Milwaukee Hurling Club
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| Founded: | 1996 | ||||||||||||||||
| County: | North American | ||||||||||||||||
| Division | Central Division Board | ||||||||||||||||
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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.
[edit] The Milwaukee Hurling Club and the North American Gaelic Athletic Association
The Milwaukee Hurling Club, founded by Thomas Mills in 1996, is an independent American club unlike the clubs in Chicago and Atlanta which bring in players from Ireland and are directly managed by the North American Gaelic Athletic Association (see Gaelic Athletic Association). The club is funded by the players and sponsors. While the MHC plays games among the 8 teams within the club there are traveling teams which compete in NAGAA tournaments. Specifically, there have been 2 men's and a women's (Camogie) traveling teams. These teams are made up of players who also play on the club teams.
Due to the success of promoting the sport of hurling the club administrator, Dave Olsen, 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.
