Bold Life: Irish road bowling comes to WNC

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Story by Jon Rich for Bold Life: 

Justin Hunter is on a mission to spread Irish Road Bowling to the masses.

More than 14 years ago, while living in West Virginia, he was introduced to this traditional Irish pastime, which involves hurling a 28-ounce cast-iron cannonball down a stretch of clear pavement.

Since 2008 he and a group of dedicated friends have been practicing this throwing sport in hopes of bringing the national championships to Western North Carolina.

“It’s a mix of bowling and golf, but the goal is to get it to the end of the line in the least number of throws,” Hunter says of the weekend workout that he and as many as 50 friends and family members have gathered to play when the weather is right. “You’re outside and it doesn’t cost that much to play once you buy the cannonballs. For me, it’s a great way to keep my friends together and have some fun.”

While Irish road bowling may be new to Western North Carolina, its origins are traced back to the 1600s when, depending which legend you choose to believe, either Dutch soldiers under the command of William of Orange came to Ireland or Irish patriots stole and rolled English cannonballs down a country lane by moonlight to pass the time