The hurling team began as a conversation in Fado Irish Pub in the summer of 1996. A dozen hurleys and sliothars were purchased by Kieran Claffey at the end of that year. However, a regular puc-around did not culminate until about the spring of 1999, when a group of fellows from different counties played each Saturday. The team was very nebular at this point but persons of note were Vietnam veteran Brian O'Neill from Wexford, Johnny O'Sullivan, Jim Whooley and Paul Browne from Cork. In 1999, after the football season had ended, a more regular game developed on Sundays and this continued until the autumn of 2000 when new American recruits participated. The first American hurler was a gentleman named Scott Carter; a school teacher with a penchant for Irish sports and his Irish heritage. As time passed we noticed that copious amounts of Americans were coming to practice. Things began to really take off in the autumn of 2001 when American born players such as Jim Morecraft and Daniel Kuemmerle played and learned that they loved the game. In September of 2001 the club got a massive boost with the arrival of Donal McCarthy from Cork. It was at this point, we formalized training sessions every Saturday at Colum's Drive off Johnson's Ferry. Donal was a powerful influence in getting people training with his passion for the game. It was that autumn that hurling in Atlanta exploded onto the scene. We were having training sessions with 45 attendees; 70% American born. Kilkenny men, Rob Kiely and Paul Brennan were quite influential in promoting hurling and boosting numbers. Kyle and Bridget Lawlor, Irish Americans proud of their heritage brought an enthusiasm which was contagious and Bridget's stubbornness playing against the men spawned the idea of starting a camogie team. Four dozen hurleys and 24 helmets were ordered. In the spring of 2002 an Atlanta hurling squad travelled to Milwaukee Wisconsin to play their debut match; it ended in a draw. Atlanta was aided by Kevin Devin and Stephen Morgan from Charlotte. Hurling had arrived in the southeast division. In the autumn of 2001, a formal vote was taken at the AGM to fund a hurling squad and to attempt to send a team to the North American Board Labor day championships in 2002. There was however, a major problem with this goal because there was no junior hurling competition in the United States in 2002. Atlanta Clan na nGael lobbied the NACB to start a new Junior hurling competition in 2003 and their request was granted. We won the Junior B hurling championship in Boston that year and celebrated the club's first honors at national level. Other person's of note during this growth period were Jimmy O'Neill from Waterford and solid as a rock, Ben Conroy in goals from Co. Clare. The hurling squad has had various coaches thru out the years, Donal McCarthy, Kieran Claffey, Johnny O'Sullivan, Jim Whooley, Morgan Darcy from Galway, James Noonan from Cork and Paul Bradley. In 2010, former Galway Senior goalkeeper, Morgan, was an inspirational boost to the hurling club. Morgan couldn't believe the dedication that American's such as Stephen Gilley had to a sport that they did not grow up with. The game sells itself, he'd say. Atlanta Clan na nGael was the first hurling club in the south. There are now 9 GAA clubs in the SED; the majority of which are hurling dominant. Atlanta continues to be a dual club to this day and is looking forward to helping spread the gospel about the fastest field game on earth further than we have done so already. A special word for the ladies hurlers is appropriate. The club has lady hurlers since its inception, with camogie players like Bridget Lawlor and Helen deGroot trained by Armagh man, Paddy Connolly. The initial attempts at a camogie team for nationals was unsuccessful in the early 2000's but has succeeded under the auspices of coach Kevin Quinn. Kevin is training the ladies to participate in 2013 Cleveland tournament and has won tournaments varying from Peach Cup to St. Louis tournaments. The founding of other clubs in the South East such as Greenville, Augusta and Charleston has encouraged others to follow suit. Atlanta Clan na nGael is proud to have been the first club to bring our heritage to the southern US states.