Blackrock National Hurling Club is located on the southside of Cork City. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling. No other Cork-based GAA club has won more Senior County Hurling titles or All-Ireland Club Championships. The club is known as 'The Rockies'.
Blackrock Hurling Club was officially founded in 1883, one year before the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association itself. It is therefore the oldest hurling club in Cork. Until 1888 the club was known as Cork Nationals, when it changed its name to National Hurling Club of Blackrock, and later in the same year to Blackrock National Hurling Club.
Blackrock won eight of the first nine Cork Senior Hurling Championship titles and, in the early years of the All-Ireland Championship when the winning clubs represented the county, subsequently claimed the All-Ireland titles for Cork in 1893 and 1894. Blackrock once again claimed the All-Ireland hurling title for Cork in 1903, and were such a dominant force in Cork hurling that up until the 1930s, that many Blackrock players made up the county team in that period.
In subsequent years, Blackrock's dominance in Cork hurling was challenged by Glen Rovers and St. Finbarr's, however, Blackrock have consistently been at the top of the Roll of Honour. The team had a successful spell in the 1970s, winning All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship titles in 1972, 1974 and 1979, along with five Munster titles in the same decade.
In the 21st century, Blackrock have won five Under 16 Premier Juvenile Cork County Championships (2008-2013), four Premier Minor Cork County Championships (2009, 2011 & 2012, 2013) and the 2012, 2014 and 2015 Under 21 Cork County Championship.
Blackrock Seconds Matches 1890-1908
This article by Peter Devine documents the history of Blackrock Seconds Matches 1890-1908 in this PDF document.
For the first county championship, until 1894, clubs like Cork Nationals and Blackrock, could have two teams entered. These teams were called the seconds. There was only the senior championship at the time. They also could compete in the many various tournaments. The county board decided to create a separate championship for seconds teams in 1895.
Blackrock National Hurling Club 1900-1909
Peter Devine has documented the history of the Club from 1900 to 1909 in this PDF document