OK, I understand that lads lobbing metal balls down a country lane full of spectators might not be high on your list of stuff to watch today, but Oisín Bickley's "The Road Bowlers" will warm your heart, or at least melt off a layer of 21st-century sporting cynicism.
Unlikely to make a return to the urban landscape any time soon, what with insurance and health and safety and all that modern nonsense, an old hand and a fan explain the importance of the ancient tradition to their local area. The documentary is a few months old but has been popular on Reddit this morning.
Road bowling is kept alive by traditionalists and mad gamblers alike, in West Cork, South Armagh and West Virginia, apparently.
The Road Bowlers from Oisin Bickley on Vimeo.
photo: visitballyhoura.com
