The Celtic Challenge
The Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge was established in 2016 and has been hugely successful since its inception. The ethos is developmental with teams initially competing at group stages before being graded for the knockout stages depending on results - giving all teams an opportunity to compete at their own level.
The inclusion of second and even third teams from Tier 1 counties has proven very successful as it can result in teams from, for example, the Christy Ring Cup counties playing teams from Liam MacCarthy Cup counties. These are opportunities that players otherwise would not experience.
The Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge is named in recognition of the original juvenile hurling club known as ‘Celtic’. The Divisional trophies are named in memory of six of the 14 civilians who were shot dead in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday, November 21st, 1920. Michael Hogan (aged 24), Tom Hogan (aged 21), John William Scott (aged 14), William Robinson (aged 11), Jerome O’Leary (aged 10) and Michael Feery.
We are delighted that the 2026 Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge will have 37 teams from 31 counties taking part.
The competition group stages are run throughout April and all teams will qualify for a quarter-final spot, with the knockout stages beginning in May.
The six finals will take place on Saturday, June 6th.
