Old traditions die hard, they say. Well, road bowls (or bouls as they’re commonly pronounced in these parts) have been played in the east Waterford village of Fenor since the 1950s, and possibly before, with the inimitable Jimmy ‘Skinner’ Flynn and Gerry Cremin the two men who’ve done most to keep the game alive, albeit with a new gang of enthusiasts growing all the time.

Irish Road Bowling’s hotbeds are Cork and Armagh – and overseas in the

Rock and roller: Jimmy ‘Skinner’ Flynn in full flight at last year’s Fenor road bowling competition. | Photo: Noel Browne

US, Canada, New Zealand, with similar versions in Germany (lofting) and Holland (moors) – but there are playing pockets in counties Mayo, Tyrone, Louth, Limerick, Kilkenny (Inistioge), Wexford, and Waterford, with the All-Ireland junior C and novice championships held in Clashmore last September.