The safe period was once defined by a former GAA president, Jack Boothman, as half-time in a Co Wicklow camogie match.
Today's post contained a letter from an old friend from Thurles, Co Tipperary, who writes to me often using the nom de plume Mary Willie, the name of a famous Tipp hurling pub. He sent me a piece from a book called The Mardler's Companion, a dictionary of East Anglican dialect by Robert Malster, newly published by Malthouse Press, Suffolk. In it, a game called camping is described. There were no safe periods in this game.
The Oxford Dialect Dictionary says it is "an ancient form of the game of football". Football? This is Malster quoting from an 1888 book: "The ball used is seven inches in diameter, and soft. Each player has a stick to strike the ball with, and at each end of the field were placed the byes or goals, made by placing bent osier twigs into the ground so as to form arches.
"Both sides - the number on each side being unlimited, 10 a side, however, being a common team - had to toe the goal line. One "starter" then took the ball and placed it in the middle of the field, covering it with his hat. The removal of this hat was the signal to begin, and forthwith the fleetest runners rushed to the ball to get the first stroke, whilst the field took up their allotted positions.
"The players were allowed to throw and run with the ball, but not to kick it. The game, we are told, was very rough, and sparring men and bullies were often hired on both sides. These matches, organised as a rule by the publicans, frequently took place between neighbouring villages, the field often being lined with wagons".
Another 19th-century authority says: "Camping is beginning to be forgotten and it is well. The contents were, not unfrequently, fatal to many of the combatants. I have heard old persons speak of a celebrated camping, Norfolk against Suffolk, on Diss Common, with 300 on each side. Before the ball was thrown up, the Norfolk side enquired tauntingly of the Suffolk men if they had brought their coffins. The Suffolk men, after fourteen hours, were the victors. Nine deaths were the result of the contest, within a fortnight".
Camping, Mary Willie, is from Middle English camp, martial contest, a fight. Well named.