'It's our Wimbledon': Ireland's sport of road bowling goes global

The bowler clutches the metal ball and eyes his mark, a clump of grass, and studies the surface of the road and the bend up ahead.

- Rory Carroll

The crowd lining the ditch go silent, some praying for a good shot, others betting on a misfire. In an adjacent field, ponies munch on grass, oblivious to the tension.

The bowler bounds forward and unleashes a blur of motion: 737 grams (26oz) of solid iron hurtles past the spectators, hits the asphalt with a sharp clack and sails on up the road.

A perfect shot. A cheer erupts, startling crows from trees.

Welcome to the King and Queen of the Roads, an annual tournament in the Irish village of Ballincurrig that is the equivalent of Wimbledon for the ancient sport of road bowling.

It is no longer played with cannon balls, but the rules have remained largely unchanged for centuries: players take turns throwing a bowling ball along a 2km stretch of rural road and whoever reaches the finish line with the fewest throws - usually about 17 - wins.

The three-day tournament that concluded yesterday, however, showcased some radical innovations that have underpinned a revival.

Featuring players and TV crews from Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, it was livestreamed to a global audience that has turned the sport into a viral sensation that attracts podcasters and celebrities.