Mayo GAA Club Hurling Championship

Club hurling in Mayo is a smaller world than football, and all the better for it. The Mayo Senior Club Hurling Championship - competed for annually since 1923 and decided by the TJ Tyrrell Cup - draws genuinely passionate crowds to club grounds across the county, where the same four clubs face each other in a round-robin before a county final. If you have never watched a hurling match before, a club game in Mayo is a fine place to start: the pace is fast, the hits are fierce, and the supporters know every player by name.

What to expect

The four senior clubs - Tooreen, Ballyhaunis, Castlebar Mitchels, and St. Ciaran’s - are drawn into a single group and play each other in a round-robin format. The top two advance to the county final, the bottom two meet in the Senior B decider. Tooreen, based in the south of the county near Knock, are the dominant force and have collected 35 titles, including the most recent championships. Ballyhaunis, with 13 titles and deep roots in hurling on the Mayo-Roscommon border, are their nearest rivals. Castlebar Mitchels bring a western-town following to whichever ground they play on. Matches run through July and August, with fixtures typically on weekend afternoons. The July fixture on the 19th lands in the round-robin stage - check the Mayo GAA website for the specific venue and pairing for that date, as club grounds rotate through the schedule.

Getting there

Castlebar is the county town of Mayo and the most practical base. It sits on the N60 from Roscommon and the N5 from Dublin and Longford, and is well signed off the M17/M18 from Galway. Bus Eireann runs regular services from Dublin (Expressway 21) and Galway, arriving at Castlebar Bus Station on Spencer Street. The club grounds used for championship matches are spread across the county - Tooreen’s ground is near Knock, Ballyhaunis is in the east, and Castlebar Mitchels play on the western side. Most venues have roadside or field parking; arrive 20 to 30 minutes early for the better spots on busy championship Sundays.

While you’re in Castlebar

Castlebar itself has a good main street with cafes and pubs well used to match-day crowds, and the town sits close to Lough Lannagh and within easy reach of some of Mayo’s finest scenery. There is more to see in Castlebar and across Co. Mayo.

Good to know

• Date: Sunday 19 July 2026
• Time: 3:00pm (check mayogaa.ie for the specific fixture - venues vary by round)
• Price: From EUR 5 at the gate
• Fixtures and venues: mayogaa.ie
• Bring layers - even July afternoons on exposed club grounds in the west can turn