News
X
X
X
Presidents Blog
President’s February Blog
It’s a bit of a strange feeling at the moment, in the penultimate weeks of my three year term. All the National Committees also reach the end of their term and Annual Congress in Cork on 30th/31st March will be our final event.
That said, there are several important initiatives continuing. On the playing front these include:
• the Ashbourne/Purcell Finals, always a great weekend of action
• the commencement of the National League on 26th Feb
• the All Ireland Colleges’ finals (Junior and Senior)
• the second year of the Legends Tournament on 3rd March
• and of course, the big one, the All Ireland Club Finals in Croke Park on 4th March.
Celebrating in Monaghan
Meeting and getting to players at all levels of the games was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the past three years. Recently, I was in Monaghan to present the county team with their All Ireland medals for retaining the Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup. Along with Wexford, they were the only team to retain a national title in 2011.
I was glad to be present to also acknowledge the work of long serving County Board officers, Geraldine Clarke, Maretta Sherry and Anne McKenna who are synonymous with Camogie in the county.
I mentioned National Committees earlier. Often working behind the scenes, they have made a significant contribution over the past 36 months. Two new activities, completed under their guidance, will be revealed in March.
First Player Welfare Survey
The first will be the release of findings of the first ever Player Welfare Survey undertaken by the Camogie Association. Led by the Player Welfare Committee and Aoife Lane the survey gives a broad indication of what’s working well for players and welfare areas that they would like to see enhanced. This is an important study and provides baseline evidence on welfare issues affecting female athletes in Gaelic games.
Inaugural ‘thank you lunch’ for county volunteers of the year
The second initiative is the hosting of an inaugural lunch on All Ireland Club Finals Sunday to honour the volunteer of the year award recipient from each county. The introduction of the Volunteer of the Year in 2011 was an outstanding success. It’s appropriate that we say thanks for people’s selflessness and generosity. The National Volunteer and Officer Development Committee did a fine job in devising the criteria and process for the Volunteer initiative.
Our children
I met Minister Frances Fitzgerald recently at the third Information Day on Child Welfare and Protection held in Croke Park. It was great to see a strong presence of Camogie Children’s Officers at this event. The three Gaelic Associations, under the GAA’s Implementation Group on Best Practice in Youth Sport are currently working to finalise a single child welfare strategy to apply across all three bodies. Nothing else makes more sense. Camogie representatives are actively contributing to this as we work to ensure that our children are safe and feel safe in our clubs. Watch out for the common code, Our Games, Our Code over the next few months.
Camogie history on tour
There’s been a very positive response to the publication of A Game of Our Own, Camogie’s Story by Mary Moran. The history is hitting the road over the next few weeks. We’d love to see as many clubs on the following dates and launch:
• February 27th in Morgan Gaelic Athletic Grounds, Armagh
• March 23rd in Claregalway
• March 29th in City Hall, Cork.
Check out www.camogie.ie for further details nearer the date.
Uachtarán n hÉireann, Michael D. Higgins will also meet a Camogie delegation in Áras an Uachtaráin in mid March when we present him with a bound copy of the book.
Congrats to media award winners
Well done to all the entries and winners to the annual Media Awards, recently announced. Presentation of the awards is on 3rd March so a gala evening in store. Many thanks to the Communications and Website Committee; they have overseen this initiative for a number of years, in association with RTE.
Joan O’Flynn
Siobhán Ní Fhloinn
Uachtarán
January 2012
At this stage of the New Year your resolutions are either well embedded or broken altogether. Let’s hope it’s the former!
At national level we’re preparing for Annual Congress at the end of March in Cork. The Camogie playing rules are for review/decision there. It’s been useful over the last couple of weeks to get feedback and suggestions on the proposed changes.
All Ireland club semi finals
Clubs and counties are back on the training fields now getting ready for games action. 5th February is an important date for the All Ireland Club semi finals day at senior and intermediate levels. Four interesting games are in store:
Casement Park: Loughgiel v Oulart the Ballagh
Nenagh: Drom/Inch v Killimor
Dungarvan: Lismore v Ardrahan and
Killyclogher: Eoghan Rua v The Harps.
The latter is a replay of last year’s Intermediate All Ireland Final so a bit of rivalry building up between the Derry and Laois champions.
Best practice in coaching teenagers
Coaches are back in action too. The recent National Coaching Conference in Croke Park focussed on coaching teenagers. International and Irish speakers with sports science and related backgrounds addressed the conference. There was loads of content very relevant to current debates in Camogie including the topical issue of involving young players in competition for older players and/or adults.
There were several key messages based on sports science evidence and experience on this. These included:
· Teenagers are not miniature adults so we shouldn’t treat then that way by imposing adult training schedules and adult competition schedules on them
· When coaching teenagers, a focus on the needs of teenagers is more effective than a focus on winning or losing
· Physical, social and emotional development and tactical awareness and skills development are the key needs of teenagers at this stage of their sporting life.
Former Galway Camogie player Aoife Lane, who lectures in Waterford IT, joined Gerry Fitzpatrick who has experience with the Wexford Senior Camogie Team in presenting a thought provoking session on improving teenagers’ motivation. It highlighted the significant impact that a coach’s style and interaction has on young players as well as giving insights into coaching psychology.
One interesting feature was the concept of mindset or attitude– and the differences between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. The type of mindset within a player or coach can either lift a team (growth mindset) or tear it down (fixed mindset).
Another interesting session I attended focussed on organising purposeful games’ based activities. Brian Cuthbert talked about his journey away from a ‘traditional’ coaching approach involving repetitive drills to a games based approach. The games’ based approach aims to support players to think for themselves through incorporating questioning and reflection in games based coaching. In these sessions, the games are structured so that players are empowered to think for themselves on e.g. shot selection, tactics, using space on the pitch etc .
All the theory was put into practice in a hurling session on the Croke Park pitch which really demonstrated how motivating and stimulating games based coaching could be.
It was great to see a number of Camogie coaches in attendance and wonderful to have such an opportunity to learn more about supporting players to be the best they can be. The debate on young teenagers’ involvement in adult completion or higher aged competition reminded me again that our responsibilities, in the context of young people, extend to being concerned about the whole person and the young members’ well-being as well as their sporting ability.
Congrats
Final word of congratulations to Waterford, All Ireland champions who collected their silverware, plus National League Division 2 medals recently at a Presentation Dinner in Dungarvan and who also won the WLR Team of the Year.
Happy 2012 to everybody!
December 2011
The year is almost over and season’s almost out.
A Game of our Own: Camogie’s Story
December is a special month as we publish the first national history of Camogie. It’s an incredible narrative.
From the start of the 20th century, Irish women, many of whom were actively involved in the nationalist movement, were also sporting pioneers. They were amongst the first in the world to organise, administer and play a female team sport.
In the intervening years, church and state and social conservatism had its say on whether women should be involved in sport at all. But we survived and today we thrive!
In A Game of our Own, Camogie’s Story, many photos are published for the first time. They vividly capture how the skill and athleticism of Camogie has changed and progressed over a couple of generations. The book connects our powerful past to the emergence of the modern game that is dynamic, continuously evolving and expanding at home and abroad.
Publishing the book is a little bit of history in itself. Make sure you order your copy via our website!
Congrats to Inagh;
For Inagh Camogie, being the first club team from the county to win an All Ireland title in any code is really special. Congratulations on a history making achievement and also to
All eyes are now on 4th March in
Medal presentations galore
An All Ireland medal is the ultimate benchmark in Camogie. It’s what every player dreams of and works towards. Armagh Camogie marked their All Ireland achievements in great style a couple of weeks ago and it was a most enjoyable occasion; Wexford’s historic All Ireland double was marked at their presentation night; Tipperary marked their double at a Templemore function while Waterford and
Looking back/looking forward
Conventions and AGMs bring a very successful year to a close. For administrators, I acknowledge that working with the new rule book was certainly a year of transition and learning for all of us. On balance, the new governance procedures bring a lot more transparency to proceedings. There are definitely some small improvements we can make and we’ll look at them in context of 2012 and beyond.
Recommendations on revised playing rules will be considered at National Congress in
Work is progressing on finalising the ‘one club model’ as a way of facilitating clubs to be administered as a single unit across all codes. In the new year, we expect to have a little more to tell you about this initiative.
Season’s greetings
Every good wish to you and your family for Christmas and the New Year. Sincere thanks for your involvement in the promotion and development of Camogie over the past 12 months. You do a great job and it is very much appreciated. Enjoy the break!
From playing rules review to Madden to Suwon to Oulart to City West glamour
Over the last few weeks there was an amazing range of activities in the Camogie world.
Playing Rules Review progressing
While all these were going on, the Playing Rules Review Group was working away quietly. Its proposals were considered in early November by Central Council.
Central Council will now issue, to county and Provincial Secretaries, a draft set of playing rules for consultation. Feedback is invited on this through County Boards and Provincial Councils. Following this a final set of proposed rules will be put together in February 2012 and issued with the papers for Annual Congress who will vote on the proposals.
During the review, initial consultation with players, managers, referees and supporters indicated that there is much that’s right about Camogie. There was a preference that we should retain the elements of the game that enhance its skill levels and its uniqueness.
No changes are proposed to:
• skorts (60 per cent of our website survey preferred them to be retained)
• the handpass
• dropping the hurley
• flicking the hurley or
• scoring with a handpass.
Certain rules are clarified in the consultative draft now issued to counties and Provincial Councils.
Technical fouls, rough play, dissent, aggressive and dangerous play are all newly classified. There is a clear ruling that deliberate shouldering or frontal bodily contact is illegal.
Some key proposals (and these are for further consideration) include:
• A maximum of eight subs for under 14, 16, 18 and adult league competitions at all levels (not championships).
• A 18 cm maximum size goalkeeper’s hurley. This size hurley may not be used by the goalkeeper for free-taking and it may not be used by any other player e.g. in defending a penalty
• Awarding an indirect free to the team in possession of the sliotar when play is stopped due to an injury to an opposing player
• Awarding two points when the sliotar is played directly over the crossbar from a sideline ball.
For a full copy of the proposed changes, contact your county board secretary and make sure you find out when they and/or the Provincial Council are considering the Central Council playing rule proposals. Members who participated in the meetings of the Playing Rules Review were Aileen Lawlor, Joan O’Flynn, Sinead O’Connor, Mary O’Connor, Karl O’Brien, Fionnuala Carr, Irene O’Keeffe, Ann Downey and JJ Doyle.
Away from the meeting rooms the last few weeks were busy in lots of other ways.
Golden Jubilee in Madden, third level Camogie and Suwon
Early in October, it was wonderful to spend a Sunday morning in the Madden club. Tucked away on the Monaghan to Armagh road I joined so many families from the club who came together to mark their Golden Jubilee and also plant an ash tree– surely a great symbol of our game and a commitment to sustaining it in the future.
The national AGM of Comhairle Ard Oideachais Camogaíochta was on the same weekend. It will be interesting to see how the new format for the championship cups at all grades will work out during the season. There’s also a new look website www.ccao.ie so lots happening now that the academic year is in full swing.
I don’t think the founders of the Camogie Association could ever have imagined that our game would be played over 8,000 miles away in the Far East. That’s what I witnessed on 16th October in the company of Ladies Football President Pat Quill, GAA President Christy Cooney, Chair of the GAA Overseas Committee Joe McDonagh and Leinster GAA Chair Martin Skelly. As well as a weekend of football and hurling, two select sides played an inaugural camogie game at the 16th Asian Gaelic Games finals in Suwon, South Korea. There was loads of interest from Irish and other nationalities and I look forward to seeing more players and teams competing in future tournaments.
It is remarkable that, almost in the same week, Camogie could celebrate a golden jubilee in Armagh and also celebrate an inaugural game half way round the world. Just shows that we’ve lots more growing to do!
Appreciating our refs, provincial titles and All Stars glam
Refereeing can be tough job. From our comfort on the sidelines, we all think we can do the job better but we rarely risk it! From time to time we may be guilty of overlooking the voluntary commitment and expertise of our referees. It was only fitting then that we honoured and thanked our national referees at an inaugural recognition event in October and referees who were appointed to All Ireland finals received their commemorative medals. Suffice to say, referees can party and it was a night of great fun and enjoyment!
