Irish Road Bowling at Fort New Salem

Click here of downloadable PDF about Irish Road Bowling

 Sunday October 23, 2011 at 1:30 p.m.

 Fort New Salem Foundation will introduce Irish Road Bowling, a Civil War era sport, as a benefit match on Sunday October 23, 2011, at Fort New Salem. The start time will be 1:30 p.m. All proceeds go to the Fort New Salem Foundation, which has embarked on a comprehensive restoration of this living-history outdoor museum interpreting the history, crafts and lifestyle of pioneering Appalachian settlers. Fort New Salem consists of 18, soon to be 19, log structures on an 8-acre site overlooking Route 50 in western Harrison County. Nine of the structures have been restored and upgraded, with nine remaining.

This ambitious effort, “passionately preserving our Appalachian heritage,” has been spearheaded by a group of dedicated volunteers, and the Foundation appreciates support from surrounding communities. New events are happening at Fort New Salem, including blacksmithing, dulcimer and other workshops, the Front Porch series of concerts, and on December weekends the Spirit of Christmas in the Mountains. Irish Road Bowling, an ancient sport from rural Ireland, was played by Union and Confederate Irish troops during the American Civil War. It is extremely easy to learn, and play.

Irish Road Bowling is scored like golf, the player or team throwing the fewest shots from start to finish line wins the match. A 28 ounce iron and steel “bowl” the size of a tennis ball is thrown underhand, and a chalk mark is made on the road next to where the bowl stops. The next shot is thrown from behind that mark and so forth to the finish.

Everyone is encouraged to see the Fort New Salem restoration, and enjoy a roll and stroll with Irish Road Bowling on a West Virginia autumn afternoon.  Teams can be 2, 3 or 4, any singles will be placed on teams at the start. 

 

All proceeds will go directly to the Fort New Salem Foundation; cost is $20.00 per person which includes a Pioneer-style dinner at the Fort, or $10.00 for the dinner only. Pre-registration is requested, and can be made at the Salem City Building, 229 West Main Street, Salem, W.V. 26426, 304-782-1318, 304-782-4229, or by contacting the Fort New Salem Foundation director@fortnewsalemfoundation.org, 304 695 2220. See also www.wvirishroadbowling.com. Make checks payable and mail to:

Fort New Salem Foundation, Inc.

PO Box 186

Salem, WV 26426