Federación Argentina de Hurling Rulebook, 1918 and medal won by J.J. Kelly, 1925

The Argentine Hurling Club in Buenos Aires was formed in 1900 and games were played weekly until 1914. The outbreak of World War 1 made it almost impossible to import ash hurleys from Ireland. The native Argentine mountain ash was too heavy and inflexible and hurling declined in Argentina.

The earliest reference to hurling in Argentina dates from the late 1880s in the ranching town of Mercedes, Buenos Aires, a major centre of the Irish-Argentine community. However, the game wasn't actively promoted until 1900 when it came to the attention of William Bulfin,  editor of the official newspaper of Argentina’s Irish community.   Bulfin formed the Argentine Hurling Club.  Due to the limited number of hurleys available, each team was made up of just nine players.  Enthusiasm spread rapidly and teams were quickly established in both the neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires and the surrounding farming communities.

Games of hurling were played every weekend until 1914 until the outbreak of World War 1 made it almost impossible to import hurleys from Ireland.