Development News Round-Up

Our annual Primary Indoor Camogie blitz days took place in Nass GAA over 2 weeks in November. The Camogie Indoor Blitz Days are essentially Fun “Come and Try It” Days where girls from schools around Kildare are invited to take part in Camogie games. Girls in 3rd, 4th and 5th class were targeted to take part in these blitz days.

The overall plan is to increase the number of schools playing while helping to improve standards of players within the county. Over the 4 days 238 girls (13 schools) took part in the blitzes. Thanks to the teachers and students for attending these blitz days.

Dublin

An Cumann Camógaíochta rolled out three exciting initiatives for students in Second level schools in Dublin. The three initiatives included a Foundation Camogie coaching course, Green Card referee course and a blitz day for 1st and 2nd year students.

The Foundation Camogie course and Green Card Referee course took place in Thomas Davis GAA club on Tuesday 13th and Tuesday 20th of November. 28 students in total took part in these courses. The first and second year blitz day took place on Tuesday 27th of November where 42 girls took to the playing field to play various games.

Students that attended the Foundation coaching course were the coaches and managers of their 1st and 2nd year Camogie team from their school. The used the skills and advice they learned from the course and illustrated these at the games. 

Students that completed the Referee course referee the various matches on the day. The overall aim of the blitz day is to give those students that completed both courses first hand experience of what it is like to referee a game and to manage and coach a Camogie team. It is hoped that all of these students bring back all this valuable experience to their local Camogie and GAA clubs. 

A big thank you to all the teachers and students for their time and support with these various Camogie initiatives and to Thomas Davis GAA club for kindly letting us use their excellent facilities over the 3 days.  

 

Ulster Camogie Council celebrated the strength and standard of volunteerism within the Province at the NWP Recycling Ulster Camogie Awards Lunch on Saturday November 24th in Kelly’s Inn.

Ulster Camogie Chairperson Kathleen Woods was joined by special guests Cumann Camogaíochta Uachtaran Aileen Lawlor, Ulster GAA Vice President and Integration Committee Chairman Martin McAviney and representatives from NWP Recycling as twelve awards were presented. John A Mullan was announced as coach/manager of the year, Aileen Mc Cusker captured the senior player of the year while Sean Mc Guigan received the referee of the year award to name just a few. 

After many years of dedicated service to Ulster Colleges Camogie Sr Mairead Ní Fhearáin was presented with the Chairperson’s Award.  Sr Mairead has been involved with Ulster Colleges Camogie for many years taking on various roles with great success. 

Antrim News

1st Year Secondary School Camogie Blitz

4 Antrim schools participated in a camogie blitz in Woodlands Belfast on Thursday November 29th. The four participating schools were St Genevives, Victoria College, Slemish College and Dominican College Fort William. The blitz was run by Ross Corbett Ulster Camogie R.D.O. and Kieran Megraw Antrim H.D.O. Over 50 girls participated in some great games on a cold day in Belfast.

Down News

An Riocht Camán Get A Grip Coaching Course

A Camán Get A Grip course ran in An Riocht club in Kilkeel, Co.Down on the last two Wednesday nights with 14 coaches participating. The course was run by Siobhán Poulter Antrim C.D.O.  

 

Eamon O Shea, Manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team took the Camogie tutors for a practical session on Saturday November 24th in St.Brigids GAA and Camogie club in Dublin. 24 participants took part in the practical session which covered among other areas decision making and creating space.
The tutor group also reflected on the past year and what went well and what can be improved for the coming year.

 

27 teachers attended a combined GAA and Camogie Coaching workshop in Craughwell National school on Monday November 26th. Paudie Butler took the session and concentrated on linking Fundamentals sessions to the PE curriculum for National School teachers. This will be followed up with a skills specific workshop in the coming weeks.

 

The North Mayo camogie players (from Crossmolina and surrounding areas) played Castlebar on Saturday last in Castlebar. This was the club’s first main blitz to play in and all the girls enjoyed the occasion. 22 girls from the North mayo area played on the day with help from their mentors Nicola Hopkins, Seamus Hurley and Margaret Waters Roland. For more information on camogie in Mayo please contact Caroline Murray on cmurray@camogie.ie

 

Donegal Cuman na mBunscoil held the group stages of their U12 Hurling and Camogie indoor blitz in four venues last Thursday November 29th. The winners of each blitz now qualify for the finals scheduled to take place next Thursday in Burnfoot with the winners of the blitz going on to represent Donegal in the Ulster finals. Congratulations to all schools who participated. For more information contact Yvonne Byrne: 087 6235855/yvonne@camogie.ie

 

Cavan Hurling and Camogie coaches joined forces last Wednesday November 28th to attend a coaching workshop on how to introduce Catching, Lifting and Striking skills to their Indoor sessions in their clubs. There was a great turn out with 23 coaches from 12 different club areas attending. The workshop showed coaches how to include these vital ‘outdoor’ skills through FUN small sided games in an indoor environment and was delivered by Ger Gribben, Regional Camogie Development Officer for Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath and Paul Divilly Regional Hurling Development Officer for Cavan and Fermanagh. Both Ger and Paul would like to thank the coaches for there interactive participation throughout which led to a very enjoyable session for all! For more information contact Ger Gribben at gerard@camogie or 0872733847.

 

Truagh Camogie Club in Monaghan completed the Camogie Initiative ‘Mum and Me’ on Thursday night. The programme was run over a series of Thursday evenings and targeted the mothers of young members of the club. Over the programme the Mums were given tips, from Ger Gribben Camogie Regional Development Officer on how to practice and help coach their children at home. 25 Mums and kids have been involved over the last few weeks and the club hopes to run the programme again in January 2013 to help kick start the new season!