The noted Road Bowling player, Murphy Bawn (Murphy Brown) starts off his game with Conney Lucey with a mighty throw, on a deserted road near Blarney, County Cork.Getty Images

Road bowling has seen an upturn in exposure in recent years, but just what is the sport that involves so many Irish competitors?

With growing popularity online amid plenty of content posted to social media, road bowling in Ireland has become a celebrated spectator sport along Irish by-roads.

With plenty more action set for the coming days and weeks, here is everything to know about road bowling.

What are the Road Bowling Championships?

The Road Bowling Championships pits two players against each other in a contest involving the throwing of a metal ball along country roads in different locations around Ireland.

The object of the game is to propel the metal ball along the selected route in the fewest number of throws possible against an individual opponent firing along the same route.

A ‘road shower’ advises the thrower about the throw ahead similar to the role of a golf caddy, while the thrower can also have another helper stood feet ahead to determine the best path to take with the ball.

Read more

How old is road bowling?

The game of road bowling can be dated back to as far as the 17th century in Ireland, with historians also reporting a more widespread participation in the game back then.

Some historians report that the game may have been brought to Ireland by Dutch troops fighting in the Williamite War between 1689 and 1691.

Who governs road bowling?

Ból Chumann na hÉireann are in charge of road bowling in Ireland, having formed in 1954 to replace the All-Ireland Bowl Players Association.

Which counties participate the most in road bowling?

Traditionally, there was big participation in counties Armagh and Cork, with the first national championship between the two taking place in 1963.

Read more

Prominent road bowling players

Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty is perhaps the most well-known figure in sport who currently competes as a road bowler too.

The Orchard stopper was between the sticks in 2024 when Armagh clinched their second Sam Maguire Cup. While he was a feature in the semi-final win against Kerry, just one day later Rafferty was posted in Cork to take part in the All-Ireland Intermediate Road Bowls Championship final, where he beat Tommy O’Sullivan.

Rafferty’s brother Colm scooped All-Ireland senior success last year, while his uncle Michael Toal is a nine-time national champion in the sport.

He explained that his introduction came via his grandparents: "My grandparents were big into it and if you’re down around home, my uncle and my mate we’d throw a few shots.

"It’s not that strenuous of a sport; it’s more technical on the skill side of things. It was a long spin after the Kerry game last year to go the final. I don’t know whether I’ll go back this year.

"My mum is Toal and her family are quite big into it; my uncle holds the record with nine official titles. I’ll see how the season goes."

*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.