Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, the Irish Road Bowling Tournament returns for its sixth round March 15 at Onondaga Lake Park.
Enthusiasts of this ancient Irish sport will brave two miles of trail in icy weather, decked out in their finest St. Paddy’s gear.
Bill Lansley, Onondaga County Parks Commissioner, said Irish road bowling has gained quite the following in Central New York since the tournament’s 2010 introduction.
“This was really accepted quickly as a popular sport,” Lansley said. “We’ve doubled our entries.”
Lansley said the event appeals to locals who have been cooped up inside during the harsh winter.
“It’s one of the first opportunities to get out and do an activity after winter,” he said.
Irish road bowling originated in the 17th century. A mixture of bowling, golf and bocce, it’s still popular in the Irish counties of Armagh and Cork.
With a running start, a player launches a 28-ounce steel cannonball — called a “bullet” — from a throwing mark drawn on the road. This mark is the “butt.” If a player crosses the mark before releasing the bullet, it’s called “breaking butt.”
The sport is played in teams of four, and the object is to bowl the entire course in as few throws as possible. Scoring is similar to golf.
“They love it. It’s a fun party at the park,” Lansley said of the merry bowlers. “Some people come ready to play since it’s St. Patrick’s Day.”
Teams often arrive in costume, toting adult beverages. (They’re limited to bringing one six-pack of beer in cans to be consumed only in designated areas of the parks.) There’s even a contest for decorating the bullet.
Once all 92 teams have completed the course, the revelers gather at White Water Pub in Liverpool for a complimentary Irish buffet.
An awards ceremony is held to dole out prizes to the first-, second- and third-place teams as well as the team with the best decorated ball.
Spectators will have the chance to catch a glimpse of the tournament along the Shoreline Walking Trail.
“If you don’t know what’s going on, it’s really a sight to see,” Lansley said.
If you want to participate, spots are filling up fast. Teams of four may register for $100 at irishroadbowling.org. All proceeds go to the Friends of Historic Onondaga Lake.
Registration for the Sixth Annual Irish Road Bowling Tournament starts at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, March 15, at the Saw Mill Creek Shelter.
The tourney tees off at 10:30 a.m. and ends at the Salt Museum around 1:30 p.m.
