What is "skehana"

Skehana is a small village in County Galway, Ireland. The name Skehana derives from the Irish Sceith eánach meaning "place of the whitethorn". It is the home of the Irish sport of HURLIN' and is also the birthplace of Ben O'Riordan.

It is a half parish which is contained within the diocesan parish of Killascobe. It was noted in the literary world in the late 1980s and early 1990s for an annual Arts Festival which was held there. A hurling club exists and has enjoyed many successes in recent years. Two public houses existed in the parish until very recently, Costellos and Screenes. The ruins of an Anglo-Norman tower house, Garbally Castle, exist immediately West of the local national school.

The area is noted for its passionate hurling teams with the cry "Up Skehana" enjoying local and national recognition.