WILLIE Maher believes the foundations are being laid for hurling to flourish in Carbery.

The GAA’s National Head of Hurling has made expanding the game into emerging areas a key priority since taking up the role in January 2025, and he is encouraged by the work being done in West Cork.

In a football-dominated region, hurling has made significant inroads in recent times:

• Kilbrittain hurlers’ All-Ireland junior club success in January brought a historic first hurling All-Ireland title to the region, proof of the talent in the area.
• The first-ever Carbery U15 hurling team is currently playing in the U15 Premier 1 Hurling League, exposing young players to the top grade.
• The inaugural Lyons Cup, held in memory of the late Raymond Lyons of Dohenys, was staged in October for first years in West Cork secondary schools.
• Carbery GAA committed to providing playing gear for 45 non-hurling national schools in the division.

The history-making first-ever Carbery U15 hurling team before their U15 Premier 1 Hurling League debut against Blackrock in April.

Maher is impressed by what he has heard, as Carbery GAA chiefs work hard to promote hurling locally and give it a sustainable foothold.

‘My job nationally is looking at how we can provide access to hurling,’ the Tipperary native explained.

‘When you look at what Carbery GAA have done, the initial piece was identifying schools where they could get hurling played and overcome that access issue first of all.

‘Over the last year they’ve gone into a huge number of non-hurling national schools in the Carbery division and provided coaching. That’s a massive amount of work. It shows the importance of that introductory piece and introducing the game to children.

‘What they’ve done is amazing. I’d very much be of the opinion that children have the right to access hurling, and that’s something we’re trying to achieve nationally, particularly in non-traditional areas.

‘When you look at Cork hurling and the amount of clubs and players involved, this is just another area that maybe hadn’t played as much hurling before but is now getting involved. It’s hugely positive and great credit is due to Carbery GAA and everyone involved.’

Maher believes West Cork has enormous untapped potential and pointed to the region’s success in other sports as proof. Also, the success of Cork hurling right now will help the game grow in West Cork too.

‘When you walk into Páirc Uí Chaoimh now for Cork hurling matches and see 43,000 or 44,000 people there, mostly wearing red, that’s a fantastic promotional platform for the game,’ he said.

‘West Cork already has a history of producing players in other sports and other codes. You only have to look at rugby and the success they’ve had there in recent years. There’s a huge population, a huge sporting culture and an enormous number of clubs.

‘There’s a real opportunity for more young people in West Cork to play our national sport too. Cork are so successful in hurling and the game is so popular across the county that it creates a fantastic mix.

‘But it takes work, strategy and patience. In fairness to Carbery GAA, they’ve recognised that and are putting structures in place. Trying to provide hurling in what would traditionally be seen as a football area is fantastic.

‘The new Carbery U15 hurling team is a credit to everybody involved, including Cork GAA for facilitating their participation at premier level. I think it’s the way forward and a really positive step.’

Kilbrittain's Aaron Holland celebrates with the trophy after their All-Ireland club junior hurling victory in January.

Maher also feels the progress already made in the Carbery division can inspire the next generation to believe there is now a pathway in place. Luke Meade from Newcestown flew the West Cork hurling flag at county level for almost a decade, yet more proof that Carbery can produce top-class hurlers.

‘Hurling belongs to everybody. It doesn’t matter where you come from, nobody owns the game. It belongs to all of us and it’s central to our identity as Irish people.

‘The people involved in West Cork hurling deserve huge credit because they are creating opportunities for children to play the game. Playing premier-level hurling at U15 level in Cork is a massive step,’ Maher said.

‘Now the question becomes: where next? How do we keep building and growing participation? How do we help facilitate more growth and more children playing the game?

‘There are probably ten and 12-year-olds in West Cork now looking at this and beginning to realise there’s a pathway there for them too. They might not fully see it yet, but it’s beginning to emerge. That’s hugely important.’

Maher is making the trip to West Cork this weekend, and will attend the launch of the Carbery championships in Bantry on Friday evening. It’s a chance for him to meet the people on the ground in Carbery hurling.

Explaining his own role, Maher said: ‘It’s probably much more strategic than simply promoting the game.

‘The overall goal is to have hurling played throughout the island, but we break that down into strong counties, middle-tier counties and emerging counties.

‘With the emerging counties, the focus is very much on participation – getting more hurling coaching, more games and more opportunities for children to play.

‘The middle counties are more about consolidation, building the participation base while also developing performance structures.

‘Then in counties like Cork and the stronger hurling areas, it’s about asking how we can help create even more opportunities, more games and more areas participating, but also how we can strengthen the pathway so counties like Cork, Tipp, Kilkenny and Wexford continue to produce more players.

‘So it’s really a three-pronged approach – strong counties, developing counties and emerging counties.’

• The 2026 Carbery GAA championships will be launched at Bantry House this Friday evening, followed by the launch of Carbery GAA’s website launch at the Westlodge Hotel at 8pm.