Hockey Ireland

The Irish Hockey Association is the National Governing Body for the sport of field hockey in Ireland. Governing the 32 counties of Ireland, the Association is responsible for the management and overall development of all areas of the sport. The Association was formed in 2000, as a result of the merger of the two pre-existing Unions which governed mens and womens hockey separately. Both pre-existing Unions origins date back to the late 19th Century, when they were formed within a year of each other. The IHA has a total of eight affiliated Branches that govern the sport at regional and local level. Separate Branches administer mens and womens hockey, although plans are being put in place to merge the sport at Branch level also, as is the case at national level. Five womens hockey Branches exist Leinster, Munster, Connacht, Ulster and South East, with three mens hockey Branches existing in the form of Leinster, Munster and Ulster. The sports approximate 168 clubs and 280 s...