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Patricia Walsh

Team Ireland are on their way to the Quidditch World Cup

It’s all about that golden snitch…

IRELAND IS SET to join teams from all over the world to compete in the Quidditch World Cup in Germany this month.

Squads from 25 countries including Brazil, Uganda and Australia will travel to Frankfurt for the competition, which is taking place on 23 and 24 July.

The sport, based on the Harry Potter book series, started in Ireland around three years ago when the Galway Grindylows were established.

The games are full-contact and mixed gender, and their success shows that Quidditch is starting to be seen more as a sport, rather than just something associated with Harry Potter.

Chaser for the Galway Grindylows and Team Ireland, Rebecca O’Connor, describes a typical Quidditch match.

There’s seven players from each team on the pitch at one time, three chasers who try to score through vertical hoops using a volleyball, one keeper to stop the opposition chasers scoring, and two beaters.
After 18 minutes, the seekers and snitch are brought on. The snitch is a neutral player that has a tennis ball in a sock attached to their shorts.

Quidditch in New York Bronx High School Quidditch Team in New York Tina Fineberg / AP/Press Association Images Tina Fineberg / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

As with Quidditch in the wizarding world, the game finishes once the snitch is caught – which can take up to 20 minutes after the snitch is released.

Last year Ireland only had eight players, making it one of the smallest squads at the European leg of the tournament, but this year Team Ireland means business.

It’s the team members’ first year qualifying for the Quidditch World Cup and they will be bringing a full squad of 21 players.

One of the players going is Ben Middlemiss, who originally got involved in Quidditch as a joke but ended up loving it. He is a “beater” which means his role is to throw bludgers (dodge balls) at opposing players which temporarily knocks them out of play.

13490865_548125702039125_1441477296601181446_o Ben Middlemiss playing for Holyrood Hippogriffs

Middlemiss describes Ireland’s chances in their pool with Australia, Belgium and Slovakia:

I’m feeling confident we can get out of the group and make it into the round of 16 at the very least. Quidditch is a fledgling sport in Ireland but we’ve got so many players who’ve cut their teeth in the high-level UK system. I foresee us shocking a lot of people.

O’Connor also throws in her predictions:

I think we will beat Slovakia, Belgium are on a similar level to us so that will be interesting and Australia are very good. They came second at the last World Cup so that will be a tough match.

The team raised over €5,000 in an online fundraiser to help cover equipment, accommodation and travel costs.

Team Ireland at the European Games 2015 Team Ireland at the European Games 2015

Quidditch through the Ages

Vermont college students first started Quidditch in the US in 2005. The first Quidditch World Cup was held in 2008 and 12 teams from the US and Canada participated. There’s even a governing body, the International Quidditch Association, to serve teams around the world.

Rebecca admits that people teased them a bit at the start. ”They thought we were just really big Harry Potter fans, running around a pitch on brooms,” she says.

I think when people see how much we train they respect it a bit more. They realise: “Wow, these people are taking it seriously”.

Middlemiss describes how most top-level players want to disassociate from Harry Potter:

Most top-level players want to shed that “geeky” image but let’s face it, there’d be no Quidditch without Harry!

Read: JK Rowling sent a wonderful message to the funeral of one of the Orlando victims

Read: These parents created an amazing Harry Potter themed nursery

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27 Comments
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    Mute Stephen Devine
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 12:32 PM

    Inaccurate reporting, Ireland beat Bulgaria to to win the World Cup in 1994.

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    Mute Jay Finn
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 12:52 PM

    Ha. Great comment.

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    Mute Alan b
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 5:02 PM

    Great to see a sport for nerds

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 9:25 PM

    This is a sports site nerds can piss off

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    Mute Yeah Ok
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 2:06 PM

    We can keep the euro 2016 bandwagon going. Stand up for the Wizards in green!

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    Mute Matthew Donoghue
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 12:36 PM

    It would probably be a good game if they just got rid of the sticks.

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    Mute Science of beer
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 12:47 PM

    All the fantastic sports out there and people choose to play this.. FFS

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    Mute Fionn Bohane
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 1:20 PM

    As long as their running around having fun who cares what they do? They get to travel the world for free with it as well, so how bad!! You’re just a big fun ruiner aren’t you!

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    Mute Keaneland
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 1:42 PM

    They get to travel for free? Who pays?

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    Mute Fionn Bohane
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 1:48 PM

    They raised funds online… It cost money just not out of their own pocket!!

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    Mute Rochelle
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 5:09 PM

    How dare they have fun and enjoy themselves with something that isn’t a traditional sport. Don’t they realise they’re only allowed to enjoy activities designated by tradition? I’m appalled.

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    Mute ⚡ SCO Electrical ⚡
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 5:13 PM

    They travel for free because they fly their on their brooms… obviously. You muggle

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    Mute Maire Ui Riain
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 10:50 PM

    Good one. Do they dress up afterwards? Will there be an online petition for it to be introduced into the Olympics?

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    Mute Fionn Bohane
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    Jul 3rd 2016, 10:15 AM

    Probably not , no..

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    Mute Jim Woodcock
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 1:37 PM

    Ah here.

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    Mute Aine Whelan
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 3:50 PM

    #COWIG (wizards) ……

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    Mute Alan Hughes
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 2:30 PM

    It looks like they are running around with their hand between their legs. Madness. Reminds me of the americans who tried to get Jedism recognised as a religion

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    Mute Ed Byrne
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 7:17 PM

    With any luck they’ll all lose their virginity on their travels…..

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    Mute Guybrush Threepwood
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 5:21 PM

    Why would they put the Quidditch World Cup on at the same time as Comic-con!? Nobody will turn up.

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    Mute James Onedin
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 4:19 PM

    Is today the 1st of April?

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    Mute John Kehoe
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 5:50 PM

    NEEERRRRDS

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    Mute Maire Ui Riain
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 10:51 PM

    More nerds must be online than non nerds

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    Mute Katie Keogh
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 3:30 PM

    This is fantastic

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    Mute james
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 7:44 PM

    I wonder what their girlfriends think …. Oh wait

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    Mute judochop...
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 5:27 PM

    Drug tested and approved !!

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    Mute Maire Ui Riain
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 10:48 PM

    Wtf

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Jul 2nd 2016, 8:31 PM

    Are those my feet?

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