A provincial title is special and congrats to Oulart-the-Ballagh who made it three in a row in Leinster recently. Commiserations to brave Ballyboden; they never gave up. It was heartening to see a big crowd supporting both teams. It showed, once again, the enduring appeal of club games and the club championship. John Thompson with the whistle kept the game moving and fairly too.
The All Star and Soaring Star Awards are well reported by now. It was once again a very glamorous and stylish occasion with 58 players recognised (18 Soaring Stars and 45 All Star nominees). There was a fantastic crowd with remarkable support for the players from their families, clubs and counties.
Camogie, hurling and Olympic medallists abounded with Brian Cody, John Treacy (Irish Sports Council) and Tony Towell (O’Neills who are event sponsors) proving very popular!
Best of luck to all the teams playing in the remaining Provincial contests and of course to the Junior clubs looking forward to All Ireland semis and a precious All Ireland final on the horizon.
September
What a whirlwind in September! To date we have enjoyed four fantastic All Ireland finals; three in Croke Park and one needing a re-match to settle the outcome. Armagh and Westmeath couldn’t be separated for the Nancy Murray Cup a fortnight ago.
Wexford on the double, and Waterford winning the first title, made no mistakes. Crowned as 2011 champions, the south-east certainly made its mark.
Congratulations to all the teams who reached the ultimate stages of our premier competitions and thank you for fantastic sporting entertainment and wonderful support.
Attendances
There always seems to speculation and interest about how many will attend the All Ireland finals of the female codes. Building a following for Camogie takes time and we’re making steady progress. This year, like last year, our support has been strong throughout the season with good attendances at round games and especially at semi final stages. That’s crucial to creating a long-term audience for the sport. Our All Ireland Final attendance was the best attended female sports event that weekend in Europe so that’s no small boast.
Creating public interest
Media coverage is crucial to promoting public interest in women’s sport. Internationally, media coverage of women’s sport remains at ten per cent of the total. In Ireland we could do better on this front. Here’s an interesting figure. Recent Irish analysis showed that of 6,503 photos of sports people in six national newspapers, only 78 (1.2 per cent) were photos of sports women. The same analysis showed that in the five years of the research, women’s sports photos reached a peak of only three per cent.
More coverage creates more interest. Imagine what the Rugby World Cup would be at the moment if it only got 10 per cent of the coverage and 1.2 per cent of the pics!
It is fantastic to get extensive air time and column inches in September when the All Ireland Finals come round. This helps to drive the promotion and development of women’s sports and shows our great games and top stars. But the challenge is to secure that on a consistent basis.
Happily, Camogie’s profile is going from strength to strength – in the national press, radio and TV and of course at local level too. This is in large part due to proactive work of our public relations team – full time and voluntary – across the country. Part of it too is an increasingly responsive media who appreciate more and more the sporting entertainment and action that Camogie offers.
Club championships
The club championships, currently in full swing, are an ideal platform for promoting the game to the local media. Local papers and radio are fantastic supporters of sport. The club championships are a brilliant opportunity to get the message out there and to strive for more coverage, particularly for County and Provincial finals. The journey to Croke Park for club teams has already started and March 2012 will be destination for two intermediate teams and two senior teams vying for All Ireland glory. Equally important, the All Ireland Junior Club Final will be held in November.
Condolences
Midst all the September activity, let not the month pass without remembering in our thoughts and prayers the Coyles Family in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim on the passing of Karen. Camogie was a huge part of Karen’s life and she had a lifelong involvement with us at so many levels. The Antrim Camogie community has shown tremendous support and solidarity over the past number of weeks to Karen’s family and club. Karen’s loss will be sadly felt by a large circle of friends and, of course, most felt by her father, sisters and extended family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.
August
August is some month.
Its jam packed with All Ireland championship semi finals. And what a day in Nowlan Park at the senior semis. Record crowd, great family entertainment and superb action on the pitch. Well done to the four teams, referees, match officials and of course Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Boards for excellent pitch and facility. Roll on the Intermediate and Junior semi finals now.
County championships have started; some of them already at semi finals including those in Wexford, and then there is also the 8th Continental Youth Championships in Boston.
Not to mention the Playing Rules Review Survey. This has generated the highest ever number of hits on our website. Have your say if you haven’t completed it yet. Closing date is 21st August.
Throw in the launch of the first history of Cavan Camogie (amazing publication 550 pages and 1,000 pics); 20 teams participating in our new Camán Club Challenge in Kilkenny and closing date for entries for the All Ireland Kilmacud 7s in September and you’ll know that Camogie, at home and abroad, is in overdrive.
Camogie internationally
There’s a lot happening on this front. I’ve just come back from Boston where under 8, 10, 12 and 14 Camogie players participated for the second consecutive year in the Continental Gaelic Games Youth Championships.
Well done to players from St. Brigids, Rockland, Shannon Gaels (all NY); New Haven (Connecticut), Philadelphia, San Francisco and of course Boston itself. It was truly inspirational to see so many young girls carrying hurleys, sliothars and helmets and showing the same enthusiasm as young players here.
It would be wonderful to see an equivalent tournament commence in Britain and even Europe for the many young Irish families settled there and for the wider community with an interest in our game.
Great to hear of new Camogie clubs starting up in Canada so here’s wishing Toronto and Montreal well in their endeavour.
Looks like the Asian Gaelic Games Championships in Seoul this October may include an inaugural Camogie match and the Australasian Finals incorporating their first Camogie championships. Its exciting to see new frontiers being broken as the game continues to expand.
Well done too to all involved in the European Hurling and Camogie finals recently.
The Belgians team wrapped up the title with tournament wins in Den Haag, Budapest and Zurich. Camogie has witnessed the highest growth in participation of any of the Gaelic Gaemes on the European continent this year.
Martin Donnelly All Ireland Poc Fada
Back here, I have to mention the Martin Donnelly All Ireland Poc Fada held at the end of July. It was my first opportunity to attend and it blew me away. As an individual contest, it is a serious test of endurance, skill and concentration. Lots of admiration to all the contestants and a special congratulatory word to Waterford’s Patricia Jackman who earned the title for the third consecutive year, to debutant Galway’s Rachel Monaghan who finished second and Carlow’s Lyndsey Condell who was third.
Big games before the end of August
11th September is the annual Camogie showdown in Croke Park for the All Ireland Senior, Intermediate and Junior Finals. I know you have that date already in your diary! Check out these big games before then:
Date Time Venue/Competition
20th Aug 1.30 Navan: Jack McGrath Cup - All Ireland Intermediate s/f Wexford v Derry
20th Aug 3.00 Navan: Jack McGrath Cup - All Ireland Intermediate s/f Limerick v Antrim
20th Aug 2.30 Nowlan Park: Kay Mills Cup - All Ireland Premier Junior s/f Waterford v Laois
20th Aug t.b.c. t.b.c. Kay Mills Cup - All Ireland Premier Junior s/f Meath v Down
28th Aug t.b.c. t.b.c Nancy Murray Cup - All Ireland Junior A s/f Westmeath v Offaly
28th Aug t.b.c. t.b.c. Corn Mháire Ní Chinnéide – All Ireland Junior B final Monaghan v Wicklow
28th Aug t.b.c. All Ireland Minor C final Armagh v Meath
See you at the games!
July
Well, all the championship action is in full flow now. Wexford, Galway, Kilkenny and Cork seem to be pulling away from the other counties. Plenty games left though and room for counties to take points off each other and perhaps cause a surprise for the semi finals line up.
While the final score lines haven’t been going Clare and Tipp’s way, any team playing them is earning their result. Offaly have gathered their maiden points at senior level and Dublin are striving to improve in each game.
It was great to see Galway senior camogie and Galway hurlers on the same billing in Pearse Stadium a few weeks ago. It follows on from the National League double bill involving Wexford senior camogie and hurlers in Thurles earlier in the year and Dublin camogie and hurlers in Croke Park in February. Progressive thinking all round demonstrates the potential of this approach.
2011 club championship finals stay in Croke Park
Lots of county championships are underway too.
The county title has a lustre all of its own but for many the ultimate is the All Ireland club title.
Killimor (Galway), Eoghan Rua (Derry) and Four Roads (Roscommon) will all be putting their senior, intermediate and junior titles on the line over the next few weeks.
Following the success of the clubs finals in March in Croke Park, the 2011 All Ireland at intermediate and senior level will be held there once again in 2012. The Provincial senior and intermediate finals will need to be completed by the end of the November 2011 and the All Ireland Junior Club final will be completed within the calendar year as per usual.
Féile na nGael
With all that action plus the Intermediate championships and the opening junior championship games let’s also remember the very successful Féile na nGael 2011 in Galway at the end of June.
Congratulations to all the host clubs, Feile skills participants, visiting teams and local and national committees who contrived to beat the elements and made sure that everybody had a memorable Féile. The Galway Féile topped the polls for camogie participation with representation of 35 teams. The popular event rolls on to the capital city, Dublin, in 2012.
Many of the young Féile players had a great day out two weeks later as part of the Torpey Hurleys u14 Schools of Excellence in Croke Park – and the sun shone gloriously on this occasion.
Planning your diary
Wondering what you can do for the summer? Fill up your diary with guaranteed sporting entertainment on the following occasions!
Date Camogie action
23rd July European Hurling and Camogie Finals
30th July 50th anniversary of An Poc Fada, Cooley Mountains
31st July All Ireland Minor A & B Camogie Finals
4th August Youth Championships, North America & Canada, Boston
13th August All Ireland Senior Championship Semi Finals (in association with RTE Sport)
26th August Camogie Association Annual Golf Classic, Castleknock Golf Club, Dublin
28th August All Ireland C Camogie Final
June
Well, it has started, the 80th All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship. Starting the ninth decade of inter county championships is an outstanding feat in women’s sport and much has changed in Camogie since the first senior series in 1932.
Not least that this year’s senior championship will comprise games over seven consecutive Saturdays. Add in stirring contests at Intermediate, Premier Junior and Junior B levels, and it’s a feast of Camogie!
Sporting equality
I’ve been talking lately about sporting equality.
What I mean by that is create a sporting future where differences between boys and girls, men and women are unimportant; where participation in sport, its profile, facilities, resources and decision making are mutually shared and the benefits of these are mutually enjoyed.
We’re working hard towards that.
More women than ever are playing or watching sport and wearing the team colours. But just as sport played by men is not for men only, sport played by women is not for women only!
It is really important that girls and boys grow up understand that sport is for all; that women are major sports achievers and that Camogie stars are well accomplished with a hurley and sliothar!
One way of fostering positive attitudes towards women in sport is to get more people to appreciate it in its own right. With a fabulous programme of competitive Camogie action over the summer it’s a tremendous chance to give people the opportunity to do just that by introducing the game as widely as possible to everybody in our communities.
That’s why our new partnership with RTE Sport for the 2011 championship is great news.
Enhanced live coverage on Saturday Sports on RTE Radio, The Sunday Game on TV and on the web via RTE Player, along with growing support from other national and local media brings Camogie further into the mainstream. That’s where we want to stay.
Bring a buddy and make a difference!
You’re probably saying that’s all well and good but what can I do? Well, next time you’re going to a Camogie game, how about bringing along somebody who hasn’t seen the game before? It’s a simple but sure way a making a difference! Let them see for themselves the quality and standard of our game, our passion.
Now that the All Ireland championship has started many county boards are again, this year, organising mini games to coincide with inter county games and doing local promotion of their championship games.
These all made a difference last year when we had our best attendances ever. There was an excellent crowd, that I was part of , in Wexford Park for the All Ireland champions’ first game in defence of their title against Galway recently. This showed how local promotion of championship games brings in the supporters and makes the difference. Keep up the good work on this again in 2011.
Thinking big
Before I sign off, a plug for Galway’s Craughwell Camogie Club’s initiative to achieve a Guinness World Record for an uninterrupted 24 hour Solothon by 30 very fit players! They are aiming to be first hurling/camogie club in Ireland in the Guinness Book of Records and while doing so also raising funds for the club and breast cancer. I’ll be there but don’t expect to last the 24 hours! Amazing!
Enjoy the games over the summer.
May
Playing Rules Review Group’s work commences
This year, a full review of the playing rules of Camogie will be undertaken.
