Bowled over: 17th Century sport brought back to life as new tourist attraction in Armagh

Led by passionate lifelong road bowling enthusiast Chris Mallon, whose daughter Kelly is an All-Ireland champion, the experience gives people an insight into the rich heritage of the ancient sport – before they get to grips with mastering the technique and compete in a game.

Played on quiet country roads, road bowling sees players hurl a 28oz iron ball, known locally as the ‘bullet’, down a stretch of a rural country lane up to 4km long.

Reaching speeds of up to 80 miles per hour, the sport combines skill, precision and power, with the victory awarded to the player who reaches the end of the course in the fewest throws.

Often unfamiliar outside its traditional strongholds of Armagh and Cork, road bowling was listed amongst Ireland’s most prominent pastimes in the 1880s, alongside football and hurling.

Today, the local clubs that have kept the tradition alive for generations compete for the All-Ireland title at the national championship each year.

The creator of the new attraction, Chris Mallon, is also the former chairman of Ból Cumann Uladh (The Irish Road Bowling Association).

He explained that the new experience is about preserving the sport and giving it a platform to be appreciated by younger generations and international visitors alike.

“I have been involved with road bowling all my life – it’s been a central part of my family and community,” he said.

"Over the years, I was lucky enough to share the passion with my daughter, Kelly, and she has gone on to become one of our most successful road bowlers.

"Passing on this important tradition is the part I take most pride in. Being able to package road bowling into an enjoyable experience, for people who may not be as familiar with the sport as we are here in Armagh, feels like a real triumph in celebrating it and preserving it.

"People will have the chance to connect with the sport, and the living sporting culture of Armagh in a genuine way, to understand where road bowling comes from, how we have kept it alive, and appreciate the skill involved by having a go themselves.”

Taking place within the grounds of St Patrick’s Cathedral in the heart of Armagh City, the experience also offers participants panoramic views of the region’s rolling hills.

Sara McGeary, Visit Armagh, said: “Road bowling endures here because it is woven into both the cultural and social fabric of Armagh.

"It continues to connect people to community and serves as a vital anchor within rural life. Each year we welcome thousands to the Bol Fada Festival, a major road bowling event hosted on the Keady-Tassagh roads, but this experience that Chris has created enhances our tourism proposition by allowing visitors to connect with our sporting traditions and experience an activity authentic to the Armagh.

"We are pleased to support him and look forward to welcoming people to try their hand at a game.”

For more information and to book a place on the Armagh Road Bowling experience visit: visitarmagh.com/armaghroadbowling