like all Gaelic games, is deeply rooted in community. In Ireland, nearly every county and parish has its own team, and inter-county competitions—especially the All-Ireland SeniorCamogie Championship—are major sporting events. Thousands of fans gather at venues like Croke Park in Dublin to cheer their county teams and games are broadcast nationwide.

Outside of Ireland, Camogie is growing steadily. Clubs in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia now compete in regional and international tournaments, including the GAA World Games. In places like San Francisco, Camogie has become a welcoming space for Irish expats, second- and third-generation Irish Americans, and newcomers who want to try a new sport.

Camogie in San Francisco

The San Francisco GAA (SFGAA) camogie club, Cu Chulainn is the current USGAA senior champions.

Many local players had never heard of Camogie until they watched a game. Some come from other sports backgrounds (like soccer, lacrosse, or field hockey) and find their skills translate well to the game. Others simply fall in love with the culture, the challenge, and the camaraderie.

Joining Cu Chulainn doesn’t require previous experience—just curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to try something different.

How to Get Involved

Whether you’re looking for a competitive athletic outlet or a way to connect with a welcoming community, Camogie offers both. It’s challenging, empowering, and fun—and you might just find yourself hooked after one swing of the hurley.

A Beginner’s Guide to Camogie: Ireland’s Fastest Women’s Sport