The 2012 Annual Congress in March in Cork will consider recommendations for proposed changes. Watch out over the Summer for opportunities to give your opinion on what Camogie rules should change or what new ones could be considered for introduction.
The best way to take part in the consultation is to register for our Camogiezine – you can do this on the home page of the website.
‘The month before Féile’
In the Camogie world, the month of May could really be renamed to ‘the month before Féile’!
The qualifying competitions for the 41st Féile na nGael in Galway, have taken place all over the country. Qualification for the national event is a cherished ambition and later becomes a cherished memory. I saw that for myself over the past couple of weeks at the Dublin Final when St. Jude’s got the better of Lucan Sarsfields and at the Kildare Final when Naas just edged Celbridge.
At this stage, contacts are being made between the 35 host Camogie clubs and their visitors.
I can assure everybody that Galway is ready and waiting!
Last week, Camogie, the GAA and the Handball Associations at national level and in Galway united to visit 135 schools to promote Féile. As well as being great fun we encountered huge interest and lots of creative talent amongst the young students. Well done to all the children and of course to the teachers, county players, club mentors and county officials who had undertaken incredible preparatory work and were extremely welcoming wherever we went. Bus Éireann are on board this year as new sponsors and that’s good news too in this tough economic climate.
It all kicks off the weekend 24-26th June with 16 bands and over 200 teams on parade in Loughrea on the Friday evening (24th June)
‘Pink Jersey Day’ in Ulster
I also got the chance to attend the Ulster Camogie Colleges Council’s ‘Pink Jersey’ Day in Watty Graham’s GAA club in Derry recently. Over 400 players aged under 14 from Ulster post primary schools participated in a Development Day. Older students refereed all the games and helped out with the running of the event.
Sponsored by O’Neill’s an elusive ‘Pink Jersey’ was presented to the most committed players throughout the day. Somehow I got one too! Much appreciated.
Catriona Scott’s team from St. Pat’s Maghera and all the teachers and students deserve huge congrats for a tremendous initiative.
2011 Championship Launch
This year’s All Ireland Championship series is nearly upon us. Can’t wait. It’s the best part of each year.
There might be favourites for a championship title but there are no certainties. That’s the joy of it.
Watch out for the launch on 1st June.
See you at the games!
April
What have Ballybofey, Cappagh and Castlebar in common? You might surprised that Camogie could be the common denominator but don’t be. There’s very promising developments going on in Donegal, Kildare and Mayo.
It was a privilege to attend each venue for tremendously successful Camogie promotion events and two of them were in glorious sunshine.
It’s wonderful to see young girls aged 5-15 getting used to a hurley in their hand. Most of the players are new to the game and the well organized events meant they had a ball learning the sport. The enthusiasm of the team mentors was brilliant especially all the ‘Mum and Me Programme’ graduates in Donegal!
Huge congrats and thanks to MacCumhaill’s club in Ballybofey, Cappagh and Castlebar Community School who hosted 14 teams between them. In the picture the MacCumhaill’s crew accept their new hurleys and helmets as part of the club start-up support from the Camogie Association.
The Ulster Colleges Council are hosting their annual under 14 Development Blitz in St. Patrick’s in Maghera in May. Known as the Pink Jersey Day, there was over 500 students last year. They are hoping to beat that this year. I am very much looking forward to joining the proceedings!
Mandatory penalties, including match bans, to be introduced
Off the field, the last few weeks could be described as ‘Congress season’.
The Camogie Congress in Belfast was very productive. Antrim Camogie Board hosted the occasion to the highest standards. I look forward to working with new President-Elect Aileen Lawlor during the next 12 months.
I also took the opportunity to attend the Ladies Football Congress in Limerick early in April and then, with Ard Stiúrthóiur Sinead O’Connor, attended the GAA Congress in Mullingar.
One of the key decisions taken at Camogie Congress is the introduction of mandatory penalties for:
- persistent dissent by a player or team official towards a referee’s decision
- abusive language towards a referee, match official or other players
- punching, hitting without a hurley, or kicking a player
- kicking, hitting or striking of a match official by a player or team mentor or known partisan
- striking a player with a hurley.
The penalties range from two match bans to six depending on the offence or a maximum of 48 weeks suspensions. Some bans are competition specific and all carry over from one season to the next until the ban is fully served.
Congress also adopted that all Officers of the Camogie Association must comply with a new Code of Practice for All Officers of the Association.
The revised rule book, following Congress’ decisions, will be available on the website by the end of the month when the new rules become effective.
Camogie, dancing and water filtration!
A number of clubs had gala events recently. Congrats to Lismore and The Harps, who received their Munster and Leinster club medals.
Pride of place goes to the Eoghan Rua team who celebrated their inaugural All Ireland Intermediate championship at a wonderful event in the Royal Hotel, Portrush.
All the team (and the mentors too) can dance as well as they play camogie!
One player, Hannah Eastwood, had a double celebration. As well as picking up an All Ireland medal, Hannah was also recently named UK Young Scientist of the Year, for a project on water filtration. Hannah proves once again that young sports stars are also academic achievers.
The event was a wonderful occasion for a club that is just eleven years young. Their outstanding achievement in such a short history is an inspiration to all the new Camogie clubs starting out all over the country and to the more established clubs too.
Championship on the horizon
Congratulations to all the Irish Daily Star League Finalists. This year’s League received a great boost through the support of the newspaper. Each Saturday and Monday previews and reports were the norm along with some great picture coverage. A special four page feature on the Division 1 & 2 finals and another one on the Division 3 & 4 Finals plus coverage on RTE’s TV show, League Sunday, have greatly added to the growing national coverage of this important competition.
Time to start speculating about the championship and the first of these finals is coming up 7th May when the stars of the future compete for the All Ireland under 16 titles.
In the meantime, happy Easter to all.
March
All Ireland Club Finals weekend
The All Ireland club finals in Croke Park on 6th March were just brilliant. Some might have doubted holding the finals there. No need to worry.
• It was wonderful to meet there former players from Geraldines, Portglenone (Antrim) and Austin Stacks (Dublin). They played in the last All Ireland Camogie club final in Croke Park in 1973. They speculated that there was probably no more that 100 people at that game.
• This time around, thirty eight years later, 5,000 people came to the games. Superb atmosphere, colour and noise rang around Croke Park!
Congratulations to all four teams and their supporters for such a memorable occasion. Well done of course to Killimor (Galway) and Eoghan Rua (Derry) who joined Four Roads (Roscommon) as the senior, intermediate and junior club champions of Ireland.
Well done also to the ten schools who participated in the first post-primary school Camán and Run solo and handpass relay and especially to Celbridge and Dunshaughlin who got over the line first!
• The Legends tournament was, well, legendary! As well as being great fun, there was loads of skill and competitiveness too. The Phillips family, Jimmy, Leonard and Sinead were on hand to present the inaugural Biddy Phillips Memorial Cup to winning Kilkenny captain Tracey Millea.
It was a busy weekend and the Media Awards and the PR workshop all happened too. The Media Awards are an important recognition of excellence in promoting Camogie at local and national level, driven by the solid and consistent work of our PROs and our national office team. You can check out the winners on the www.camogie.ie or the Camogie facebook page.
Meeting clubs and players
Louth
Recently, I spent a very enjoyable evening with St. Anne’s in Louth when, with Naomh Fionnbarra CLG, they held a joint celebration dinner. St. Anne’s were marking a Senior Camogie League title and a Minor title while the gents were marking a county football title.
The community support and solidarity across the codes was very strong. On the Camogie side it was great to see so many of the senior players also acting as administrators and underage coaches and referees within the club.
Antrim
Likewise meeting young Antrim players from St. John’s, O’Donovan Rossa, Gort na Móna and St. Enda’s in Belfast City Hall was another highlight. We gathered with the Lord Mayor of Belfast, officials of Antrim and Ulster Camogie and Club Aontraoim, Ard Stiúrthóir Sinead O’Connor and Brid Boylan to announce Belfast as the venue for this year’s Annual Camogie Congress on 25th/26th March.
Mayo
This year, Mayo are fielding their first under 16 team in inter county competition. It’ll be fun to chat and meet with Camogie players in the Davitt Secondary School in Castlebar next week. They have worked hard to improve their skills and knowledge of the game and I’ll be delighted to mark their achievements when I meet them shortly.
Donegal
Planning to make it to Donegal in April to support the wonderful effort that is giving rise to four new club start ups in the north west. There is a promising future there for Camogie.
Connacht
And the Connacht Camogie Club Forum on 1st April in Claregalway will be another useful opportunity to check in on the issues affecting clubs on the ground and to hear about developments. Should be a good buzz at this with two All Ireland club titles in the Province!
Congress month
The last weekend in March is a regular fixture on the Camogie calendar for the national congress. There is always extra interest in this event when there are elections! There are two elections this year.
Under our new Official Guide, for the first time Congress will directly elect two members to the Central Council (Ardchomhairle). One of these is positions is designed to bring coaching and games development knowledge and skills to the Council. The second is designed to bring public relations and communications knowledge and skills to Ardchomhairle.
Sheila O’Donohue from Comhairle Camógaíochta Ard Oideachais is nominated, unopposed, for the coaching and games development position on Ardchomhairle.
Three people are nominated to contest the public relations and communications position – Cóilín Duffy (Ulster Council), Miriam O’Callaghan (Offaly) and Gerry O’Sullivan (Dublin).
Of course the big one is the President-elect challenge. Aileen Lawlor (Westmeath) and Catherine O’Hara (Antrim) are contesting this one.
Well, make sure to drop in on All Ireland Post Primary Schools finals and games in the Irish Daily Star National League, there’s a full programme in March//April.
‘til then,
February
Camogie stars in The Irish Daily Star
I’m delighted that in 2011 our National Leagues have a first-time sponsor. The Irish Daily Star is now on board as our media partner. This is a great boost to this competition. Pre- and post-match coverage every Saturday and Monday will definitely add to the game’s growing national profile. Check out the pics of the sponsorship announcement on www.sportsfile.com
More people coming to our games
I am convinced that the more people we get to our games the more people will return as they appreciate the phenomenal skill of the players and the competitiveness of the sport.
The All Ireland Club Finals in Croke Park on Sunday 6th March are a huge opportunity for us now to put Camogie ‘in the shop window’ once again.
The four teams - Inniscarra (Cork), Killimor (Galway) Eoghan Rua (Derry), The Harps (Laois) – not only represent their club, but also their county and province.
International Women's Day (8 March) celebrates the achievements of women past, present and future. The finals on 6 March are a great way for the wider Gaelic games family in these counties and beyond to acknowledge and celebrate our achievements by supporting our players in Croker on the first Sunday in March.
After all, a large and loud crowd creates a great atmosphere. We’ve already seen that in the Club semi-finals so let’s keep that going!
Keep your eye on our website for further details re the Finals
Learning to be more effective administrators
A night in Athlone Institute of Technology was one of the most rewarding events I attended the over the past few weeks. Nineteen club and county administrators concluded a HETAC (Higher Education Training Awards Council) accredited Certificate in Sports Administration.
The course was spread over several weeks. The participants came from as far away as Wexford, Kilkenny, Mayo, Kildare, Wicklow, Dublin, Meath along with the ‘locals’ from Galway and Roscommon.
The course focused on learning about effective meetings, running events, public relations, fundraising, planning to develop Camogie, fitness and well-being and so on.
This group are the first Camogie graduates from the Programme.
We will mark their achievement at our Annual Congress in Belfast on 25th/26th March where they will also present some of their work.
Well done to all on the commitment, enthusiasm and expertise that was so evident amongst the participants, the course presenters, Athlone IT and our own full time team who supported the initiative.
New info on child welfare and protection
There was a strong Camogie attendance at the second GAA National Seminar on Child Protection and Welfare recently. The Seminar was for Children’s Officers across the Gaelic games’ associations.
In my capacity as Chair of the GAA Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport Implementation Group I chaired the morning session which focussed on tackling bullying. There was also a very thought provoking session on the psychology of winning and its impact on children.
• A new information leaflet on The Role of the Club and County Children’s Officer was published for the Seminar. It is jointly endorsed by GAA/Camogie/Ladies Football/Handball and Rounders’ Associations.
