The All Ireland Hurling Championship has had some wonderful moments in recent years. Each of the last three finals have gone to a replay and the excitement along the way has edged it in from of its Football Championship ‘cousin’ in terms of excitement.
It can’t always be that way though and this year’s series is down to the last six already without a real fire catching moment to light up the summer.
It could of course come this Sunday in Thurles when Dublin, Waterford, Cork and Galway go head to head for a place in the semi finals.
The GAA though cannot just rely on the stars on the pitch putting together the ingredients for a memorable climax to the season.
They are dipping into the strong sense of a magical past and a deep rooted sense of the sport being special by creating a small corner of Dublin into a ‘Hurling Mecca’ and asking fans to create the messages that will ring around social media and the sporting consciousness.
For two weeks in August an outdoor quote wall will be created which will be videoed and shared online as a one off piece of art.
Fans are being asked to submit messages on why Hurling is so unique and exciting via twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #BeThereAllTheWay. They have to be in by 1pm this Friday to have a chance of being immortalised.
It’s a neat idea, simple to execute and involving the fans. It also taps into youth culture and could be seen as a nod to the U2 wall outside there old Windmill Lane Studios which became a central point for fans of the band from all around the world.
The video will also be a way for the three main sponsors Liberty Insurance, Etihad Airways and Centra to attach themselves to a part of the championship that engages the fans and is non reliant on the actual performance between the white lines.
Here are some of the suggestions that we will be putting into the mix:
- Speed and courage like never before
- One small ball, one lifetime of dreams
- That one more inch that delivers immortality
- Playing games, building legends
- More than a game, hurling is forever
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