Ballygalget Hurling Club

Although hurling was played in Ballygalget for many years, a club was not established till June 14th, 1939. Originally called Newcastle Mitchels, the name Ballygaiget had replaced it by 1941. For some thirty years the club migrated around the parish, moving from one rented pitch to another.

Milestones in the history of the club are their first County Championship titles, Junior and Senior 1959, the Ulster Club Championship in 1975 and 1998, the winning of Senior and Intermediate County titles on the same day in 1983 and the official opening of Mitchel Park in 1970. The addition of social club and changing room facilities indicated further progress in 1980.

The history of the club in many ways reflects the history of hurling in Down in In the same years with a long period of relative inactivity in the early Fifties, then major reorganisation with great emphasis on youth and juvenile participation.

Ballygalget has always been to the fore in providing willing hands for County Committees and always willing to lead the way in e.g. the holding of seminars on ground maintenance. Ground has been acquired for possible expansion of training facilities. Camogic has been firmly re-established. Unfortunately at the moment it is not possible to accommodate football with the club's commitments to Antrim and Down Hurling Leagues.

With a Parish Population of only about 700 it is obvious that the club has made remendous strides over its first half century and it is hoped that it will continue to foster hurling skills and G.A.A. ideals within the parish for the next 50 years.