We were talking about national sports, those which bring pride and uniqueness to our countries. He spoke about Pato, a sport similar to polo but much more aggressive and how proud in Argentina they are of it, every man, woman & child tries to play it where physically possible. I spoke to him about GAA, in particular Gaelic football and hurling. I explained how almost every county in Ireland had a inter-county football team of which we were all proud of. I then explained in hurling that it was the same except that we had only about 10 serious counties. I also boasted how hurling is one of the oldest sports in the world dating way back before Christianity...

He asked me "why for such a sport that is supposed to embody our national heritage and international identity is there less than a third of you playing?" Does this not bring shame to your country?"

He stumped me with that one.

banner_boy (Clare) - Posts: 1285 - 11/09/2009 14:09:49    423125

I would be surprised if PATO is as widespread as is suggested
Im not sure how many of people living in the slums of Buenos Aires would have horses

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 11/09/2009 14:17:22    423141

ruanua, like I had already said above..."where physically possible", they play Pato.

banner_boy (Clare) - Posts: 1285 - 11/09/2009 14:19:10    423143

All counties playing hurling Banner boy-some just arent as good as others.Like every pother sport in the world.Nice try-Good luck to the banner tomorrow.

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 11/09/2009 14:20:46    423149

I lived and worked in Buenos Aires and have never even heard of it. Football is the number one game there, like it is in west Clare (Gaelic football).

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 11/09/2009 14:23:22    423154

very little pato is played in argentina

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 11/09/2009 14:30:11    423170

Christy Cooney might put on a game in Corke Park in July. Could be a few quid in it. Sure the horse manure would help the pitch.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 11/09/2009 14:32:14    423173

This fella sounds like a bit of a pato nazi.

Coylers Elbow (Meath) - Posts: 1075 - 11/09/2009 14:32:27    423175

Jaysus lads, talk about MISSING THE POINT!!

The point is: For a sport that's provides such identity of our own irishness, and one which we are (APPARENTLY) so proud of, to have only 10 counties taking it seriously is fairly shameful whe you think about it..

(PS Outside slums in major cities, Pato is the no.1 sport. Otherwise soccer is of course the be all and end all but that is an INTERNATIONAL sport, spot the distinction???)

banner_boy (Clare) - Posts: 1285 - 11/09/2009 14:35:59    423181

Doesnt Gabriel Patostuta play that?

Fredthered (Donegal) - Posts: 1144 - 11/09/2009 14:38:51    423189

bannerboy- did you explain to him that hurling is a far more difficult and more skilful sport to play than gaelic football...any decent athlete beit soccer rugby even athletics will envariably make a decent footballer thats the reason why its "more popular"

gaaman321 (Kildare) - Posts: 25 - 11/09/2009 14:39:26    423191

fredthered, I like it!!

You also forgot the AC Milan prodigy Alexandre Pato!!

banner_boy (Clare) - Posts: 1285 - 11/09/2009 14:42:20    423197

gaaman321
County: Kildare
Posts: 8

423191 bannerboy- did you explain to him that hurling is a far more difficult and more skilful sport to play than gaelic football...any decent athlete beit soccer rugby even athletics will envariably make a decent footballer thats the reason why its "more popular"

Absolutely no truth in your post whatsoever. So are you saying Usain Bolt would be a good gaelic footballer??!! Ridiciulous

JJ1 (Kildare) - Posts: 547 - 11/09/2009 14:46:48    423202

Ciaran Duff played in in 1983 -

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 11/09/2009 14:47:52    423206

well do you think he'd make a good hurler

gaaman321 (Kildare) - Posts: 25 - 11/09/2009 14:50:51    423210

This is a rubbish post bannerboy,why did'nt you just call it "so many counties are useless at hurling thread".With the exception of Ger Loughnanes team your boys have been the whipping boys of hurling for decades,so it's a bit cheap to have a go at other counties where a huge effort is put in but are bangin their heads against a brick wall.

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 11/09/2009 14:57:32    423222

Clare did well in the hurlign this year............

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 11/09/2009 15:03:18    423232

We had a great Pato team in monaghan a few years ago, couldnt keep it going though, too many young fellas drinking and not turning up to Pato training. Ya cant bate an oul game a Pato.

Mon1 (Monaghan) - Posts: 153 - 11/09/2009 15:16:13    423263

banner_boy
County: Clare
Posts: 921

423197 fredthered, I like it!!

You also forgot the AC Milan prodigy Alexandre Pato!!

Pato Neill?

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 11/09/2009 15:23:39    423267

Hurling was played in Argentina until the start of World War 2 , The Irish club in Buenos Aires is also called the hurling club

Redhot (Cork) - Posts: 739 - 11/09/2009 15:34:08    423278