Milwaukee Hurling Club
Encyclopedia
The Milwaukee Hurling Club (MHC) has promoted the sport of hurling
through education and game play since 1996.
The Milwaukee Hurling Club (MHC) first introduced the sport of hurling to Milwaukee in 1996 with 30 members. In 1997, four teams were formed and this enabled the club to hold regular games. From 1998 through 2001 the league featured 6 teams. With the excitement and the number of people interested in playing continually growing the 2002 membership grew to an impressive 160 members playing on 8 teams, as well as 30-plus members participating in Camogie
. In 2010 the MHC grew to over 300 members, including over 100 youth. The Milwaukee Hurling Club's 15th season featured 10 adult co-ed teams, and 6 youth teams.
. The club is funded by the players and sponsors. While the MHC plays games among the 10 teams within the club there are travelling teams which compete in North American Gaelic Athletic Association
(NAGAA) tournaments. Specifically, there have been two men's and a women's (Camogie
) travelling teams. The traveling teams are made up of players who also play on the coed club teams. In 2007, the Milwaukee Men's Junior B travelling team captured its first NAGAA Championship. In 2008, The Milwaukee Men's Junior B travelling team repeated as NAGAA Champions and will move up to Junior A in 2009.
Due to the success of promoting the sport of hurling the club administrator, Dave Olson, was honored by the GAA in Ireland
with the prestigious President's Award. This was the first time ever that an American had been recognized with such an honor.
As the MHC has grown and become more organized it has been more involved with the NAGAA but has still maintained an independent status. The separation specifically allows for coed teams which is not allowed on official NAGAA teams. The mixed teams is generally the only difference as the MHC follows rule changes made annually by the GAA in Ireland
.
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
through education and game play since 1996.
The Milwaukee Hurling Club (MHC) first introduced the sport of hurling to Milwaukee in 1996 with 30 members. In 1997, four teams were formed and this enabled the club to hold regular games. From 1998 through 2001 the league featured 6 teams. With the excitement and the number of people interested in playing continually growing the 2002 membership grew to an impressive 160 members playing on 8 teams, as well as 30-plus members participating in Camogie
Camogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
. In 2010 the MHC grew to over 300 members, including over 100 youth. The Milwaukee Hurling Club's 15th season featured 10 adult co-ed teams, and 6 youth teams.
The Milwaukee Hurling Club and the North American Gaelic Athletic Association
The Milwaukee Hurling Club is an attempts to develop American players unlike some of the clubs in Chicago and Atlanta which bring in players from IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The club is funded by the players and sponsors. While the MHC plays games among the 10 teams within the club there are travelling teams which compete in North American Gaelic Athletic Association
North American GAA
The North American County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or North American GAA is one of the boards of the GAA outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in the United States of America, excluding the New York metropolitan region, which is under the control of the New York GAA...
(NAGAA) tournaments. Specifically, there have been two men's and a women's (Camogie
Camogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
) travelling teams. The traveling teams are made up of players who also play on the coed club teams. In 2007, the Milwaukee Men's Junior B travelling team captured its first NAGAA Championship. In 2008, The Milwaukee Men's Junior B travelling team repeated as NAGAA Champions and will move up to Junior A in 2009.
Due to the success of promoting the sport of hurling the club administrator, Dave Olson, was honored by the GAA in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
with the prestigious President's Award. This was the first time ever that an American had been recognized with such an honor.
As the MHC has grown and become more organized it has been more involved with the NAGAA but has still maintained an independent status. The separation specifically allows for coed teams which is not allowed on official NAGAA teams. The mixed teams is generally the only difference as the MHC follows rule changes made annually by the GAA in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.