About Us

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Most About Us web pages give you an overview of what the organisation represents, and we will be no different, but firstly think about what it would be like to be part of something very special.

To be able to play hockey for your country is an honour and a privilege.

However, as a group we started 2019 with only a small number of eligible players, honestly at one stage we had 9 players engaged and wanting to play. 

We decided the way forward was to stand alone as an age group, look at our core values and change our ethos to match these values.

We decided to put inclusivity at the top of the list and to ensure that any eligible player who wanted to play for Ireland would be given the chance.  

We have maintained the desire to produce a results-based 1st Team Squad but now also focus on developing the growing demand for other squads.  

With an enormous amount of hard work, the group has blossomed to nearly 60 actively engaged players and we still have people who still just want to be on our social media chat group.  

We were never short of determination and grit to compete but the number of new members has given us the chance to actually be competitive at the highest level.  

If you would like to be part of an inclusive group that wants to offer a high level of hockey to as many as possible then you have landed on the right pages. 

We are a very welcoming, have good processes and procedures, have an excellent coach and management team, and are commit to transparency – come and be part of something special. 

Representing your country at any age group is a great achievement and the players, coach and manager can rightly call themselves internationals.

All masters Hockey, both Mens and Ladies, is governed by Hockey Ireland. They ultimately are responsible for the performance of any team both on and off the field of play.

Hockey Ireland’s prime aim is to compete at world level tournaments at all age groups; junior, senior and masters level.

Through the development and identification of talented players the secondary aim of achieving continued success will increase. Hockey Ireland have specific officials with board responsibility for all masters hockey.

At present Hockey Ireland Masters is made up of groups representing different age ranges but as Masters develops to ensure the success of age groups, Hockey Ireland wants to set up a representative group to meet the aims for all.

The Over 55’s are keen to be at the forefront of this development. Our success over the past 2 years gives a template of what can be achieved.

We would want the group to ensure good governance for all masters age groups for men and women. It will support all coaches and managers within a defined structure to ensure continuity and deliver of an outstanding programme for all. 

The group, Hockey Ireland Masters, we believe should not be mandatory to join and each age group must make sure that their specific needs are reflected. 

However, by focusing on what each group has in common we would hope it would be possible to combine a wide range of processes to ensure continuity for players.

The management of an age group squad will consist of a manager and coach as a minimum. It would be useful to have an elected player representative Captain to provide a player input to the group.

The coach and manager are integral within the overseeing and directing of Irish hockey talent at masters international level and they will ensure that additional specialist resources are provided, when required.