• A new leaflet on Tackling Bullying for display in clubs is also available.
Get copies by contacting Mairéad Ní Mhaoileoin who heads up the Camogie Association’s child welfare and protection committee.
Focus on Camogie in the Universities
• The Ashbourne and Purcell Cups are key events in February so check out the Higher Education Camogie Council (CCAO)’s website and Facebook for details of games and results www.ccao.ie NUIG are hosts and Camogie of the highest standard is a guarantee.
January
Happy 2011 to all in Camogie.
Soaring sliothar in Dubln
It was great to be at my first game of the New Year recently. Dublin Camogie faced a Dublin All Stars selection as part of an annual double header with Ladies Football.
Heartening to see the sliothar soaring again. Everybody shaking off the winter comfort! The game finished at 1-9 apiece. Catriona Power and Louise O’Hara shared the cup. Congratulations to all involved in a novel event.
More Camogie in Croker
Great also to see Dublin camogie fielding in the hallowed Croke Park turf in the Division 1 National League game v Kilkenny. Sure to be interest in that as it precedes the Dublin v Kerry National Football League on 26th February.
I’m delighted that more Camogie players than ever will get the opportunity to play in Croke Park this year.
It’s fantastic that we will have four days there in 2011.
The Dublin game on Feb 26th will be a wonderful platform. The club finals on March 6th will be special. Our Development Squads’ day is just the best in the summer. The second Sunday in September is definitely the day of the year.
Camogie Scholars taking to the field
There was probably little winter indulgence for the Ashbourne, Purcell and All Ireland Intermediate and Senior
Club contenders and the post primary school teams too. There are big days ahead for all those players over the next few weeks. It was good fun meeting some of them recently at the presentation of the Third Level Education Bursaries. Camogie Scholars all with Ulster scooping 7 out of 11 bursaries!
‘Must see’ events
Games are the best entertainment and there’s plenty in the days ahead – put these in your diary as ‘must see’ games! Watch out as well for the National League throw in.
Date Event
6th February All Ireland Senior and Intermediate Club Semi Finals
12th February All Ireland Post Primary Senior Finals
19th/20th February Ashbourne and Purcell weekend (higher education finals) in NUI Galway and Pearse Stadium, Galway
26th February Division 1 National League Dublin v Kilkenny Croke Park
6th March All Ireland Senior and Intermediate Club Finals in Croke Park
Functions are still in full swing along with Provincial Conventions.
It was good fun meeting many friends recently at Fr. O’Neill’s Juvenile Camogie Awards, Killeagh Camogie Presentation, Antrim Camogie Presentation in Stormont, Derry Camogie Awards and Munster Camogie Convention.
Great to see Munster President Rose Malone in attendance and heartening to see excellent reports from Provincial Secretary Marian Graham and all the counties.
Congratulations to Eamonn Browne who takes over as Munster Chair and sincere thanks to outgoing Chair, Waterford’s Morgan Conroy for his work over the past three years.
Had a chance to be in attendance at the annual Coaching Conference in Croke Park also – excellent presentations, workshops and practical sessions. Caroline Murray, one of our development team along with Damien Coleman from Galway have developed an excellent new training drill! Paudie Butler, GAA Director of Hurling was inspiring.
Leinster and Ulster Conventions on the horizon, along with preparations for Annual Congress in Belfast on 25th and 26th March.
Until next time,
**********************************************************************************
December 2010
Everybody in Camogie can be proud of the achievements of 2010. It was a fantastic year. It’s impossible to do justice to the year in this Blog but I want to acknowledge some key accomplishments including some notable ‘firsts’!
January
Settling into our new offices in Jones’ Road and welcoming the Association’s first Director of Communications and Marketing, Claire Egan, were significant moments early in 2010.
February
Hosting the premier third level competitions - the Ashbourne and Purcell Cup and Shield Finals - together over one weekend was an early ‘first’ in 2010. The Committee of Comhairle Camógaíochta an Ard Oideachais (CCAO) under its then President Lynn Kelly and the local organising committee in the Cork Institute of Technology did a superb job.
The facilities and games were outstanding. I heard the ‘off field’ fun was pretty good too! Standard is now set for the 2011 competition in NUIG!
March
The Association’s six year National Development Plan, Our Game Our Passion was ratified at the annual National Congress in Newbridge.
The Plan was developed by a very hard working Central Council sub-committee, under the chairmanship of Louise Byrne.
It signposts the future development of more clubs, competitions, coaches and referees, more people coming to our games, greater public profile and strong governance and organisational standards.
April
In Semple Stadium, Thurles, Wexford put everybody on notice by coveting back to back national league titles in Division 1 and Division 2 – another first! Laois and Tyrone get their name on the Division 3 and Division 4 league titles.
May
We were back in the meeting rooms for Special National Congress in Croke Park. This considered proposals to amend our governing instrument, the Official Guide or An Treoir Oifigiúil from a review group, again chaired by Louise Byrne.
Special Congress used e-voting for the first time and ratified several innovations including:
- helmets mandatory for all;
- a designated home club;
- new procedures to deal with transfers, hearing and disciplinary issues;
- age ranges for participation in competition;
- new procedures around player gradings;
- adoption of modified games for under 12 competition;
- designation that a player’s native county is automatically her county of
representation regardless of where she lives;
- new rules in relation to offences in games and abuse of referees and
- setting five years maximum service in any one administrative role and ten years in
total.
June
Launch of Gala All Ireland championships. Great profile. Camogie TV is launched on our website.
Annual Féile na nGael hugely successful in Clare with support of RDO and Clare native Deirdre Murphy, Orla Considine and Mary Hogan, Clare Camogie Board. Cillard from Kerry win their first national title at Division 4. Wonderful young players of future there.
VHI Cúl Camps underway with more girls than ever getting opportunity to play Camogie for the first time.
July
Busy month. Gala All Ireland championships were active in the best playing conditions. Inaugural system of referees’ assessment introduced. County u14 Development Squads have a ball at annual activity day in Croke Park – one of the best days of the year!
Pioneering development work continues under the leadership of Ard Stiúrthóir Sinead O’Connor and Director of Camogie Mary O’Connor.
Over 20 new club start ups throughout the year including in Sligo, Mayo, Donegal, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Westmeath.
New Coaching Plan adopted. Significant increase in number of Camogie coach tutors. New Player Pathway, launched at Congress, taking effect with new structure of supporting players from nursery to adult to off the field.
Competitive summer camogie for under 16s – they said it couldn’t be done. The inaugural Leinster under 16 inter county club tournament proved different. With the moniker ‘the pink weekend’ in recognition of its support for the Marie Keating Foundation, Eve Talbot, Leinster Camogie Council and Thomas Davis Camogie club all combined to put on a great show. Intention in 2011 is for all Provinces to adopt the inter county interclub u16 model.
New Camogie acorns planted in the US and Britain. The annual Continental Youth Championships of Gaelic Games in Long Island incorporated underage Camogie for the first time. Players and teams from San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Haven and a couple of new juvenile teams from New York take to the game with great gusto. Hope to build on this at 2011 Games in Boston.
Similarly across the pond, underage Camogie development squads commenced in London with lots of support from Jacqueline Thornton, Ronan McCarthy, Katie Forde and Rita McGrath.
August
Senior semi finals month. Two great games in Nowlan Park. Wexford best the locals Kilkenny. Cork and Galway produce a thriller that ends evens.
These were the best ever attended semi finals.
In Nenagh, Clare and Galway also produce a memorable game in the Gala All Ireland Minor Finals in front of another very big crowd. These teams couldn’t be separated either.
Both replays take to Semple Stadium. Galway do the double with minors winning their first All Ireland title.
September
Has to be the best month of the year every year.
Historic occasion as first time three All Ireland Camogie finals take centre stage in Croke Park. President McAleese watches as Wexford rejoice. Offaly take their first Intermediate title. Antrim overcome Waterford in replay.
There was excellent attendance and presentation of games on the big day. Great feedback and appreciation from 600 families and community leaders we invited from minority ethnic groups to join us on All Ireland Day as part of our work on social inclusion.
Young camogie and hockey players from St. Enda’s and Bredagh Camogie and Mossley Hill Hockey in Belfast also enjoyed All Ireland Finals Park as part of an interesting peace and reconciliation cross-community initiative.
October
We announced some money in October! Good news in the middle of a recession. Paula Bruen Finance Director passed on the good news to several counties who benefited from development grants from central funds. The monies will be used to support the implementation of our national development plan at county level.
The inaugural national meeting of County Chairs and Secretaries Network was held in Croke Park. This initiative is intended to strengthen the dialogue between key administrators at county and central level.
Congrats to Ireland on retaining Shinty title v Scotland. We were captained by Niamh Breen and managed by Tom O’Mahony (Kildare), Paul Ward (Monaghan) and Mary Connor (Louth). Amongst those wearing an Irish jersey it was great to see two Camogie personnel– well done Regina Gorman and Brid Boylan.
Great to see Development Committee established in Ulster.
November
This month is always deceptive. Expect it to be a bit quiet but not so.
The Presidents of the three Gaelic Associations – Camogie, Ladies Football and GAA jointly announced an initiative to explore the feasibility of a single administrative structure at local level to promote and develop all gaelic games. This ‘one club model’ is a strategic initiative that has the potential to benefit and strengthen all. An initial report is due in Spring 2011.
Camogie and Ladies Football Associations, also convened a joint meeting at central and Provincial level chaired by both Association Presidents. The meeting sought to co-ordinate fixtures planning. The Presidents of both Associations are also jointly writing to county boards in both codes urging them to co-ordinate at local level.
Highlight of the month, and maybe of the year though was the annual All Stars Dinner and Presentation. Truly memorable.
69 players nominated for awards and all ‘dressed to kill’.
The words and presence of special guest President Mc Aleese made everybody ten feet taller.
We acknowledged the life long contribution of Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh. He told us he has watched 50 All Ireland finals. He went to his first Camogie All Ireland to watch Dublin legend Kathleen Mills whom he called the Christy Ring of Camogie.
Inaugural Intermediate All Stars were presented along with the All Stars and Soaring Stars.
On the field action continued pre the snow! Jenny Duffy, Ger Gribben and Eve Talbot pulled off a huge Leinster Schools Blitz in Rathcoole under the auspices of Leinster Camogie and supported by Leinster GAA. Yvonne Byrne got several new Donegal players involved in Go Games. Four Roads claimed their first All Ireland Junior title.
The inaugural Provincial Intermediate club finals were held as a fore runner to the new All Ireland Intermediate club championship. The cup for this inaugural competition was named after Agnes O’ Farrelly, a Cavan woman who an exceptional activist in the Gaelic revival, a pioneering academic and nationalist and former President of the Camogie Association.
We also announced this and the All Ireland Senior Club Finals will be played as a double header in Croke Park on March 6th 2011 for the first time.
I’m delighted with this development. It gives club players the genuine aspiration of playing for one of the highest honours in the game in the best stadium in the country. It’s a shot in the arm for our premier club competitions.
There are not too many Camogie clubs that celebrate a silver jubilee so congrats to St. Ibar’s Shelmaliers on their special birthday which they marked in November.
December
These achievements - and there are more than are sketched here –are underpinned by tremendous commitment, ambition, talent and belief. We are lucky. Our membership and our full time staff combine into one team. We share the one passion – to expand the opportunities to play Camogie to the highest standards and to promote life long participation in our sport.
Of course there are areas we can improve on and we will. Let’s take inspiration, confidence and drive from our achievements in 2010, and as always, build on these, year on year, into the future.
If you’ve got this far in the Blog well done! I didn’t expect it to be so long!
For now though, its time to say a generous thank you for your support and hard work and I wish you and your family a very peaceful Christmas.
Come the New Year, hopefully there’ll be a lot less snow and some green grass and lengthening evenings and we can all get back out there enjoying ourselves between the white lines!
Le gach dea-ghuí i gcomhair na Nollag agus na h-ath bhliana!
**********************************************************************************
November Blog 2010
At this time of the year the action moves away from the pitches and the glamour moves centre stage.
Camogie parties in full swing
Apart from the outstanding night that was this year’s All Stars in City West, I’ve been to several other Camogie parties recently.
Two of these were big club birthdays!
