[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 24013]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               ST. LOUIS HURLING CLUB NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I wish to pay special tribute to the 
St. Louis Hurling Club on their National Championship of the North 
American Gaelic Athletic Association, Junior-C Division on September 3, 
2004.
  The St. Louis Hurling Club was founded in the Summer of 2002 by Paul 
C. Rohde, Daniel D. Lapke, and Patrick O'Connor. Their vision included 
introducing the sport of hurling to the greater metropolitan area of 
St. Louis, MO., creating opportunities to play the sport, and 
developing strong St. Louis representation in nationwide competition.
  In just 2 short years the St. Louis Hurling Club has expanded to a 
four-team league, and has become the second-largest club of primarily 
American-born hurlers in North America. In just the first year of 
existence, the Gaelic Athletic Association extended the rare invitation 
to the St. Louis Hurling Club to join twenty-one other cities to the 
North American County Board. In September 2004, the St. Louis Hurling 
Club traveled to Colorado and returned with the National Championship 
by defeating clubs from Milwaukee and Seattle.
  Paul Rohde, Daniel Lapke, and Patrick O'Connor are to be commended 
for their vision, leadership, and introduction of the ancient Irish 
sport as well as the continued growth of Irish culture to St. Louis. 
MO. Again, I wish to congratulate the St. Louis Hurling Club on their 
National Championship and wish them future success as they continue to 
evolve.

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