Dublin native Colm Sharkey, alongwith Kilkenny’s Patrick Morrissey and Frank O’Hagan of Limerick, three men who came to the city for work, decided to rejuvenate the ancient game in Toronto, and start up a hurling club. 2010 saw a collection of hurlers play friendly games in house, primarily at a school grounds at Coxwell and Cosburn, under the watchful eye of Dubliner Ger Power and Castlecromer, Kilkenny native Dan O’Brien, one of the few men who has carried a NACB senior hurling trophy across the border into Toronto.
There was also a challenge match played against the Montreal Shamrocks hurling team in Montreal GAA’s grounds, the Montreal Irish rugby club. This game and budding relationship was beneficial for both clubs, as hurling in Montreal was also going through a similar process of rejuvenation.
The Toronto Hurling Club held its first official AGM, in the winter of 2011, on a cold snow covered Saturday in what was then McCarthy’s Bar on Gerrard St East. Nearly 30 attended the meeting, which proved to be a perfect springboard for the club. Official colours and a crest had already been registered with Croke Park, and the club was gathering pace.
The club’s first competition was the annual 7-a-side tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. The tournament proved very successful for the club, coming back to Toronto with the trophy (the club had also entered two teams on the day).
Montreal traveled to Toronto in June 2011, to play the return fixture against the hurling club. A fast flowing and tough encounter proved that progress was being made in bounds in both cities. Kevin Loughnane remarked after it that it was the first competitive game he had seen in the city in over 25 years.
Hurling had returned to Toronto.
Na Piarsaigh CLG
In late 2015 discussions were first had within the Toronto Hurling Club committee to rename the club, to help develop the game in Toronto. A new hurling club had just been founded, Clan Na Gael, and with it came a new sense of excitement within GAA members in the city.
The committee decided to hold over further discussions until 2016, so the new incoming committee could hold full and in depth discussions on it. At a committee meeting in Spring 2016, the committee decided to table a motion at an upcoming players meeting to change the name of the club, and to also provide a list of possible club names.
During a players meeting, held on June 13 in Toronto City Hall, the committee held a vote by secret ballot (to ensure impartiality) to change the club name. From a list of 4 choices, Na Piarsaigh CLG won the required two thirds majority. The information and a formal request to change the club name were passed to the Canadian County board later that week, and approval was granted!
A new club crest was soon designed, as well as a new playing kit, which are sponsored by Cathal & Nicholas Crossan of Buncrana, Co. Donegal. The kit is available to purchase from the O’Neills sportswear website.
Na Piarsaigh CLG continues to welcome players from all over Ireland to come to Toronto for work and want to continue playing the real beautiful game! There have also been some Canadians who have joined up with us, and of course more are always welcome.
The club continues to forge strong and lasting friendships between the players, and the players enjoy a close tight knit bond that ensures a positive attitude both on the pitch and off it.
NACB Intermediate Hurling Champions 2013
Toronto GAA Senior Hurling Champions 2016
NACB Intermediate Hurling Champions 2016
ON, Canada