Congratulations to St. Ibars/Shelmaliers in Wexford who celebrate their Silver Jubilee and to St. Laurence’s in Kildare who’ve reached the 30 year mark.
I had the pleasure of joining their very successful events to mark the occasion with St. Ibars/Shelmaliers Camogie joining their GAA and Ladies Football families in opening a fabulous new club complex.
Youghal Camogie did it in style too when they celebrated their Cork junior championship and league double at a fabulous presentation night with their GAA counterparts.
Lots of county medal presentations on also at the moment.
Wexford led the way in mid October. A night of stars.
This was the case also at Antrim’s (Premier Junior) All Ireland presentation and Kildare’s (Nancy Murray Cup) presentation nights.
Camogie representatives for One Club Working Group
At many of these social events the close links at club level between the various Gaelic codes has been noticeable. Many of the presentation nights are joint affairs with all codes being recognised.
At national level, a working group is examining the feasibility of a singe administrative structure to support and promote all Gaelic Games at club level.
The Camogie representatives on the ‘One Club Model Working Group’ are:
• Orla Considine, Chair of Clare Camogie Board, Munster Council PRO and member of Clooney Camogie
• Geraldine Beattie Greene, Chair of Roscommon Camogie Board, member of Camogie Association National Resource Management Committee and member of St. Dominics Camogie/GAA/Ladies Football
• Colm Hoban, former Chair of Kildare Camogie Board and Treasurer of Maynooth Camogie/GAA/Ladies Football.
The working group’s first meeting is December it will report in Spring 2011.
Senior Championship 2011
Central Council (Ardchomhairle) had its last meeting of the year recently and decided that the format for next year’s championship would remain as in 2010.
So for the first time in recent years, with Offaly stepping up, eight teams will contest the Gala All Ireland Senior championship. The championship will be a single round robin basis – each team playing each other - followed by open draw semi finals.
The Division 1 National League will remain as in 2010 – two groups with semi finals.
Forthcoming dates
Don’t forget
• 4th December – Coaching Conference in Croke Park
• 5/6th February – All Ireland Intermediate and Senior Club semi finals
• 6th March – All Ireland Intermediate and Senior Club Finals in Croke Park.
In meantime, hope all AGMs and Conventions are progressing well.
October
Autumn leaves means that all the inter county All Ireland finals are now settled. The provincial distribution of titles is interesting. Munster counties are notable absentees amongst the national /silverware.
Leinster took majority honours at adult level with champions, Wexford (Senior), Offaly (Intermediate) and Kildare (Junior A).
Antrim (Premier Junior) and Monaghan (Junior B) ensured some Ulster spoils.
At underage, Galway, Derry and Carlow were unique achievers. Incredibly, they all won All Ireland doubles at minor and under 16 – Galway (Minor and under 16A); Derry (Minor and 16B) and Carlow (Minor and Under 16B).
Thanking you
A word of thanks to all Camogie teams, managements and of course 17,300 supporters. You ensured All Ireland Sunday in Croke Park was a great success.
Hosting three Camogie finals was historic and very well received. There was excellent reaction to other innovations too including:
• Participation of 200 families and 50 community leaders from minority ethnic groups
• Players’ names on back of their jersies
• Fair play initiative where opposing senior players lined up to shake hands in pre-match parade
• Accommodation of the attendance in Hogan/Davin Stand
• Participation of All Ireland Féile captains in bringing O’Duffy Cup on to the pitch
Our attendance was strong and reflected the pattern of increased attendances all year.
Watch out for innovations re All Ireland Club Finals to be announced shortly!
County finals
These are as exciting as All Irelands!
I was delighted to get to a number in recent weeks:
• Kiltegan put up a great fight to overcome Glenealy in Arklow for the Wicklow title;
• Raharney came out on top in Mullingar v Lough Lene Gaels at a very well supported final
• Inniscara and divisional side Imokilly couldn’t be split under lights at the Cork Institute of Technology grounds, again at a very supported final and
• Celbridge overcame debutants Johnstownbridge to claim the Kildare title
• In Greenford, London it was exciting to see a new club on the scene in the Junior Championship final. John Mitchells, Birmingham - just two years old, with a Polish-born goalkeeper and several Birmingham-born players were too strong for Tara’s second team. The final was followed by an excellent underage development blitz aimed at growing juvenile Camogie in the capital.
Distinguished service – Mary Moran; Marie Woods
Mary Moran is one of our Past Presidents. As Association Trustee, Mary served on Central Council and the National Resource Management Committee. When Mary’s Trustee term concluded this autumn, Mary did not seek re-election. Happily, Mary is continuing her long and very distinguished career in Camogie as she is writing the first national history of Camogie to be published next year.
Marie Woods served Leinster for 35 years as Treasurer and as well as ‘minding the books’ was particularly involved in Leinster Gael Linn teams. I recently attended a very warm and sociable event in Marie’s Clane club to honour her contribution. Hosted by Leinster Council, it was a bit of a reunion with several past Provincial Chairs and Past Presidents Phyllis Breslin, Mary Fennelly, Pat Rafferty in attendance along with Iar Ard Stiúrthóir Sheila Wallace.
Camogie is close to Mary and Marie’s hearts and long may that be so.
Dates for your diary
Here’s some events in the pipeline!
Date Venue Event
16th Oct Croke Park Announcement of Camogie development funding to counties
30th Oct Ratoath GAA 11.30 a.m. Ireland v Scotland Women’s Shinty Tournament
6th Nov City West Annual All Stars and Soaring Stars Presentation Dinner
4th Dec Croke Park Annual Joint GAA/Camogie/Ladies Football Coaching Conferene
Until the next time
August
The games’ action is reaching its peak. The Minor All Ireland Final between Clare and Galway was a second half thriller. The biggest crowd of the season were on the edge of their seats in McDonagh Park in Nenagh. Roll on the replay on August 21st.
The Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup will also require a replay. The all-Ulster tie of Cavan and Monaghan could not produce a winner and these will meet again on 22nd August.
All Ireland Sunday in Croke Park – 12th September While all eyes are on the various All Ireland semi finals underway in August, our sights are also firmly set on 12th September in Croke Park for All Ireland Camogie Sunday.
This year our Senior and Premier Junior finalists will be joined by our Intermediate finalists. A Camogie triple header for the first time in this superb stadium is something to really look forward to.
It will be a special occasion. Now is the time to start organising your club and supporters to be part of it. A lively crowd only adds to the spectacle and is important to the players. plenty of sporting skill and entertainment is guaranteed. The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese will join us on this occasion. Tickets remain at last year’s prices with group passes being available for children as usual.
Underage Camogie a first in the US
Spent a couple of days in Long Island, New York earlier in the month for the 7th Continental Youth Championships. GAA and Ladies Football representatives were also in the travelling party.
The Championships are an annual weekend tournament of gaelic games for children from the US and Canada. Camogie was added to the bill this year for the first time. Young Camogie players aged under 8-12 from San Fransisco, New Haven in Connecticut, Rockland and St. Brigids in New York and from Chicago all participated. If the enthusiasm on display is anything to go by, we’ve planted a small acorn. I expect Camogie to grow further again over the next 12 months and beyond.
Development Funding initiative
We recently announced the availability of grants for county boards. This is to support them to put in place plans to the end of 2011 to grow and promote Camogie. This was a commitment I made at the launch of our national development plan Our Game Our Passion at Annual Congress in March. The county plans will help implement the national priorities at local level, taking account of local needs. County officers including County Development Officers who attended the workshop in Croke Park are all eligible to apply for the development funding. Páraic Duffy Ard Stiúrthóir and Ciaran Leddy, Head of Organisational Development gave the workshop insights on the GAA’s approach to development.
Next up is our Camogie Fundraiser in Shelbourne Park on eve of the Hurling All Ireland 4th September. Your club has a chance of winning some monies so make sure to join in the fun by getting hold of some tickets from our National Offices. Promises be to another great night!
Until the next time…
July
The championship season is racing ahead, and the All Ireland championships are throwing up some fantastic games. Results are not always going to form. That’s adding a bit of extra spice. The draw for the All Ireland Senior Semi Finals will be made in Croke Park on 26th July so I’m sure there’ll be keen interest in that!
New clubs a-growing
It’s great to see the momentum around expanding participation. New clubs are mushrooming in each Province. Congrats to The Loop in Derry, Glengoole Gortnahoe in Tipperary, Tubbercurry in Sligo and Carnew in Wicklow to name just four of the recent arrivals!
Some June/July Highlights
Over past month, here’s some particular highlights to tell you about:
• First was a wonderful Go Games Primary Schools Blitz in Pearse Óg Grounds in Armagh City where there was big participation and huge fun. Colette McSorley (Armagh) and Jane Adams (Antrim) joined in as stars of our game.
• Second was the opening of Na Maigh Hurling and Camogie Facilities. Na Maigh is the only hurling and camogie club in Derry city and two new pitches were officially opened last weekend. It was great to see the unity between both codes here.
• Thirdly was a ‘Meet the Stars’ event attended by over 200 young players in Kildare. The stars in attendance were Louise O’Hara (Dublin), Orla Kilkenny (Galway), Cathriona Foley (Cork), Emer Delaney (Laois) along with Susie O’Carroll, Roisin O’Connell, Aoife Trant and Niamh Concannon (all Kildare). It was wonderful to see the intercounty players’ commitment, all having played championship games the previous day.
• Fourth, Féile na nGael was an incredible experience. It was very well organised, very well supported by all clubs and visiting teams and there was excellent competition and sportsmanship all round. Three Camogie teams won their first Féile title – home side Éire Óg from Ennis (Div. 2); my own club Celbridge, Kildare (Div. 3) and Cill Ard, Kerry (Div. 4). Lucan Sarsfields (Dublin) collected the Division 1 title making it two titles in three years – another great achievement. Congrats all round and special appreciation to Mary Hogan and Orla Considine (Clare) who oversaw the Camogie end of things with great professionalism and style.
July being Blitzed by Camogie!
Dublin, Leinster Council and Cork and Kerry are focussing on development in July with these events:
• Paul Beecher is leading the co-ordination of an intercounty under 14 Blitz in Dublin.
• Eve Talbot and Thomas Davis GAA and Camogie Club are putting the final touches to an under 16 inter-club Leinster Blitz while raising funds for the Marie Keating Foundation.
• Cork are staging an u12 county wide club blitz and
• Kerry an u15 county wide club blitz.
I’m sure there are more so make sure to tell us about them!
Camogie Pitches
It’s interesting to see over the past few months efforts by County Boards to establish their own playing facilities. Most recently, Cork, Galway and Clare Camogie Boards now join Tipperary in developing/leasing and/or managing their own county Camogie pitch. That’s demonstrating confidence and belief in the future well being of the game and I highly commend it.
President to attend historic All Ireland Finals Day in Croke Park
By the time of the next Blog we’ll be pretty close to knowing the All Ireland Senior, Intermediate and Junior Finalists. The 12th September will be a historic one for us as Croke Park will host three Camogie Finalis for the first time. The President of Ireland Mary McAleese will join us for the Camogie Showdown – put the date in your diary – it will be a special occasion, as always.
Catch up again in August,
June
Well, at last it’s here – the championship thrown in on Saturday 12th June.
You could feel the excitement and the anticipation at the Championship launch last week. Twenty eight team captains joined the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin TD and Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala in a gloriously sunny Croke Park. Several team managements were there also including Ann Downey (Kilkenny), JJ Doyle (Wexford), Eoin Brislane (Tipp), Brendan Cooper (Dublin), Patsy Fahy (Clare), Joachim Kelly (Offaly), Noel Finn (Galway) and Pheilim Macken (Limerick).
Referee Assessment Programme
At the launch we announced the introduction of a new Referees’ Assessment Programme and the criteria for the selection of the All Stars and Soaring Star Awards. A panel of referee assessors is being established with Frank McDonald, Eileen Hamill, Peter Downey and Damien Noble in place currently. This will expand shortly and the assessment is being co-ordinated by former referee John Pender.
