Hurling is an outdoor team sport of Celtic origin, played with sticks and a ball. The game, played primarily in Ireland, is arguably the world's fastest field team sport in terms of gameplay (however the ball travels faster in other field games such as hockey. It resembles the games of shinty that is played primarily in Scotland and bandy that was played formerly in England and Wales. Hurling played by women is also known as camogie. Hurling is one of Ireland's native sports.

The objective of this field game is for one of two teams to score more goals and points, during a match, than the other. A team is comprised of 15 players: notionally, one goalkeeper, six defenders (comprising 2 banks of 3 players), two midfielders and six forwards (again comprising 2 banks of 3 players). The field is 154 yards (140 m) long and between 80 to 90m wide, significantly larger than a soccer or rugby pitch. A match lasts 70 minutes, comprising two halves with an interval between them.

Scoring is done by sending the sliotar (ball) between the oppositions goal posts, be it over or under the cross bar. The skill of players comes from their ability and speed in controlling the ball. The posts, which are at each end of the field, are "H" posts as in rugby football but with a net under the crossbar as in soccer. The posts are seven yards (6.37 m) apart and the crossbar is seven feet (2.12 m) above the ground. Three points are scored when players send the ball under the crossbar into the goal area while one point is scored when players send the ball over the crossbar.

The stick, which is known as a hurley or camán, is made traditionally from the root of the Ash tree and is generally 25-38 inches (64-97 cm) in length with a flat face opposite its handle called a bas. The ball, which is known as a sliotar, is made of leather and is 2.55 inches (65 mm) in diameter. The goalkeepers hurl has a bas twice the size of other players hurls (bas is twice the size of pictured hurl) to provide some advantage for the fast moving sliotar. A good strike with a stick can propel the ball up to 93 mph (150 km per hour) in speed and 262 feet (80 m) in distance.

During a match, players attack their opposing goal and protect their own. When the ball is on the ground, it must be played by striking or lifting it off the ground with the hurl into the air where it may be struck again or placed into the hand for four seconds or four steps, whichever comes first at . If the ball is caught, the catching player may not throw it or carry it for the shorter of four paces or four seconds, but is allowed to strike the ball with a stick or hand, or by kicking. The hurls bas may be used to carry the ball while a player controls it, but usually requires great skill. Players may be tackled but not struck with a stick. There are several forms of acceptable tackling the three most popular been 1. The block, where one player attempts to smother an opposing players strike by trapping the ball between his hurl and the opponents swinging hurl. 2. The hook, where a player approaches another player from a rear angle and attempts to catch the opponents hurl with his own at the top of the swing. 3. The side pull, where two players running together for the sliotar will collide shoulders and swing together to win the tackle. Accidental collisions between players and equipment do occur and, so a protective helmet, although not mandatory, is recommended.

Hurling was first mentioned in a description of the 14th century BC Battle of Moytura where the Tuatha Dé Danann defeated the Fir Bolg in a match and, later, in a battle. Hurling has also been mentioned in several other old Irish sources since and the game has enjoyed popularity through the ages.

The strongest hurling teams have come from the counties of Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary but teams such as Clare, Galway, Limerick, Offaly, Waterford and Wexford have become prominent or re-emerged since the 1980s. County Antrim in northeast Ireland is considered an isolated "hurling county" but has never won the Liam McCarthy Cup.

Significant hurling matches are those between the counties of Ireland in each of the four national provinces. Up to the end of the 1990s, the provincial champions played-off in the semi-finals for the right to compete in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final that takes place annually in September at Croke Park in Dublin. In recent times the championship has opened up to include a group stage and quarter-finals.

Since 1884, hurling has been governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The most important match is the GAA All-Ireland Intercounty Championship which takes place annually in a modified knock-out format. The final matches are played at Croke Park and regularly attract attendances of up to 83,000 people.

Although many hurling clubs exist worldwide, only Ireland has a national team. It and the Scotland shinty team have played for many years with modified match rules. The match is the only such international competition.

Today hurling remains an entirely amateur sport. None of the players or managers are paid, although the Gaelic Players Association has been set up by county players to gain a small payment for the time and effort they put into the game.