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"The Art of Hurley Making, from Ash to Clash"

Shane McEntee TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Forestry, welcomed the production of a DVD entitled "The Art of Hurley Making, from Ash to Clash", which was launched last Friday in Croke Park.

The DVD, which was launched by the President of the GAA, Mr Christy Cooney, the Director of Teagasc, Professor Gerry Boyle and the President of the Irish Guild of Ash Hurley Makers, Mr Willie McAuliffe, was a joint initiative by the three organizations. Noting that it tells the story of Irish hurley making, the Minister of State added, "The production of this DVD, by Pat Comer, is very timely and relevant as it goes back to basics – from the careful management of ash plantations to provide the raw material to the unique skills required to create the eventual hurl".

Minister of State McEntee noted that the planting of a significant area of ash by private landowners has been funded by the Government over the last number of year through the provision of establishment grants and forestry premiums and that some home grown ash is already coming on stream for hurley making with a significant volume of hurley ash expected to become available from 2014 onwards.

He added, "The growing of hurley ash is another example of Ireland’s forest owners providing a sustainable and renewable supply of raw material to another indigenous, rural industry – hurley making, thereby creating a winning combination."

The Minister of State McEntee concluded by thanking the GAA, Teagasc and the Irish Guild of Ash Hurley Makers for uniting to tell the story of Irish hurley making and thanked the GAA for hosting the launch in Croke Park.