The best sliotar in Ireland: an honest buyer’s guide
Type “best sliotar in Ireland” into any search box and you’ll find plenty of opinions and very few facts. We make sliotars for a living, so we’re not a neutral referee — but we can tell you exactly what separates a ball that plays true in January from one that looks grand in the packet and dies in its first wet session. Judge any sliotar, ours included, against this list.
What actually makes a great sliotar
1. A real leather cover. Cheap sliotars use laminate or PVC covers that feel slick off the hurl and crack or peel once they’ve been through rain. Real leather grips, wears in rather than wearing out, and keeps its character through a full season. If a listing doesn’t say “real leather”, assume it isn’t.
2. Hand-stitched, raised rims. The rims are not decoration — they’re what your fingers find in a high catch and what the bas bites on when you strike. Machine-pressed seams sit flat and go flatter. Hand stitching leaves the rims standing proud of the ball, and they stay that way.
3. A solid core at match weight. The engine of the ball. A solid polyurethane core at the right weight and density gives true rebound off hurl, hand and ground — and, crucially, it doesn’t drink water. A ball that gains weight in the wet changes its flight, its bounce and your touch. A proper core plays the same in October as it did in June. We opened one of ours up so you can see it: what’s inside a sliotar.
4. The right size and spec. An adult hurling sliotar (size 5) should weigh 110–120 g with a diameter of 69–72 mm. Camogie uses the smaller size 4 at every grade, and so does juvenile hurling. If you’re buying for a child, start with our sliotar sizes guide.
5. Consistency, ball after ball. One good ball is luck. A dozen that all play the same is quality control. Every single sliotar we sell is checked by hand before it goes in the post — sold and posted to your door by the two of us, Ben & Ciarán, from County Laois.
Don’t take our word for it — here’s what players say
These are verified reviews from customers, in their own words:
“Best quality sliotar in Ireland at the moment. Great to see them starting to be used in inter-county games.” — Ross King
“Very good hurling ball. Lovely touch, feel and strike. I use them daily and am very satisfied with them.” — Enda Rowland
“Great quality sliotars — they hold fierce well in the wet weather too, unlike others available.” — Ross Holmes-Carroll
“10/10 would recommend. Top quality service and sliotars. Very efficient delivery!” — Danielle Kavanagh
You can read more on our reviews page.
Which sliotar should you buy?
- Adult hurling, matches and serious training: the Illuminous Size 5 — our flagship hi-vis yellow match ball, from €30. Same leather and core as a white ball, but it stays visible under floodlights and in grey winter light.
- Camogie, every grade: Size 4 sliotars, from €30.
- Under-age hurling and camogie: the Go Games range — First Touch, Quick Touch and Smart Touch, matched to each development stage.
- Touch work at home: wall balls from €6 — quiet off the wall and easy on the hurl, perfect for alleys, gyms and gables. See our wall ball training guide.
- Clubs and schools: bulk orders and personalised crested sliotars with your own crest printed on the leather — club & school orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sliotar for wet weather?
A real-leather ball with a solid polyurethane core. The leather keeps its grip and the core doesn’t absorb water, so the ball plays at the same weight in the rain. That combination is exactly what our customers mention most in reviews.
How much does a good sliotar cost in Ireland?
A genuine hand-stitched leather match sliotar typically costs more than a laminate ball — our match balls start from €30, training wall balls from €6, and club bulk pricing brings the per-ball cost down for teams. A ball that lasts a season is cheaper than three that don’t.
Do you deliver outside Ireland?
Yes — we dispatch in 2–5 working days and ship to the UK, USA and Australia as well as all of Ireland.
Can I order sliotars with my club’s crest?
Yes. We print your crest on the leather — popular for county finals, presentations, sponsorships and fundraisers. Start with the club & school orders page or call Ben on +353 85 769 4575.
Ready to try one? Browse the full range — and if you’re ordering for a club or school, talk to us about bulk pricing.