The Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club (CCIAC) or the “Irish” (as we are better known as) was founded in 1971. The idea of forming a rugby football club based on the Irish community in Calgary was conceived by Derrick Wright and Jim Sullivan. Both continue to be involved today. It was decided not to confine the club’s activities to rugby, but to promote other amateur sports, and in 1973 a ladies field hockey section of the club was formed. In 1999 a Women’s Rugby team joined with the Irish to form one of the best Women’s Rugby programs in Canada. We have been committed to being the premier outdoor athletic club in Calgary ever since.
The Calgary Irish was formed to promote amateur sports, to improve and maintain the moral, intellectual, physical and social qualities of its members and to stimulate good citizenship and friendship. We at the Calgary Irish believe we have held true to the original intent of our founding members.
In 1993 the Irish was the first rugby club in Calgary to open it’s own Clubhouse and Playing Fields, complete with 2 full size rugby pitches and 2 field hockey pitches, and in 2003 became the first club to open an indoor gym.
The Irish host annually the Alberta High School Icebreaker Tournament, St Patrick’s Day 7’s, Girls Skills Camp and the Merv Popadynec Memorial Match.
The vision of the founding members was to introduce their native sport of Rugby & Field Hockey to all Calgary sports enthusiasts, something we continue to do today in all our programs from U8 through the Senior teams.
We have over 400 members and have been fielding Senior Men/Women and Junior rugby teams,
as well as a Ladies field hockey team in regular competitions and regular seasons for the past 35 years.
Since its inception the club has been honoured by the selection of its members to play for
Canada, including the Captain of the Inaugural Sevens World Cup in Edinburgh in 1993. Some members have been on the Canadian 1999 and 2003 World Cup Squads. Also we have had many members play for the Alberta Representative Squad and the Calgary Mavericks. The club as also has been represented by an Old Boys rugby team at one of the annual Golden Oldies rugby tournament, where teams from all over the world compete.
The club has toured France and Ireland. In addition the club has hosted teams from Ireland, England,
Wales, Scotland, Australia, Belgium, the United States, and other Canadian clubs. The Club has gained
a tremendous worldwide reputation for the hospitality it offers.
