23rd Aug 06 Wednesday

Gorta dropped in to ask about Women’s group meets upstairs. They didn’t have any information on the group but were telling me about their own organization Gorta, they are run entirely by volunteers.

Went into Kismit, they mind and spirit shop of North Street, Haley the owner was in the middle of making bath bombs. She is setting up workshops for bath bomb, soap and cream making using essential oils and natural products. We had a chat about her plans and now I'm going to join her for a day to act as guinea pig of the classes!

As I was out and about I thought id drop into the Corner Bar prop. William O’Brien as I’d heard William had some involvement with Road Bowling and the Singing club. Indeed I caught him just before he was going out for a practice throw of the bowl. He invited me to go to Roscarbery tonight to see a ‘score’ and also filled me in on the Singing Club, which is on the first Friday of the month (so I’ll be going along to the next one).

While he was out I had a chat with his son Mike who used to row with the West Cork Rowing Club (who are very successful) until he was injoured through pushing himself too hard too young. He described the gruling practice schedules but also his love of it, saying it was all about the buzz of winning.

Went to Roscarbery with William and his other son. It was a ‘junior’ score – this pertains to the level the participants are at (junior (A, B and C), intermediate and senior). There was a good crowd – about 70 people maybe (with less that 10% of them women).

As we waited the players practiced their throwing and then the money was gathered up. The betting is an important part of the procedures but is a relatively simple system – each player or team of two has to gather the same amount of money as the other side from their backers (which seem to be predominately those from their home area rather than those who think this side will win). In this case as one side had a backing of €2500 the other side had to raise this too. There was no book with amount written down, one man held the money and at the end if your side lost you lost your money and if it won you doubled it. I think I have this right anyway as I didn’t bet myself!

Most people stay in front of the action but as I wasn’t sure enough of what was going on to stand in front of a whirling metal ball I walked the miles of so course (just a normal road) behind the thrower. I got talking to a very nice man from Dunmanway who explained what was happening as we went along.

The rules seem straightforward enough, both men or one each from a team of 2 start at a certain point and throw the ball as far as they can down the road. Were the ball stops is marked with chalk. They then walk to that marker and through again. The aim being to get to the end of the course in the smallest number of throws, if both teams pass the final line in the same number of throws it’s the team who threw the ball furthest who wins. Dispite this simplicity at times I did find it hard to see or follow who’s ball had gone furthest but this was probably because I was behind the action and not used to it. And I probably shouldn’t say this but it was in itself an lovely walk on a fine evening.

There as scores on it seems nearly every night of the week in west cork (the only other place in the country that road bowls is Armagh) to find what’s going on where check the local papers the Southern Star and Examiner. For more information on Road bowling check out your local club or www.irishroadbowling.ie for Bol Chumann na hEireann who are the national body for the sport.