Wellington and Hutt Valley (WHV) Gaelic Club

Being the region's only GAA Club the Wellington and Hutt Valley (WHV) Gaelic Club is a very unique association in that it pulls in members from right across the area to compete in a number of local and national annual competitions.

Boasting a large ratio of non-Irish 40% to 60% Irish social members, out of their 200+ social members, the Club actively promotes Gaelic Games to local Kiwis and non-Irish through their Summer 9 a side tournament. 

Additionally the pre-Christmas and post-Christmas 9s competitions bring 14 teams together with an even mix of expats and non-Irish, men and ladies, young and old, and experienced and beginner players. In hosting these Summer games the Club continues to grow and build its core registered players steadily, which now sits at 80+ members.

With the beautifully compact Wellington being a beach side city, an annual beach football competition is held at the beginning of the Summer, as an exhibition for the locals. This growing event is a 5-a-side, 5 minute half, single sex, one day beach blitz. And as the famously titled Crowded House song states, “Four seasons in one day”, Wellington is usually true to form with unpredictable weather - but the experienced local players know to bring everything from a rain jacket and their O’Neill's wind cheaters to their sun cream and sun glasses on the day!

Football isn't the only sport played in this spirited Club, Hurling and Camogie fever has recently witnessed a resurgence with two player coach’s taken charge of the small ball sport. The recent Centenary Anniversary of Hurling saw a momentus win for Wellington Hutt Valley. Emmet Whelan a Clare native who took the reigns of Wellington's Hurling team along with the Captain Brian Birmingham lead the club to their first win in many years against their close friends from the McKennas Christchurch Club. 

Camogie is also on the rise and has a bright future ahead in the region. Led by Eileen Foyle, a proud Corkonian, the Wellington side is made up of many dual players and ladies who never played Camogie back in Ireland before.

The Club is also notorious for its long distance team runs, sending up to 3 teams of 10 to run around Mount Egmont in Taranaki. In total 150km is run by relay around the snowcapped mountain every November on what has always been a sunny Saturday. In addition, every February teams are tasked to take on Lake Taupo, with 155km run as a relay over a 12/14 hour period. Demanding but rewarding days out, these events are a popular activities in the Club's calendar and great for team building.

Known internally as the “World's Best Little Club” the Wellington and Hutt Valley Gaelic Club has no shortage of helping hands, drive and positivity when it comes to helping the community in constantly hosting fundraisers and fun nights. Everything from Mock Weddings, Father Ted fan nights, and Bros of Tralee competitions to table quizzes, hypnotists and live Irish music nights, the well oiled committee takes it in their stride. The current Vice President David Rynne and Treasurer Caolan Keegan being two stand out stalwarts in the background of the Club ensuring it is run smoothly. 

On a national level New Zealand has two main tournaments, the first is a 7-a-side 2 day competition every Labour Weekend held at the National Feis, and includes Men's and Ladies Football, Hurling and Camogie, as well as Masters Football.

All New Zealand Clubs are invited to send as many teams as possible and as you can imagine its all business on the pitch but a celebration off the field as players and dancers, young and old, singers and speakers, and Kiwis and Irish alike revel in the "irishness" of the weekend. 

The second national tournament is the “New Zealand Club Championship” which is an 11-a-side, 2 day Club event. This tournament, held in March, is a little more serious than the Ard Feis 7s, as each region’s own Club competitions come to an end and the pinnacle title of New Zealand Champs is up for grabs. This year's event was hosted by Canterbury GAA.

Trevor O’Halloran, current President of the Club explains why he believes the Wellington Hutt Valley Gaelic Club is so special; “The club is not your typical Australasian Gaelic club that is blessed with a constant stream of experienced players coming from Ireland to work and live. We’ve had to think outside the box, to make the club a community where everyone felt welcome and we’ve used that community spirit to build ourselves into a thriving little club.”  

The Club is currently in the midst of Winter training and working on all fronts towards the biggest event in the Australasia GFHA calendar, the Magners Australasia GFHA State Championships in Melbourne later this year. Wellington Hutt Valley Gaelic Club hope to send teams to compete for a Men's and Ladies Football and Hurling title.