Avoca Hockey Club (Irish: Cumann Haca Abhóca) is a field hockey club based at Newpark Comprehensive School in Blackrock, Dublin. The club was originally founded in 1895 and a women's team was added in 1973. Avoca enters various men's and women's teams in junior, senior and veterans leagues and cup competitions affiliated to the Leinster Hockey Association. Avoca men have won both the Men's Irish Senior Cup and the Men's Irish Junior Cup. Avoca Women won the Irish Hockey Trophy in 2022. The club has also represented Ireland in European competitions, finishing third in the 1993 EuroHockey Club Trophy.

History

Avoca Hockey Club was originally formed in 1895 by past and current students at Avoca School. In 1897 the club won its first national trophy when the second team won the Irish Junior Cup. The modern club was re-formed in 1929. When Avoca School amalgamated with Kingstown Grammar School in 1973 to become Newpark Comprehensive School, the field hockey club retained the Avoca name. In 1996 Avoca celebrated its centenary season by winning the Irish Senior Cup for the first time.

Home grounds

The club has played at the Avoca School/Newpark Comprehensive School site since 1936. The club also shares an astroturf pitch with Dominican College Sion Hill and rents a pitch at Loreto College, Foxrock.

Notable players

Men's internationals

When Ireland won the silver medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics, the squad included two former Avoca players, Jack Peterson and his brother Walter Peterson. Jack and Walter's four brothers – Cecil, Herbert, Nicholas and William – also played for Avoca and Ireland.

Notable coaches

Honours

Men