Result
Result compiled from Result in the NAMA website [Please visit the NAMA website in Reference 1 for more Information]
Report
North scored a resounding 7-1 victory over South in the Annual Manx Cammag game in persistent rain on St. Stephens’ Day 2015. Following the game a Music Session was held at Tynwald Hill Inn, and beforehand the “Hunting of the Wren” took place, although nowadays it is merely symbolic, with no actual Wren killed. [References: 1]
ABOUT Manx Cammag
Manx Cammag is a version of Hurling (or Caman in Irish) played in the Isle of Man, where Manx Gaelic was traditionally spoken. It is also very similar to the Scottish game of Shinty or Camanachd. The earliest mention of Hurling or Caman is in the Irish ‘Book of Leinster’ in the 12th Century AD. It played with a small ball and hooked stick. Kit Gawne, writing in his book, ‘Isle of Man Hockey’ suggests the game may have been introduced by missionaries, although the earliest mention in the Isle of Man records is not until 1760. [References: 2-3]
It is a Winter Sport, with special matches arranged on St. Stephen’s Day (such as the one between North & South of the Island. There are few rules, and any number of players can play on either side, with coats or sticks marking goalposts. The ball is known as the “Crick” [References: 2-3]
The match on St. Stephen’s Day between North & South is played in conjunction with the Festivities associated with the day, such as ‘Hunting the Wren’, although these days no wren is killed, and those making donations to charity are given a coloured ribbon, rather than a wren’s feather, supposed to bring good luck for the following year, thought to be particularly efficacious in the event of a shipwreck or witchcraft. [References: 2-3]
Isle of Man Flag
[4] Illustration Contributor: MarkUK97 on Shutterstock (2022) Isle of Man flag texture creased and crumpled up with light and shadows Stock Illustration ID: 272714558 [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/isle-man-flag-texture-creased-crumpled-272714558 [Accessed 10 July 2022][Additional Text on Illustration by Enda Mulcahy for gaa.world (Eirball)
REFERENCES (About)
WEBSITES
[1] North American Manx Association, Valerie Caine (2013) Cammag [Internet] Available from: https://namanx.org/cammag [Accessed 10 July 2022]
[2] North American Manx Association (2015) “Rain doesn’t stop play on St. Stephen’s Day” [Internat] Available from: http://namanx.org/rain-doesnt-stop-play-on-st-stephens-day-2 [Accessed 5 March 2017]
[3] isleofman.com (2017) “Work off your Christmas Turkey with a game of Cammag!” [Internet] Available from: https://www.isleofman.com/lifestyle/health-sports/cammag/ [Accessed 13 October 2017]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to Stephen Fitzpatrick
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
Researched, Compiled and Written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | GAA World Archive
Last Updated: 10 July 2022
(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2022
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