The West Virginia Irish Road Bowling Association (WVIRBA) will host the national championship of this ancient sport at Blackwater Falls State Park, August 3- 5, 2018. The public is encouraged to attend and learn.
Three clubs, Boston, New York city, and West Virginia, meet each year in these Bol~Chumann na hEireann North American Region Finals. The winners here advance to the ultimate competition, the All Ireland Finals.
Irish road bowling, or long bullets, has been played in rural Ireland for more than 300 years. An iron and steel cannonball the size of a baseball is hurled down a one to 1 ½ mile road, the fewest throws from start line to finish line wins the match.
The 2018 Finals will bring together more highly rated players than ever before in the United States.
Boston will be led by 18 year old Sean O’Mahoney, 2017 All Ireland Novice 1 Champion, with his father, 5-time All Ireland Champion Florrie O’Mahoney “showing the road” as his coach, and by Brendan O’Donavan, 2017 Junior C All Ireland Champion. Also representing Boston, Roger O’Riordan Junior C All Ireland Finalist, Gerald “Bogie” Leahy, 2015 North American Region Champion, and as coach, 2-time All Ireland Champion Con O’Callaghan.
From New York, 4-time All Ireland Champion Adrian Lappin and 3-time All Ireland Champion Fergal Carr are the highest rated players in the USA. All Ireland Finalist and New York President Mick Maloney will be joined by veteran bowlers Kevin O’Keefe and Brian O’Keefe and North American Region Champion Padjo O’Sullivan.
The West Virginians are led by Travis Craig and Stephen Wallington, both North American Region Champions and All Ireland Semi-Finalists, and veteran bowler Ken McClintic.
Special guest Stefan Albarus from Hamburg, Germany will be throwing. Stefan was World Champion in 1992 in German lofting, a similar outdoor bowling sport. Stefan is in the Guinness Book of Records, for three lofts totaling 319 yards.
Lappin, Carr, Albarus, and O’Mahoney, O’Donavan, Craig, and Wallington, and others in the Finals, throw with blazing speed. Shots of 250 yards, even 300 yards will be thrown on WV Country Roads at Blackwater Falls.
Friday, practice matches, reception at the lodge; Saturday, semi-finals; Sunday, finals and awards ceremony
Seeing is believing, to experience this amazing sport at the highest level in the USA, set in the beauty of the West Virginia Hills, join us at Blackwater Falls State Park, August 3-5, 2018.
For info, David Powell P.R.O., WVIRBA 202 387 1680, 202 905 1959 cell
Blackwater Falls State Park 304 259 5216. www.blackwaterfalls.com
Facebook: West Virginia Irish Road Bowling
