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Smithsonian MagazineNov 2, 2026
How an Irish Backroad Tradition Is Rolling Into Small-Town America
With roots in County Armagh and County Cork, the sport of road bowling is finding new life stateside, both as a fun pastime and as a way for a group of Americans to honor their heritage
19 things in this story
- Bol Cumann UladhPlaceUlster branch of the Irish Road Bowling Association
- Elsewhere
- West Virginia Irish Road BowlersPlaceWest Virginia, United StatesTeam that played with Jason Kelce for ESPN
- Boston Road Bowling teamPlaceBoston, United StatesFirst road bowling team established stateside in 1996
- Cornelius O’CallaghanPlaceBoston, United StatesFounding member of North American Road Bowling Region
- North American Road Bowling RegionPlaceBoston, United StatesOrganization overseeing road bowling in North America
- Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Memorial Library and ArchiveMuseumArmagh, United KingdomLibrary with historic road bowls and archival books
- King & Queen of the RoadsFestivalIrelandWorld's biggest road bowling championship
- Road Bowls in IrelandPlaceIrelandFacebook page streaming matches
- Kelly MallonPlaceArmagh, United KingdomMost decorated player in Irish road bowling history
- Fergal CarrPlaceNew York, United StatesAll-Ireland champion who moved to New York
- Bol Chumann New YorkPlaceNew York, United StatesRoad bowling league in New York
- Irish CatskillsNeighborhoodNew York, United StatesMountain farmland with Irish pubs and dance halls
- North American Road Bowling ChampionshipFestivalTennessee, United StatesTournament held in Tennessee
- Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish PubRestaurantButte, United StatesPopular pub in Butte, Montana
- World Museum of MiningMuseumButte, United StatesPreserves Butte's mining history and culture
- Ireland, West VirginiaNeighborhoodIreland, United StatesTown that looks like Ireland
- West Virginia Irish Road BowlingPlaceWest Virginia, United States
- Team WV Irish Road BowlingPlaceWest Virginia, United States
- Bol Chumann na hEireannPlaceIreland