The Other View

Issue No.1 Summer 2000

No Decommissioning of Armagh Bullets

By John Nixon

"There is a road at Ballyrobert near Ballyclare, called 'The Longshot'. I am told that it is so named because it was a venue for road bowls." - Billy Mitchell.

Road Bowls or 'bullets' as the sport is referred to is synonymous with Armagh as orchards are with Loughgall. The game is also played in Cork and there has always been great rivalry between the two counties in All-Ireland and provincial championships. It has been suggested that the origins of the game stem back to the time when Dutch soldiers came to Ireland with William of Orange in 1689. Brian Toal (see below) comments on the 'relatively recent renewal of sporting contacts and revived bowling competitions between Ireland and Holland, in Road Bowls and Moor Bowls'.

Another theory links the sport with the linen industry when mill workers, the weavers scutchers played a game of 'long bullets' and the sport may have arrived in Ireland via linen workers from east Yorkshire and west Lancashire in the north of England.

Rivals pit their skill and strength throwing a 28oz (793.9g) iron ball along a stretch of road (usually several miles) where the winner covers the distance in the least amount of shots. This requires unique skills in 'reading' the road and perfection in delivering the bowl. New rules apart the game remains basically unchanged. You can't bring new technology to road bowls it is simply off with the coats, roll up the sleeves and the 'score' is on. Players usually have 'a shower', someone who will stand at a distance ahead and show the best pathway to the bowler. On delivery the bowl can reach up to formidable speeds and spectators face serious injury or worse if struck with a speeding bullet.

Its popularity developed phenomenally in recent decades. In 1994 Armagh City hosted the first ever International Road Bowling Festival. Last year the first World Championships took place in Armagh City attracting thousands of enthusiasts as individuals and teams from Ireland, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Holland competed at the highest levels. This was a major event that Ireland won.

Because of its uniqueness the sport has been the focus of national and international media attention. Indeed, only recently it featured on Blind Date. Characters, heroes and events are an integral part of the bowls culture and you'll hear stupendous stories wherever supporters are gathered. Bullets is a sport with family dynasties. Several books have been published on the sport but Brian Toal's book 'Road Bowling in Ireland' (1996) is without a doubt the most definitive account.

Road bowling did not always enjoy the same level of legal tolerance as today and numerous cases were brought before the courts. Over-zealous policemen tended to prosecute. One case in the law books recalls a visiting judge who stood in for the local magistrate. He didn't understand the sport. "What are these boys doing? What do they do if they don't throw bullets, stand around corners? I think that these men should get money rather than be fined", and he didn't fine them.

Bullets is perceived as a mainly nationalist sport and this is a pity for many Protestants have participated. A local enthusiast recalls the halcyon days of the late fifties and sixties. "There was quite a lot of bullet scores threw on the Loughgall Road. The Mill Row boys would come to throw with the Moy Road men. There were lads from Annaghcramp: the Scotts, the Orrs, the Georges and the Todds, mainly Protestant bowlers. Nobody has ever debarred from the sport because of religion. The reason why some Protestants never played so much was because it was later played on Sundays and they didn't actually believe like that. Actually, most of them played their scores on a Saturday, which was very popular. There was nothing to distract you then".

Today the sport is thriving with both genders competing at all ages. If you want to see how its done come to the road bowling Meccas of Armagh any Sunday morning and enjoy the craic and a healthy walk. Then purchase some bowls, find a suitable road or course and you won't have to look far for advice and guidance.

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