Cead, also known as cluichí le maidí (game with sticks ) is an ancient, traditional game that is unique to Inis Meáin and played exclusively on St Patrick’s Day.
Practicing Cead on any other day of the year is strictly forbidden. Cead has historical roots and rules similar to the ancient game of Gillidanda (South Asian outdoor game similar to cricket or baseball ). The equipment used in Cead includes a wooden bat and a ‘cead’ which is a small wooden tube about 2.5-inches long.
Traditionally, only men from the island are allowed participate in the competitive matches. The teams are formed with the first four people that were on the winning team the year before, they will be the four captains for the following year. The winner of the game gets “the cup” presentation at the island’s pub with their names are carved into the cup.
How is the game played?
A small wooden stick – the cead – is placed against a flat stone in the middle of a field. Using only a second piece of wood as a bat, players must hit the cead into the air and then again, fast and hard, over the far side of a rope over 30 metres away.
The four captained teams compete to hit the cead the furthest over the marked rope. The two teams with the closest distance to the rope continue to a final where the aim is to reach your cead as close to a 60-metre mark, where you will be declared winner. The equipment is handmade and unique to each player, which adds a layer of personal craftsmanship to the competition. The game isn’t all play, there is a financial stake involved as well, all players will contribute €20 euro to play. Should your team be unfortunately knocked out then the captain passing on the money to the remaining teams where it will eventually be divided between the winners.
The fact that practice is banned makes the game a display of latent talent rather than honed skill. I think practice is forbidden to try make it fair so no one team would win every year. This reservation of practice creates a community-focused atmosphere. Many locals and historians believe Cead is an ancient relative of hurling, one of the worlds oldest field games. Renowned islanders like poet Dara Beag Ó Fátharta were documented playing the game over 50 years ago.
Local islander and former champion of Cead, Máirtín Ó Conghaile (16 ) began playing when he was 13. He won it the same year and continued to win a further three championship, claiming his hattrick. He has evolved into a captain and is aiming to go four in a row which will be tied with the most wins in a row ever documented. Máirtín has grown up around this native Inis Meáin sport, sneaking chances to play it during his younger years in school during lunch time.
Máirtín's opinion: "Paddy’s day attracts a lot of people back to the island to watch the Cead and to enjoy the craic after.
"The game is played down at an old beach we have by the old pier; everyone gathers down there for it. I think it’s a great game and is great craic for the island, it makes it better the fact it's only once a year and not played anywhere else in the world. Everyone enjoys playing it and watching it. It is strictly only men allowed to play. Although only men are allowed play, the women always still gather to watch it and some of them even help and keep the score."