All Star and Soaring Star selection criteria
The All Star/Soaring Star selectors for 2010 and 2011 are Maura McCloy (Derry) (Chair), Bronagh Gaughan (Meath), Eamonn Browne (Tipperary), Margaret Finn (Cork), Máire Uí Scolaí (National Results Co-ordinator) and Sheila O’Donohoe (Comhairle Chamógaíochta Ard Oideachais). Key selection criteria for the awards are work rate and effectiveness; skill levels, sportsmanship and role modelling. Work rate and effectiveness and skill level are the highest weighted criteria. The Player Welfare Committee, chaired by Stealla Sinnott was consulted in developing the criteria.
Some new rules
You may know by know that Special Congress at the end of May also agreed some new rules for the Association. These included:
• Adopting An Cumann Camógaíochta or The Camogie Association as our new title
• Adoption as one of our seven objectives a commitment to work in partnership with the wider Gaelic Games family
• Limiting an elected officer’s term in the same officer capacity to no more than five consecutive years and to a maximum of ten consecutive years in several officer capacities
• Designating the club with which a player first legally participates in club competition as a player’s home club
• Granting voting rights to registered members aged 16 years or over
• Granting two voting delegates for clubs at county board meetings and to counties at Provincial Council meetings
• Legislating for Cumann na mBunscol to send a delegate to county boards and for Post Primary and Third Level Education Councils to be involved at provincial level
• Legislating for transfers, hearing and disciplinary issues to be only heard and adjudicated on by a Transfers, Hearings and Disciplinary Committee appointed by either County Board, Provincial Council and Ardchomhairle as appropriate
• Introducing revised timeframes for disciplinary hearings
• Introducing new procedures for the administration of transfers
• Introducing new rules for player grading for club competitions
• Introducing revised rules for player grading at inter county level
• Introducing age bands for underage competitions including stipulation that players must be over 15 to participate in adult club competitions and over 16 to participate in adult inter county competition
• Adopting child centred, small sided and developmentally appropriate games model for under 12 games’ activities
• Legislating that players are automatically eligible to play for their native county and are only required to declare if they wish to play with another county
• Requiring each County Board and Provincial Council to appoint a Development Sub-Committee
• Giving power to Annual Congress to directly elect three members to Ardchomhairle – a coaching and games development representative; a public relations and communications representative and a National Treasurer
• Specifying the role of the An tUachtarán
• Adopting email as the preferred format for all official correspondence
• Adopting that all official correspondence may be signed in Irish or English
• Introducing new penalties in event of failures to field a team and for reported late starts to matches
• Requirement that umpires officiating at inter county matches must be over 18.
A number of these rules will be effective from 22nd June and others will come into effect on 1 January 2011. Details will be issued to county and provincial secretaries in due course.
40th Féile
Next week it’s off to the 40th Féile na nGael hosted by Clare this year. If the enthusiasm and interest shown during the school visits is anything to go by - there is a great weekend in prospect for all.
I’m delighted that Celbridge, where I’m a member, will represent Kildare so looking forward to meeting them along with all the other county camogie reps and of course all the host clubs.
Before that though, trips to Kerry and Armagh and Gort Camogie Club to support the excellent development work there and couple of championship matches to take it.
Check out your local papers and www.camogie.ie for details of matches in the Gala All Ireland Championships and come out and support your county! Enjoy!
May
Glorious sunshine all last week. Twenty primary schools visited in Co. Clare. County and club jersies everywhere. Loads of artwork, songs, dance and music. Huge commitment by the teachers and local clubs. What am I on about? Féile of course!
The annual promotional visits to schools in the host county were a huge success. 75 schools visited in total. Local Camogie stars included Deirdre Murphy, Fiona Lafferty and Kate Lynch.
The O’Duffy Cup was on the circuit as well compliments of Cork players Mary O’Connor and Jenny Duffy. Our Ardstiúrthóir Sinead O’Connor, Caroline Murray Regional Development Officer, Catherine Neary Camogie representative on the National Feile Committee and Mary Hogan, Clare County Secretary all joined us as well.
Earlier in the month I also saw the positive impact of Féile when I watched the Division 3 Dublin Féile semi finals hosted for the first time by Cuala Camogie. The red and white South siders were also participating in Féile for the first time. Great to see Iar Ard Stiuúthóir Sheila Wallace active on the sideline along with another Cuala stalwart Máire Ní Scolaí.
New Mum and Me Coaching Programme
While down in the Mid-West, I also took the opportunity to see first hand some of the action from the new Mum and Me Programme. This was designed by Eddie O’Sullivan Limerick Institute of Technology GAA Office with support from Camogie Development Officer Deirdre Murphy and piloted in Eddie’s home club Blackrock in Limerick.
The Programme supports mothers to be help out with underage coaching and introduces them to the basic skills of the game. Mothers are taught the key coaching points of 7 basic skills of camogie and how to practice these with their daughter. Great innovation that I’m sure will certainly interest clubs all over the country.
New Rule Book
I know the rule book may not be everybody’s bedtime reading but it is our Constitution and it guides and directs the Association.
Congress is a gathering of county, Provincial, Overseas and educational bodies overseeing Camogie. We held a Special Congress on 22nd May to consider a new Constitution.
We used E-voting for the first time to vote on the Constitution. The experiment was a great success with nearly
98% of recommendations passed. Rules governing suspensions were referred to Ard Chomhairle after a 50:50 split. Some of the motions will come into effect on 22nd June (one month after Congress) while others will be effective from 2011. Some of the changes include:
• Amending our name from Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael to Cumann Camógaíochta or the Camogie Association (from June 2010)
• Agreeing to liaise and co-operate with other Gaelic Games bodies (from June 2010)
• Adopting age bands for under age Camogie including that players must be over 15 for adult club Camogie and over 16 for inter county adult competition (from 2011)
• Adopting child centred, small sided games that focus on skills development for all under 12 games activities (from 2011).
Proposals to introduce (in 2011) match bans as suspensions instead of time bans resulted in a 50:50 vote and Central Council will now consider this further.
It was a very successful day – 45 proposals considered and 43 passed with strong consensus. More details on the rules will be on the website shortly.
People enquire about how to amend the playing rules. These are considered every three years with 2012 Annual Congress the next opportunity.
April
I’m a little late with this month’s blog so apologies.
I love this time of the year. After work, it’s bright and there’s loads of evening matches on. Even if there isn’t a game on the club will be training and I can watch from the sidelines! Failing that, there’s sure to be a few meetings to keep me busy!
Over the last couple of weeks, myself and Sinéad, our Ard Stiúrthóir, have clocked up a few miles. We’ve attended a number of county boards and regional workshops to consult on the proposed new rules for the Camogie Association. We’ve had very useful discussions in Dublin, Croke Park, Wexford and Tullamore and to date 14 counties have attended the sessions. There are two more workshops to go– in Armagh and Waterford.
Following these, Central Council (Ardchomhairle) will revise the draft rules doing our best to take account of the points made by you at the workshops. A second draft of the rules will then issue and Special Congress on 22nd May will vote on the proposals.
GAA Congress
Sinéad and I also attended the annual GAA Congress in Newcastle, Co. Down in mid April. Several of the motions were of interest. These included the motion successfully passed to introduce Go Games for hurling and football players aged under 12. While, this debate is ongoing within Camogie, we are strongly promoting Go Games in our development work.
GAA Congress also considered a motion to introduce match bans as a form of suspension instead of the current system of suspending people for a number of weeks or months. This was referred for further consideration. Within Camogie, our proposed new rules suggest match bans in certain circumstances.
New clubs monitor
One of the best things I’ve heard over the past couple of weeks is the drive around establishing new clubs around the country. Here’s some of what’s happening:
Ballyvarley in Mayo just started... Arklow Rocks in Wicklow on the go.... Burrin Rangers in Carlow recently launched..... St. Joseph’s in Laois getting off the ground .....St. Bridgets in Rochtfortbrige starting up ......Longford Slashers taking part in competition. ..... Mungret and Glenrue in Limerick up and running...... discussions in Carnew, Co. Wicklow ....... Castletown in Laois maybe re-establishing and overseas a new club forming in Indianapolis USA.
There sure is plenty of interest and enthusiasm out there for our game. Let’s keep spreading the word. If each county can establish one new club this year that’d be at least 28 new clubs by this time next year! That’s definitely within our sights. Its more players, more teams, more volunteers, more participation and more fun!
National League Finals
The business end of the National Leagues is over. Congrats to Wexford on a brilliant defence of their Division One and Two National League titles. Well done also to Laois and Tyrone on excellent performances in securing the Division Three and Four titles. You may have noticed the emergence of Camogie TV during the promotion of the Division One and Two Finals? Check it out on You Tube and don’t forget to sign up for the Camogie page on Facebook too. This will provide you with up to the minute scores in key national games.
Next up are the All Ireland under 16 finals on 8th May. Galway, Tipperary, Limerick, Derry, Meath and Carlow will all be vying for glory. Check out the website for details of venues etc nearer the time.
Until May, gach dea mhéin
March
Planning the future and celebrating our achievements
Over the last 18 months we have spent much energy in developing our new six year National Development Plan Our Game Our Passion. The Plan will be launched at our forthcoming National Congress in Newbridge on 26th/27th March. It has five priorities:
i. Growing participation – includes expansion of our club base from 540 clubs to 750
ii. Improving performance – includes expansion of coaches and referees and focus on coaching and refereeing standards
iii. Volunteer support and developing – includes introduction of awards at county level for volunteer of the year and distinguished service award and focus on women as leaders in sport
iv. Enhancing Camogie’s profile - includes increasing attendances at games, more marketing and sponsorship and media coverage
v. Excellence in governance and organisational development – includes developing a Member’s Charter.
Through the combined efforts of all our volunteers from club to national level and overseas, our full time staff team and the support of others including the GAA, the Irish Sports Council, Sports NI, our sponsors and other bodies we can grow and strengthen Camogie even further. Check out www.camogie.ie over next few weeks to download your copy of the Plan.
Camogie achievements continue to get widespread recognition at local and national levels. Recently it’s been wonderful to have been part of three events where our City Halls and Town Councils acknowledged the sporting quality of our elite players and our game.
• In February, I joined the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dara Murphy in Cork City Hall to
welcome the 16 teams competing in the Ashbourne and Purcell Cups .
• In early March, it was a privilege to be part of the Civic Reception afforded to the All
Ireland Senior Club Champions by Cllr. Eddie Bennett Mayor of Cashel Town Council who was also joined by Tom Hayes TD and Mattie McGrath TD.
• Last week, the clubs, county board, players and referees of Kildare Camogie joined with representatives of Kildare GAA, Kildare Community Games and other sporting bodies and Cllr. Willie Hamilton Mayor of Newbridge Town Council to launch the visit of our National Congress at the end of the month to Kildare for the first time.
This civic recognition of our sport is really important and enhances its status.
Our volunteers are also getting well earned recognition and special congratulations to:
• Liz Howard, Iar Uachtarán, who received the National Administrator’s Award in the annual Volunteer Awards run by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Irish Sports Council and the Federation of Irish Sports and
• Mary O’Donoghue (The Harps, Laois), who is the Camogie nomination for one of the GAA President’s Volunteer Awards presented at a reception in Croke Park on 16th March.
More awards to follow! The Camogie Association’s Annual Media Awards will be announced and presented at the Congress Dinner on Saturday 27th March. Eight awards in total will be announced. Four of these, in memory of former RTE sports presenter Mick Dunne, are sponsored by RTE and its Director General Cathal Goan will be in attendance. Again check out www.camogie.ie later in the month for details of the award winners.
On the pitch, the All Ireland Colleges’ competitions have reached their final stages. Well done to all the participants and mentors. Our national leagues are reaching their critical stages too with semi finals and play offs on the horizon.
With the long evenings coming up, it won’t be too long now to the start of championship! If league form is a predictor of the championship last year’s senior semi finalists are all still going strong. Offaly and Laois look promising too. Roscommon settling in at a higher level and Kildare look evens for the Nancy Murray Cup. Still, that’s the beauty of championship – no real certainties and anything can happen.
Some of this year’s innovations include:
• re-naming the Junior Championship to the Gala Premier Junior Championship
• dedicating the Junior All Ireland Cup as the Kay Mills Cup in recognition of one of our greatest players
• introducing assessment of referees for inter-county games and
• reverting the senior championship to a league format with open draw for the semi finals.
‘Til the next time.
