The Irish Hockey Association (IHA; Irish: Cumann Haca na hÉireann) is the governing body for the game of (field) hockey throughout the island of Ireland. The IHA was formed in 2000 by the merger of the (men's) Irish Hockey Union (founded 1886) and the Irish Ladies Hockey Union (founded 1894). This followed a 1998 decision of the International Hockey Federation to affiliate only one association per nation.
The Association has eight affiliated Branches that govern the sport at regional level. The five women's hockey Branches are Leinster, Munster, Connacht, Ulster and South East, with three men's hockey Branches existing in the form of Leinster, Munster and Ulster. Plans exist to merge the men's and women's branches to mirror the National merger.
168 clubs and 280 schools are affiliated to the IHA through membership of the regional unions.
Famous quotes containing the words irish and/or association:
“For generations, a wide range of shooting in Northern Ireland has provided all sections of the population with a pastime which ... has occupied a great deal of leisure time. Unlike many other countries, the outstanding characteristic of the sport has been that it was not confined to any one class.”
—Northern Irish Tourist Board. quoted in New Statesman (London, Aug. 29, 1969)
“They that have grown old in a single state are generally found to be morose, fretful and captious; tenacious of their own practices and maxims; soon offended by contradiction or negligence; and impatient of any association but with those that will watch their nod, and submit themselves to unlimited authority.”
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)