The
Milwaukee Hurling Club (MHC) has promoted the sport of
hurlingHurling is an outdoor team sport of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. The game, played primarily in Ireland, has prehistoric origins and is thought to be the world's fastest field team sport...
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
CamogieCamogie is an Irish team sport. Played with a stick and ball, it is the women's variant of hurling, and is organised by the Camogie Association of Ireland...
.
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The
Milwaukee Hurling Club (MHC) has promoted the sport of
hurlingHurling is an outdoor team sport of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. The game, played primarily in Ireland, has prehistoric origins and is thought to be the world's fastest field team sport...
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
CamogieCamogie is an Irish team sport. Played with a stick and ball, it is the women's variant of hurling, and is organised by the Camogie Association of Ireland...
. In 2009 the MHC grew to over 250 members, facilitating the need for a 9th team.
The Milwaukee Hurling Club and the North American Gaelic Athletic Association
The Milwaukee Hurling Club is an independent American club unlike the clubs in Chicago and Atlanta which bring in players from
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
and are directly managed by the North American Gaelic Athletic Association (see
Gaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders. The GAA also promotes Irish music and...
). The club is funded by the players and sponsors. While the MHC plays games among the 9 teams within the club there are traveling teams which compete in NAGAA tournaments. Specifically, there have been two men's and a women's (
CamogieCamogie is an Irish team sport. Played with a stick and ball, it is the women's variant of hurling, and is organised by the Camogie Association of Ireland...
) traveling 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 traveling team captured its first NAGAA Championship. In 2008, The Milwaukee Men's Junior B traveling 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
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
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
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
.