February
Spring is in the air! The inter-county season has started with the first rounds of the National
Leagues.
Recognising Camogie talent
During the last few weeks the talent and abilities of Camogie people received lots of well deserved
public recognition. This included:
• Angela and Ann Downey on winning the Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Lifetime Achievement Award
• Sarah Dervan, centre back with Galway All Ireland Intermediates champions
winning Galway GAA’s Camogie Player of the Year
• Kay Dunne, Cork Camogie Board and Ballincollig Camogie receiving the Evening
Echo Women’s Sports Star Hall of Fame Award
• Marion Conway, Roscommon recognised at Connacht GAA Awards
• Etty Kelly, Rita O’Hanlon-Wright and Mary McArthur acknowledged as the ‘ founding sisters’ of London Camogie at its 21st anniversary celebrations last week
• In early March, Cashel Town Council will give a civic reception to the Cashel Camogie, All Ireland Senior Club Champions.
Provincial changes
There’s some personnel changes afoot within the Provincial Councils following the recent Conventions. Catherine Neary Kilkenny takes over as Cathoirleach from Ray Quigley in Leinster. Rachel Hogan will be in charge of the purse strings there. Briege McGilligan from Derry is the new Runai in Ulster. Marion Conway is Connacht’s Runai.
I attended all Conventions which were very successful. Connacht elected Maeve Healy as its new Development Officer. Munster, Ulster and Leinster will fill this position at their first meetings. Development Officer is a new role within County Boards and Provinces. It will be vital to delivering on our new national development plan and strengthening links between the clubs, administrators and full time development team.
Camogie Charity Challenge-17th April
The Hope Foundation, which supports women and children in Calcutta, are hosting an innovative event on 17th April at Blackrock Hurling Club in Cork. All Ireland Senior Champions Cork will take on a Rest of Ireland team, managed by Sandy Fitzgibbon, Jack McGrath and John Pender. I attended the Camogie Charity Challenge launch last week, along with Madeleine Cummins from Hope, Amanda O'Regan, 2009 Cork Captain and Marie O'Brien, Blackrock Hurling Club. Great to see our current stars supporting work to give children better life opportunities in India.
Ashbourne and Purcell Cup Finals
The excitement is mounting as the draws for the Ashbourne and Purcell Cup Finals weekend are finalised. Sixteen teams will present themselves in Cork Institute of Technology on the weekend of the 20th/21st February seeking lots of Camogie action and some glory and silverware too. That’s up to 400 Camogie players all in the one place! Its got to be the biggest gathering of third level female athletes anywhere in the country this year.
Judging by the professionalism and interest in the launch last week and the outstanding facilities of CIT it should be a memorable weekend. Congratulations to Comhairle Chamógaíochta Ard-Oideachais and CIT on the initiative to unite the Finals and best of luck to all teams.
So, get Valentine’s weekend out of the way first! Then put the following weekend in your diary for Ashbourne and Purcell and look forward to seeing you there.
January
First, happy new year to all in Camogie. Hope you’ve survived the elements. Did you take the opportunity to use those all-weather pitches and indoor training circuits to beat the climate!
One or two things to tell you about...
If you are interested in a good night’s sporting history and debate and you’re free on 28th January, come along to the GAA Museum in Croke Park. 2010 marks the 105th anniversary of the official establishment of the Camogie Association. It is therefore both timely and appropriate that we have an evening of history and debate on the past, present and future of Camogie, hosted at headquarters. To book tickets and further details check out http://museum.gaa.ie/
Did you see the findings from the Irish Sports Monitor, published in December? This is research by the Irish Sports Council and the ESRI. The 2008 report is the second in a new annual series that monitors participation in sport. The research reflected the outstanding development work being undertaken all over the country by our full time team and our volunteers. It suggested that Camogie has grown considerably amongst females aged 16 or over. Camogie and Ladies Football equally share the top spot as the most popular team sports for females in Ireland. Interestingly the growth in Camogie bucks the trend of females leaving individual sport, which the study also highlighted.
It is extremely encouraging to have independent evidence that proactive promotion of Camogie leads to a positive response. Our new five year development plan, which will be ready for Annual Congress in Kildare on 26th/27th March, has excellent foundations to build so well done everybody! And onwards and upwards!
Over Christmas, I attended an innovative event in Kilmacud Crokes GAA when Dublin Camogie and Ladies Football County Boards jointly organised a double header. In both codes, Dublin played a Dublin All Stars selection. The Ladies Football President, Pat Quill, joined me and we were very impressed with the co-operation evident in the planning and execution of a novel afternoon’s entertainment.
Two of our full time team, Paula Bruen Finance Officer and Eve Talbot, Regional Development Officer togged out. They showed they are a match for the best! Congratulations to all involved, especially the 80 odd players and the match officials who braved Artic conditions. In true style, the show went on. Let’s keep up the co-operation all round. Our players and clubs will be the beneficiaries and we all want that.
The inter county playing season is nearly upon us with a 7th February throw in. But Camogie action has not been still! Post-primary schools competitions and Ashbourne and Purcell Cup qualifying rounds are in full flow. Watch out for finals of the latter on 20th/21st Feb in Cork Institute of Technology (creating history as this will be first time Cups have been played together). And if you are interested in the up and coming stars, the All Ireland Post-Primary Finals are on March 20th.
In meantime, hope you’ve had time to check out and enjoy all the developments from the hard working Communications and Website Committee: the publication of our new magazine On the Ball, the first issue of our ezine Camogiezine and Camogie on Facebook, Twitter and in many other social network media and work on the annual media awards.
********************************************************************************************
December 2009
It’s the festive season and certainly clubs and counties are getting in the mood. Many are hosting medal presentations and dinners to honour the achievements of 2009. I’ve had the great pleasure of being part of several of these in recent weeks. These have included visits to:
• Castletara GAA and Camogie Awards (Cavan)
• Fr. O’Neills GAA and Camogie Awards (Cork)
• Wexford Camogie Awards
• Galway Camogie Awards
• Kildare GAA Awards
• Cork 96 FM Sports Awards.
Into the New Year, the celebrations continue including the:
• Offaly Camogie Awards
• Derry Camogie Awards
• Johnstownbridge (Kildare) GAA, Camogie and Ladies Football Awards and
• The Harps Camogie Awards (Laois).
I’ve had many other invitations which are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to attend as many as I would like to. The social side of these occasions is invaluable. So too is the opportunity to affirm the excellent work that’s goes on continuously at grassroots level. It is also a great opportunity to meet informally with players and volunteers and to listen and respond to people’s issues and ideas.
Congratulations to Cashel, Athenry, Lavey and St. Anne’s who competed in the recent All Ireland Club Finals. The weather meant that conditions were anything but Camogie-friendly. This didn’t inhibit the desire for All Ireland glory or the wonderful skill of the players!
We are indebted to two GAA clubs for their marvellous facilities. Clarecastle GAA hosted their first ever All Ireland Final when Cashel and Athenry crossed hurleys last week . Donaghmore/Ashbourne GAA got two consecutive All Irelands as they also host the replay for the All Ireland Junior title. The playing surface in both venues was outstanding and a credit to all concerned.
Here’s a few things to watch out for in 2010:
• The introduction of a new All Ireland and Provincial Intermediate Camogie Club championship – following on from the undoubted success of the Senior and Junior competitions. Further details later.
• The Gala All Ireland Senior Championship reverting to a one group round robin championship – semi finals will be based on an open draw of the top four finishers.
• The Division 5 League and Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup competitions will no longer be one day blitzes. Instead teams will compete in two groups for the All Ireland Championship title. Group games are on a one round league basis. For the semis, winners of Group 1 play runners up of Group 2; winners of Group 2 play runners up Group 1.
• Our new Strategic Development Plan - to put in place the future direction of the Camogie Association will be launched.
• An updated and revised version An Treoir Oifigiúil (Official Guide) will be published. Love it or hate it, the ‘Rule Book’ is a vital tool in the governance and administration of Camogie and the Camogie Association. During the year, a serious amount of work has been undertaken to ensure that our rules and procedures reflect best practice in the way we do our business. First the revised draft will issue for consultation and feedback; following that further revisions may be required at which point, ratification will then be sought from a Special Congress (date to be agreed). The revisions focus on the administration and governance rather than the playing rules. The playing rules may be revised every three years only and were considered at the 2009 Congress.
• More Camogie promotion at local, national and international levels.
As well as many functions and County Conventions running currently, one of the more athletic events was Camogie’s participation in the GAA Handball Showdown, held to mark the GAA 125th anniversary. Tony Hannan, Handball President, Christy Cooney, GAA President, Geraldine Giles Past President Ladies Football and I played an ‘exhibition’ game in Croke Park. It was great fun and it brought home to me how skilful handball is and how complementary it is to the hand and eye co-ordination skills of Camogie. Several Camogie stars including Mags Darcy, Cathriona Foley, Katie McAuley, Aislinn Connolly and Mairead Morrissey demonstrated this much better than me! Thoroughly recommend some off-season training in the handball court to all!
In various other ways, the Camogie Association at local and national has marked or contributed to the very successful GAA 125th Anniversary. Likewise the GAA continues to acknowledge and include Camogie in its celebrations.
Two important and recent publications to mark this special year are such examples:
• The GAA: A People’s History by Mike Cronin, Mark Duncan and Paul Rouse (published by Collins Press) and
• The Evolution of the GAA Ulaidh,Eire agus Eile by Dónall McAnallen, David Hassan and Roddy Hegarty (published by the Ulster Historical Foundation)
include historical accounts and many previously unpublished photographs of Camogie since its foundation in 1904. Both books are excellently produced and recommended for the Christmas gift list!
Finally, may I wish everybody in Camogie and in Gaelic Games a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year. We can look back on a year of great success with more players, more clubs, more teams, more competitions than ever before. That didn’t happen by accident but by the vision, work and commitment of Camogie people, both voluntary and paid, up and down the country and overseas. I thank you for that effort and loyalty and for your personal support and kindness to me in the inaugural year of my Presidency.
I very much look forward to building on the progress we’ve made. Let’s continue to work to ensure that as many as possible get the opportunity to enjoy the passion, sport and rich skill of our game.
October/November
Well, the glamorous side of Camogie is definitely to the fore after Saturday night’s very successful All Stars. In association with O’Neill’s Irish International Sports, almost 750 people participated in the gala event at the City West Hotel, Dublin.
With guests Mary Hanafin, Minister for Social and Family Affairs and Paul Brady, three times World Handball title holder, we saluted:
• the All Star nominees and winners
• the inaugural Soaring Star winners
• the Young Players of the Year and
• Ireland’s successful Camogie/Shinty team.
Congratulations to all and thanks for the enjoyment you provided this season with your skill and artistry on the playing field.
The week before the All Stars, it was a pleasure to be part of a wonderful trip to Inverness as part of the Camogie/Hurling/Shinty International v Scotland. Ireland was led the management team of Eddie Brady (Cavan), Ger Moran (Roscommon), Mary Connors (Louth) and team captain Caroline Connaughton (Roscommon). One of the features of the game was the prohibition on catching the ball. On the face of it this could have been quite a challenge for us Camogie people. It required the Camogie side to play more ground striking that is common nowadays and to lift and strike the ball more frequently than usual. Congratulations to player of the match Colette McSorley (Armagh) who gave a great exhibition of ball control and striking ability.
Off the field, at central level, we are currently working on the 2010 Fixtures Programme. Our Competitions Management Committee is working to put in place the schedule so that Provincial Councils and County Boards have the details well in advance of their own planning. At national level we have already held a consultative workshop with counties. We are meeting our colleagues in Ladies Football and will take account of the GAA schedule. Hopefully this will help ensure that all games programmes are accommodating of each other as far as possible.
We have also just published our new magazine On the Ball. Watch out for the PDF version on our website over the next week or so.
Two more All Ireland titles remain at stake still – the All Ireland Junior and Senior Club Championships. The prize is the greatest so good luck to all the semi-finalists.
September
Its almost the end of a thrilling intercounty season. The Intermediate players of Cork and Galway extended the season until 10th October when they drew the All Ireland Intermediate Final at an excting game recently in Limerick.
As we await the replay, on the field activity continues with a club championships at county and Provincial level reaching the final stages.
