Hurling Refresher Packs sent to 70 clubs in 32 counties
GAA National Head of Hurling William Maher during a Hurling Development Roadshow event at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
70 Hurling Refresher Packs have been allocated to existing GAA clubs by the Hurling Development Committee.
The clubs are spread across all 32 counties and have been carefully selected in consultation with Provincial and County Games Managers, adhering fully to the Nursery and Coaching Service Level Agreements (SLA).
The allocations are designed to strengthen nursery activity, coaching standards, and Go Games delivery across both developing and traditional Hurling areas.
Each Refresher pack contains 15 hurleys, 15 helmets (mixed sizes), and 60 sliotars (mix of First Touch and Smart Touch aligned to Go Games progression).
It’s hoped the Hurling Refresher Packs will help achieve the following Hurling development objectives.
- Protect and strengthen Hurling’s fragile base in developing counties by ensuring visibility, continuity, and coaching support where player numbers remain limited.
- Broaden Hurling’s footprint in developing counties with an emphasis on school/club alignment and entry-level participation.
- Reinforce nursery and coaching structures in counties where Hurling remains fragile but strategically important by ensuring sustainability through SLA delivery.
- Target urban inclusion in non-traditional Hurling areas while consolidating strong nursery programmes in clubs with sustainable underage.
Earlier this year, 45 new hurling units also successfully applied for a Hurling Starter Pack consisting of hurleys, helmets, sliotars, and additional training equipment.
“It's further evidence of the work that the Hurling Development Committee and I are doing,” says National Head of Hurling, William Maher.
“We had 45 Hurling Starter Packs for new clubs in June, and now we have Hurling Refresher Packs for 70 existing clubs right across the country.
“Some of the feedback that we got back from the recent Hurling Development Roadshows was that the work we were doing with new clubs was great, but that it was also important not to forget about existing clubs because they also need a lot of support.
“We've listened to the people about what they need and aligned it to our strategy of building new clubs and helping existing ones.”
Breakdown of clubs allocated Hurling Refresher packs:
Munster (12 clubs / 6 counties)
- Clare: Kilkee Bealaha, Ennistymon (2)
- Cork: Laochra Óg, Blackrock/Mahon (2)
- Kerry: Firies, Rathmore (2)
- Limerick: Old Christians, St Patrick’s (2)
- Tipperary: Carrick Davins, Roscrea (2)
- Waterford: St Saviours, Erins Own (2)
Leinster (25 clubs / 12 counties )
- Kilkenny: Slieverue, Cloneen (2)
- Carlow: Kildavin/Clonegal, Carlow Town HC (2)
- Wicklow: Arklow Rock Parnells, St Patrick’s Wicklow Town (2)
- Laois: Clonad, Mountmellick (2)
- Louth: Mattock Rangers, Naomh Fionnbarra (2)
- Longford: Kenagh (+1 pending confirmation) (1)
- Meath: Killyon, Gaeil Colmcille (2)
- Wexford: Tara Rocks, St Mary’s Rosslare (2)
- Offaly: Gracefield, Clara (2)
- Kildare: Ros Glas, Moorefield (2)
- Dublin: St Mark’s (Tallaght), Setanta (Ballymun), O’Dwyers (Balbriggan), Wild Geese (Oldtown) (4)
- Westmeath: Brownstown, Ringtown (2)
Connacht (12 clubs / 5 counties)
- Roscommon: Padraig Pearses, Oran Hurling (2)
- Mayo: Gaeltacht Iorrais, Caiseal Gaels (2)
- Sligo: St Molaise, Tourlestrane (2)
- Leitrim: Carrick Hurling, Cluainin Iomaint (2)
- Galway: Liam Mellows, Castlegar, Rahoon Newcastle, Bearna (4)
Ulster (21 clubs / 9 counties)
- Antrim: St Teresa’s, Loch Mór Gaels, Naoimh Uile/Cloney Gaels (3)
- Armagh: Sean Treacys, St Malachy’s (2)
- Cavan: Mullahoran, Cootehill Celtic (2)
- Derry: Ballerin, St Finbarr’s (2)
- Donegal: Dungloe, Letterkenny Gaels (2)
- Down: Clann Mhurn, Saul, East Belfast (3)
- Fermanagh: Belnaleck Art McMurroughs, Enniskillen Gaels Lisbellaw St Patrick's (3)
- Monaghan: Latton, Clontibret (2)
- Tyrone: Tulach Óg, Cúchulainn an Ghleanna (2)
