The Beginning of McNally Hurls
Hurling in Ireland is part of life, not just a sport. People grow up around it, play it, talk about it, and pass it down. In Ballinabranna, Co. Carlow, one player decided to take that love a step further. In the summer of 2024 he made his first hurl. It wasn’t for business or sales. It was just interest, maybe even curiosity, to see if he could do it. That one stick was the start of something bigger and slowly it turned into McNally Hurls.
He is not only a maker. He is also a goalkeeper for Naomh Bríd in Carlow. Playing the game gives him a sharper sense of what a hurl should be like. He knows the feel of balance, the weight that works best, and how strong it must be in tough matches. That kind of understanding goes straight into every stick he makes.
The Craft Takes Shape
After those first steps the craft began to take its own shape. Early on he followed what he knew best. The Cork goalie style became a favourite and gave him a way of building that felt personal. Bit by bit the process grew steadier. The wood was cut, shaped, sanded, and tried until it felt right.
Irish ash is the wood he works with. It is the same ash used for generations in hurley making. There is a reason for that. Ash holds strength but bends when needed. That mix makes it stand out. When a stick is made by hand you can see small changes in the grain and in the finish. It is never identical to another. Every hurl ends up with its own small marks and character that machines can’t give.
Growth Through Dedication
From that one first hurl in 2024 the numbers kept moving up. By the summer of 2025 he had made around 120. That says something about time and dedication. It also says players are noticing the work and want to play with something handmade.
It is not about big production. The workshop in Ballinabranna is not a factory and never will be. Every stick still takes its time. The increase in demand has not changed how the hurls are made. Each one is handled with care and worked on properly before it leaves.
The Value of Handmade Ash Hurls
There is a big difference between a stick that comes off a production line and one that has been shaped by hand. A handmade ash hurl has a feel to it. The balance is more natural because it has been adjusted during the making. Players can sense it when they pick it up and swing it.
That is where the real value lies. McNally Hurls is not trying to fill shelves with hundreds of copies. It is about putting forward hurls that belong in the game, that carry tradition but also stand up in performance. Strength, balance, and a proper grip are what players look for. Those things are there in a handmade stick.
Order Your McNally Handmade Ash Hurl Today
Beyond Crafting New Hurls
The work does not end at new sticks. Repairs are also part of what McNally Hurls offers. Players often grow attached to a hurl they’ve been using. It fits their hand, they know the weight, they trust it. When it breaks, throwing it away doesn’t feel right. That is where repair and piecing comes in.
This way, players can keep using the same hurl for longer. It is not just about saving money. It is about respect for the stick and the game. Repairing is its own craft and it shows that tradition is not only in making but also in keeping something going when it still has life left in it.
What McNally Hurls Offers Today
Right now McNally Hurls makes hurls in both junior and senior sizes. Younger players get the same attention in their sticks as the older ones. The same wood, the same balance, the same effort goes into both.
Every stick carries the mark of where it comes from. Ballinabranna, Co. Carlow is where the craft lives. Choosing one of these hurls means choosing something rooted in place and in the game itself. It is not just another product on a shelf.
The Journey Continues
The story of McNally Hurls is still close to the beginning. From one hurl in 2024 to more than a hundred the following year, the progress is clear. Each hurl carries the same story of time and handwork.
For players, holding a McNally Hurl is not only about having a piece of wood shaped into a stick. It is about holding something made by someone who plays the same game and understands what it takes. The journey has started in Ballinabranna, and it will keep going as long as the craft keeps moving forward. Each player who picks up a hurl made here carries part of that journey with them onto the pitch.