Mikey Butler privileged to captain Irish hurlers against Scotland
Mikey Butler poses for a portrait during the 2026 Ireland Hurling/Shinty photoshoot at the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By John Harrington
Mikey Butler will captain Ireland with pride in Saturday evening’s Hurling-Shinty International against Scotland in Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
He never imagined he’d ever even get to play the compromise code, so the opportunity to lead out his country is something the tenacious Kilkenny defender regards as a very special opportunity.
“It's a savage honour, a privilege really,” says Butler. “I'm just delighted. Eamon (O’Shea) texted me about the captaincy last week, so I kind of knew about it. Then he mentioned it in front of the lads on Saturday and all the boys were clapping and delighted for me so it was a very nice moment.
“You wouldn’t every really have thought about the possibility of playing for Ireland in the shinty, let alone being captain. Playing for Ireland in shinty is special, and being captain makes it that bit even more special.”
Butler wasn’t sure what to expect when he landed up to the first Ireland team training session but is satisfied that he and his team-mates have done a good job building a good team spirit in a short period of time.
“Going up to the first training I hadn't heard of anyone else who would be there so I walked into the dressing-room not knowing anybody. When I walked in I still didn't know anybody, I didn't recognise any faces.
“But then Andrew Ormond, Sam O’Farrell and Darren Neary came in, and I knew them alright. Then mixing with all the other boys from Fermanagh, Derry, Down, Kerry and these places, they are all really nice men and very easy to get along with.
“They're all serious hurlers too. A lot of them have gotten All-Stars this year with the Joe McDonagh or Champion 15 and a lot of them have experience of playing the shinty matches so it's great to have lads like that around it.”
Butler, like most of the Irish panel, has no previous experience of playing the compromise code, and the prohibition on handling the ball initially took some getting used to.
“The first day was hard because I had to get used to not putting the ball into my hand. Normally, your first instinct when the ball is coming to you is to put your hand to it and try to catch it. Otherwise you're trying to get it into your hand with just one touch.
“But with shinty, everything has to be played off the stick, so you’re trying to keep the ball in tight to yourself and on the hurl at all times. You’re also getting used to getting in little flicks and things like that.
“Even something like not being able to kick the ball takes a bit of getting used to. When you’re coming out of a ruck you might miss the rise your first instinct is to kick the ball, but you get blown up for that in this game.”
Management during the 2026 Ireland Hurling/Shinty photoshoot at the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile .
Scotland won four Hurling-Shinty Internationals in a row from 2016 to 2019, but since the series was revived in 2023 Ireland have won three-in-a-row.
All of those matches were ferociously fought affairs though, and Butler is expecting another tough battle on Saturday evening against the committed Scots.
“I know two years ago in Ennis the match went to extra-time and last year in Scotland was a very close match as well so there's never really anything between the two sides and I'm sure it's going to be the exact same on Saturday,” he says.
“I was looking at a few of the games in previous years and if you're not in tight you could end up on the end of one of their shinty sticks. If you're not in tight you're definitely coming out with a few bruises!
“It's a very physical game and the one thing I've noticed about the Scottish teams is that they're very big and physical.
“They move the ball very quickly. We’ll have to get up to the pace of the play quickly once the ball is throwing in on Saturday night and try to set the tempo before they do.
“They're more used to this type of game so we'll have to adapt to it quickly so they don't build up too much momentum.
“Hopefully we’ll get a massive crowd down in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. There should be two brilliant games with the Camogie on at four o’clock as well. Hopefully people will come early and watch both matches. We’ll need all the support we can get.
“It would be brilliant if both myself and Aisling Thompson who's captaining the camogie team could both lift a cup and we can all celebrate together afterwards.”
Tickets for the Shinty-Hurling/Camoge Internationals are available here.
Ireland Shinty-Hurling team: Billy Nolan (Waterford), Mikey Butler (Kilkenny), Ian Shanahan (Laois), Sam O'Farrell (Tipperary), Meehaul McGrath (Derry), Ryan Mullaney (Laois), Darragh Neary (Galway), Fiachra C-Fennell (Laois), Diarmuid Stritch (Clare), Aaron Dunphy (Laois), Andrew Ormonde (Tipperary), Cian O'Sullivan (Dublin), Luca McCusker (Fermanagh), Séamus Harnedy (Cork), Pearse Óg McCrickard (Down), Gerard Walsh (Antrim), Joe Murray (Leitrim), Patrick Turner (Derry), Kyle O'Connor (Kerry), Damien Healey (Meath).
Standby players: Seán Kelly (Derry), Johnny Maher (Longford), Ciaran McNally (Longford), Ethan Flynn (Monaghan), Evan Tully (Longford), Pádraig Doyle (Wicklow), Emmet Walsh (Monaghan), Kevin Goulding (Kerry).
Ireland Shinty-Camogie team: Amy Lee (Cork), Aimie Nolan (Carlow), Anais Curran (Wexford), Aoife McDonald (Tyrone), Ashling Thompson (Cork), Ava Fitzgerald (Cork), Dearbhla Magee (Antrim), Emma Murphy (Cork), Gráinne McDonald (Tyrone), Isobel Sheehan (Cork), Laura Hayes (Cork), Maeve Clince (Meath), Naoise Hughes (Armagh), Rachael Walsh (Waterford), Rebecca Kelly (Carlow), Saoirse McCarthy (Cork), Shannagh Hegarty (Antrim), Sinéad Wylde (Dublin), Sophie O’Callaghan (Limerick).
