While the school started Hockey in 1891, hockey became the School’s principal game from 1895. With Old Boys continuing to play for the School, a “Past and Present” Hockey Club was formed in that year. They won the Irish Junior Cup in 1897, and soon became strong enough to play in Senior League and Cup Competitions.

The present Club was re-formed in 1929 and has entered teams for Senior and other League and Cup Competitions ever since. The Club has played at the site of the present School since 1936, then fielding two teams.

Since the opening of Newpark School in 1973, the growth of the Club has been phenomenal; both in terms of numbers and success. The Club had four men’s teams in 1972, and this had grown to eight Men’s teams and four Ladies teams in 1976, a Ladies team having first been fielded in 1973. When Newpark School was first envisaged, the then Principal of Avoca and Kingstown School, at the request of the President of Avoca Hockey Club, wrote to the Department of Education, identifying the existence of the Hockey Club as a past pupils Club and seeking assurance of the continuing recognition of our special status. This assurance was given and confirmed in a letter received from the Department of Education. Avoca Hockey Club made a considerable contribution in terms of labour and finance, to the maintenance and marking of the two old Grit pitches at Newpark. Consideration was given to changing the name of the Club to “Newpark Hockey Club” but this was not followed up due to wide recognition of the existing name. Avoca Hockey Club has a high standing in both Leinster and Irish Hockey. Thirty-six of our players gained full Senior International Caps (Outdoor) and seven (Indoor). The Club dominated Leinster Hockey, both outdoor and indoor right up to the mid 1990’s with a particular triumph culminating in the Capture of the Irish Senior Cup in 1996.

After the monumental Victory in the Irish Senior Cup, which was coupled the following year by Newpark School winning the All Ireland Schoolboy Championships, the club underwent a restructuring and re-growth period. Avoca applied for the re-development of the two grit hockey pitches and successfully received a grant from the National Lottery. A new state of the art water based Astro turf pitch was completed in time for the 2006/2007 season and is still in use today. More recently the Club, in partnership with the Domincan College Sion Hill, secured a Sports Capital Grant towards a new sand dressed Astro turf which was completed in 2015. The Club also rents pitches at Loreto College, Foxrock and St Andrews in Booterstown.

These four locations are needed to cater for a Club with a fast growing Membership of over 1,200 members. Currently the Club boasts 7 Mens Senior Teams and 7 Ladies Senior Teams, competing in a range of provincial leagues and cups as well as national trophies. Both our Mens and Ladies 1st teams now compete at the top divisions in their respective leagues. Our Junior Girls and Boys compete in A leagues at all age groups.

Avoca supports all levels of Hockey from Community and Social up to Elite Development. We believe in our sport as being a core support for the development of youth health and well-being complimented by key life skills development through leadership and teamwork.

Avoca Hockey Club are committed to the development of hockey as a national sport. We have set goals to have our Men’s and Women’s 1st teams competing in The (IHL) Irish Hockey League by 2026 and consolidating our membership and to maintain 1,200+ members. We are always looking for and welcoming new members as well as some old faces to the club.

Note; Our youth sections do fill up quickly and there is a maximum we can take each year. There is currently the potential to take in more boys for the 2026/27 season.

If you are interested in joining or have any questions about Avoca Hockey Club please visit our contacts page or email info@avocahockeyclub.ie