There’s plenty of other action going on also. Here’s some dates that indicate forthcoming national activities:
Date Activity
Week commencing 5th October Announcement of nominations for 2009 Camogie All Stars
10th October All Ireland Colleges 7s
Mid October Release of Camogiezine – our new ezine to members – check our website to register your contact details
17th October National meeting to discuss 2010 Intercounty Fixtures Progarmme – open to county officers and team managers
26th October Coillte Development Squads Activity Day in Croke Park
31st October Shinty International in Inverness involving Camogie players from Nancy Murray Cup and Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup competitions
7th November Announcement of 2009 All Stars at Annual All Stars Banquet, City West Hotel.
Early November Publication of new Camogie magazine On the Ball
21st November Camogie National Congress to ratify new National Camogie Development Plan and consult on proposed changes to our rule book An Treoir Oifigúil
As you’ll see from above, two new communication activities are planned between now and the year end. These are the launch of an ezine newsletter to members and the launch of On the Ball our new twice yearly magazine. We’re keen to keep you informed of all that’s happening in the Camogie world so watch out for these.
I’ve just undertaken visits to Donegal and Derry County Boards and then Mayo last night. Excellent development work going on and good ideas on improving access to coaching and playing opportunities. Great to hear about the involvement of Carrick on Shannon (Leitrim), Sylane (Galway) and Western Gaels (Sligo) along with Na Brideoga, Castebar Mitchells and Westport in the work of Mayo County Board. You can encourage and support this new teams by giving their young players games opportunities particularly in the age ranges under 8-12s.
August
I had intended to write this two weeks ago after the All Ireland Minor Finals. Then I thought I’ll wait to see how the Gala All Ireland Senior Finals work out. Then last week I thought I’ll wait and see how the Gala All Ireland Junior Final for the Nancy Murray Cup, between Roscommon and Armagh, worked out. That was a stirring draw in Breffini Park, Cavan on Saturday so I thought I better get on with it!
August/September is the business end of the season and I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing a series of very exciting and skilful Camogie national championship games at all levels. The standard of Camogie has been very competitive. All the games were outstanding with very exciting finishes to three of them – the Kilkenny v Galway senior semi final; the All Ireland minor B final where Limerick edged a memorable victory and the Nancy Murray Cup final. Not surprisingly, the Gala All Ireland Senior semi finals stand out. There was great sporting action, a great crowd, a great venue in Nowlan Park and great participation from young Kilkenny club players and from a number of the Coillte Development Squads. They all participated in a tribute to the GAA 125th Year at half time in the second senior game.
Promoting underage Camogie in the US
I also had the privilege of attending the Continental Youth Championships in San Francisco in July. Hosted at San Francisco GAA’s new facilities on Treasure Island in the bay, this is a fantastic Gaelic Games tournament involving American born players from under 8 to under 18. In 2010, the Championships move to the New York and Camogie will feature for the first time.
County Boards visits ongoing
I have undertaken a further series of county board visits including Tyrone, Dublin, Meath, Carlow, Offaly, Antrim and Tipperary. This is a total of 17 County Boards to date. Visits are scheduled for Donegal, Cavan, Mayo, Armagh and Monaghan. A few issues are common to all meetings – fixtures, relationships within the Gaelic Games family, public recognition of players and playing gear. The playing gear issues raised include:
• mandatory helmet for all players
• skorts or shorts debate continues – interesting one this. Varied opinion on both. Shorts, I would say slightly ahead, but only slightly. Cost, comfort and ‘look’ all in the pot as discussion points
• need for more leisure wear that is specifically Camogie merchandise e.g. jersies in range of styles and colours.
Camogie going to the Dogs
Lastly, our great fundraising night is happening on 5th September in Shelbourne Park. Support your sport by purchasing a €50 ticket (provides entry to the race night for two people) and you and/or your club has a chance of winning a €5,000 cash prize. Contact 087 9030755.
All Ireland Finals
Check out the website for All Ireland final details – keep 13th September free for a great family day out in Croke Park with national Camogie and hurling titles at stake.
July
Ulster Camogie Finals
Last weekend’s Ulster Camogie Finals were a wonderful watershed in the game’s development. In the company of John Feehan, Mayor of Newry and District Council, I attended the Ulster Camogie Council’s first Festival of Camogie.
Hosted in partnership with Ulster GAA, in Páirc Esler in Newry on 4th July, Derry and Tyrone did fantastically well to collect the senior and junior provincial silverware but Camogie was the real winner. We enjoyed great facilities, great pitch, excellent demonstration of Camogie skills, excellent refereeing, great sportsmanship, well attended games and fantastic participation by all.
Overall 230 players were part of the event – including young children, over 40s and Ulster’s best in 2009. Hearty congratulations to all concerned.
Camogie in Britain
The previous weekend, the future development of Camogie was under discussion at a Conference in London. It was organised by the London Camogie Board’s Development Committee, with the support of the GAA Provincial Council of Britain. The day was an exciting initiative that brought together Camogie members from London, Birmingham and Scotland. It was inspiring to be part of discussions that focussed on introducing Camogie to local communities and schools in Britain as well as continuing to promote Camogie to the Irish community. Watch this space as Camogie looks to forge a stronger presence as a sporting option for women and girls across the Irish Sea!
Fantastic Féile na nGael
Féile, sponsored by Coca-Cola, continues to grow and get better and better each year. This year’s Parade in Birr and Finals in Tullamore were once again spectacular. Wonderful hospitality from clubs throughout Offaly and Laois, great organisation and presentation of the games, lots of fun and friendship with Camogie, hurling and handball connecting communities all over the country. It was a privilege to be a part of it. This event, along with Féile Peil in Kildare last weekend, demonstrated the Gaelic Games family at its best – working locally and working together. Douglas (Cork), Ballymacnab (Armagh), Kerry and Na Brideoga (Mayo) went home with the titles and everybody went home with great memories.
Recognising player excellence
A recent Ardchomhairle (Central Council) agreed to introduce a new recognition scheme to recognise player excellence in the Gala All Ireland Junior Championships. The main reason for the introduction of an additional recognition scheme is that junior players will be selected for an award based on their performances against players of a similar standard. Players competing in the New Ireland Cup, the Nancy Murray Cup and the Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup will be eligible for this scheme. The current All Stars will continue to be awarded to players competing in the Gala All Ireland Senior and Intermediate championships (the O’Duffy and McGrath Cups).
Selectors
Selectors for the All Stars and the new recognition scheme for the Gala All Ireland Junior Championships have been ratified by Ardchomhairle. Chair of Munster Council, Waterford man Morgan Conroy chairs the selection panel. He will be joined by Maura McCloy (Derry), Máire Ní Scolaí (Dublin), Eamonn Browne (Tipperary), Bronagh Gaughan (Meath) and Sheila O’Donoghue (CCAO – Third Level Colleges’ Camogie Council). With the Gala championships well under way, the selectors will continue to be casting their eye over performances until the end of the season.
June
Its been another busy month as we all turn our attention now to the Gala All Ireland Camogie Championships. These were launched very successfully last week. We had a great day in Croke Park on Wednesday 10th June. 27 team captains were in attendance along with Senior Camogie Team Managers Ann Downey (Kilkenny), Stella Sinnott (Wexford), Liam O’Donoghue (Galway), Bertie Sherlock (Clare), Pheilim Macken (Limerick) and Fr. Peter Brennan (Tipperary).
We were delighted that Denise Lord, Gala Customer Services Manager, representing our sponsors; Christy Cooney President of the GAA, Erika Murphy from the Irish Sports Council and Glen Killane, RTE Group Head of Sport all joined us.
The Gala Senior Championship action moves to the pitch next week Saturday 20th June when defending champions Cork will host Dublin in Páirc Uí Rinn and National League title holders Wexford take a trip to Limerick. I am delighted that many of this year’s Senior championship games will be played in GAA county grounds. These provide excellent facilities for players and supporters alike.
Attending matches is one of the most important ways of giving recognition to our players and increasing attendances is something we can improve on at all levels, local to national. Make sure to support Camogie by attending games as much as you can.
I am also delighted that The Sunday Game will provide highlights from one match in each round of the Senior Championship. There will also be delayed web broadcasting from that game on www.rte.ie. On Sunday next Cork v Dublin will feature.
Its not just the players who’ve been training hard for the championship. Thirty four referees have already passed the All Ireland Championship fitness tests. This means that our efforts to improve refereeing standards is heading in the right direction. Grading and assessment of referees is currently under discussion as well.
Since my May Blog, I’ve continued to undertake visits to various counties. At this stage I’ve had the pleasure of meeting clubs and County Boards in each of the four Provinces. As well as earlier visits to Cork and Galway, visits over the last month have included Westmeath, Waterford, Clare, Down, Kilkenny and Wexford. Several more are in the diary and at the end of the month I’m heading to London for a seminar on the development of Camogie there.
I’ve commenced an ideas log from the visits. This will be very useful in helping to finalise the drafting of a new National Development Plan for Camogie. This is being worked on at the moment and the aim is to present a new Plan to a Special Congress at the end of the year.
I’m looking forward to the annual Féile na nGael in Offaly/Laois next weekend. The parade, the games and the hospitality of local clubs and families make this a special event. Good luck to all the participants and I look forward to meeting you.
May
I’m just seven weeks into my Presidency and it has been wonderfully hectic!
I’ve presented cups for eight national titles, visited 16 schools in Laois and Offaly as part of the promotion of the 39th Feile na nGael, visited two County Boards, established 10 new National Committees and attended the GAA Congress in Cork.
Congratulations to all the winners of the National League titles Divisions 1-5, to the All Ireland under 16A, B and C winners and to Munster and Connacnt, Senior and Junior Gael Linn Inter Provincial winners.
Special congratulations to Wexford and Wicklow. Wexford successfully captured the Division 1 and Division 2 titles and a couple of weeks later the All Ireland u16B cup. Three titles for the purple and gold and it’s still only May! Wicklow had their day when they won the Division 5 title for the first time against a gallant Monaghan. Bray Emmets GAA were excellent hosts for this competition, hosted as a one day blitz.
Keep the 19th -21st June free for the 39th Feile na nGael and come out and support the parade in Birr on the evening of the 19th June. Almost 70 schools received visits last week. Camogie was well represented with players from Offaly, Laois, Wexford, Cork, Galway and Clare available to talk with school children and teachers.
Over the next few months I plan to visit each Camogie County Board to listen to the issues, concerns and aspirations at local level. I’ve already visited Cork and Galway Boards. These provided good discussion on a range of topics including media coverage of camogie, rules governing transfers and the need for neutral umpires and lines people at inter county games.
Ardchomhairle (Central Council) recently ratified my nominations to a number of new National Sub-Committees. These will work for the next three years to promote and develop our games. The Committes and their Chairpersons
Committee Chairperson
Resource Management Uachtaran
Competitions Management Brenda Craig (Dublin)
Coaching & Games Development Sheila O’Donoghue (CCAO)
Communications and Website Eoghan Corry (Kildare)
Volunteer and Officer Support Maire Ni Cheallaigh (Dublin)
Referees Support and Development Una Kearney (Armagh)
Strategic Implementation Group Louise Byrne (CCAO)
Player Welfare Committee Stellah Sinnott (Wexford)
Child Protection and Welfare Mairead Ni Mhaoileoin (Cork)
Clemency Committee Mary Moran (Trustee) and Phyllis Breslin (Trustee) members
May Events
2012
5
| Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 x All Ireland Minor C Final 05/05/2012 All Ireland Minor C Final Saturday, May 5th 2.00pm, Naas, Down v Kerry read more Caman to Croker 05/05/2012 Caman to Croker Activity Day Saturday May 5th 48 Camogie Clubs from around the country will attend Croke Park for an Activity Day of Go Games blitzes and GAA Museum Tour read more | 6 x Irish Daily Star Leagues 06/05/2012 Irish Daily Star Leagues Irish Daily Star Division One Final Cork v Wexford, 2.00pm Semple Stadium, Thurles * double header with GAA Allianz Hurling League Final Irish Daily Star Division Two Final Derry v Meath, 2.45pm, Pairc Tailteann, Navan, 2.45pm * double header with GAA Christy Ring championship read more | |
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 x |
21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
