Hockey Ireland announces EY Hockey League Division 1 fixture list for Season 2023-24

New League logo foreshadows other developments planned with title partner EY

Dublin, 12 September 2023: Hockey Ireland are pleased to announce the season 2023-24 fixture list for its upcoming EY Hockey League Division 1 (EYHL).

The EYHL sees ten men’s and ten women’s teams from around the island of Ireland come together to compete. Matches are scheduled to take to the pitch for the first round of the Men’s EYHL this weekend on Saturday 16th September, with the first round of the Women’s EYHL the following weekend on Saturday 23rd September. EY Hockey League Division 2 (EYHL2) returns to action in January 20th, 2024.

Covering all four provinces, the all-island EYHL will see twenty of Ireland’s top male and female clubs battle it out to become league champions over 20 weeks of exciting, fast-paced hockey. The top six in each competition advance to the EY Champions Trophy at the end of 18 rounds, with the ultimate champion for the season being determined at an end of season festival, showcasing the men’s and women’s grand finals on an equal basis.

EY Ireland will continue as official sponsor of the Irish Hockey League, Ireland’s highest performing hockey competition on the island of Ireland having extended their title partnership for a further three years in September 2022.

The 2023-24 season launch also sees the introduction of a new league logo. The new logo design supports the updated league visual identity introduced earlier in 2023, and is designed to capture the contemporary and dynamic characteristics of the league as well as support an increase in the distribution of online content. The new logo foreshadows an ambitious programme of development planned for the league by Hockey Ireland and its title partner, EY.

EY Ireland has been the primary sponsor of the Irish Hockey League since 2016 with the formation of the EY Hockey League and its subsequent expansion to feature a second tier in 2019. The competition has since become universally known as the EYHL, a measure of the intrinsic link between sponsor and competition and provides an elite hockey competition on an equal basis to male and female players.

Frank O’Keefe, EY Ireland Managing Partner: “We are very excited for the 2023/2024 season of the EY Hockey League. Our ongoing partnership with Hockey Ireland is a source of great pride for us all at EY. Hockey exemplifies strong team building and an unwavering commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equality - values that are central to everything we do at EY. We look forward to seeing these fantastic athletes in action over the course of the season. On behalf of EY Ireland I would like to wish all the participating teams the very best of luck.”

Anne McCormack, CEO of Hockey Ireland: “Our ambition for the development and ongoing improvement of our top domestic Hockey league continues as we kick off  the new 2023-24 EYHL season. The introduction of a new logo is just one example of how we constantly look to strengthen the league both on and off the pitch. Our partnership with EY Ireland is invaluable to raising the game, assisting with the organisation and promotion of the EY Hockey League, its high quality of matches, and ensuring clubs across the island are able to compete at the highest levels. We are really looking forward to some top-class matches taking place over the coming season as we embark upon what promises to be a highly competitive season.”

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Notes to Editor

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organisation and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organisation, please visit ey.com/ie.

About Hockey Ireland

Hockey Ireland is the National Governing Body for the sport of field hockey in Ireland. Governing the 32 counties of Ireland, the Association is responsible for the management and overall development of all areas of the sport.

The Association was formed in 2000, as a result of the merger of the two pre-existing Unions which governed men’s and women’s hockey separately. Both pre-existing Unions’ origins date back to the late 19th Century, when they were formed within a year of each other. At the 2013 AGM a motion was passed to become a Limited Company.

Hockey Ireland has a number of affiliated Branches that govern the sport at regional level. The sport’s approximate 168 clubs and 280 schools are affiliated to Hockey Ireland through its Branch network. The Irish Hockey Umpires Association, which manages the sport’s umpire base, and the Irish Universities Hockey Association, which governs the sport in Ireland’s university system, are also affiliated to Hockey Ireland.

Hockey Ireland is funded through grants from Sport Ireland, Sport Northern Ireland and the Olympic Council of Ireland adding to the membership fees and sponsorship. For more information, visit: www.hockey.ie