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In 1791, a French writer, in his impressions of Galway wrote, “In August, hurling begins to be played. Each team is divided into three sections – 'L’arriere' of back guards the goal and seeks to stop the ball from passing through. Another group is in front to prevent the enemy’s ball from coming back from that end, that is the middle; the third group called the whip is 'sur le terrain' [on the ground]. The game of hurling is 'Behine' and the place they play – Turlough. The ball is cow’s hair, very compact and covered with leather. The spectators are on the ground about – the majority dancing. The sides are distinguished by the colour of their caps. It is terrifying to see the way they rush into each other to force the ball to pass under the goal.”

We know that hurling was played in the Bohermore area 200 years ago. Several different clubs operated around there at different times — Galway City, Bohermore 98s, College Road, Thomas Ashe, etc. Players would occasionally transfer from one club to another so it was natural for them to join the new club that was formed on February 11, 1933. The club was called Liam Mellows after the patriot who led the 1916 rebellion in Galway.

An elderly lady once told me that “Apart from the Irish language, we have nothing more Irish in this country than the game of hurling.” I agree. It is the greatest game of them all. It is probably the number one game in the county, attendances at senior county finals being a very good criterion — the hurling final has always been the bigger attraction than the football counterpart, “even in the balmy days of our football three-in-a-row,” according to the late Jack Mahon.