The origins of the sport of hurling may indeed predate *many* historical developments, but the establishment of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in the 1880s was part of the same nationalist cultural movement as the Gaelic League's revival of the Irish language and the rise of Hiberno-English theatre and literature (Yeats, Synge, Joyce, et al).

All of these related developments had a common goal of inspiring Irish national pride and consciousness, and played a role leading up to the Easter 1916 uprising and eventual independence.

The GAA, of course, promotes and organizes competition in hurling and Gaelic football among Irish counties (all 32 of 'em, across the international boundary) and provinces.