In late 2025, the collaboration of Camogie and Hockey, as two of our strongest and developing stick sports for women and girls in Ireland, occurred with a pilot project ran in Athlone, Co. Westmeath by our Leinster Participation and Growth Coordinator, Sabrina Larkin.
This project was funded by Sport Ireland Women in Sport funding and concluded on Friday 13th February with games, pizza and presentations and was a thoroughly enjoyable evening for both clubs to celebrate the programme.
Southern Gaels Camogie Club and Athlone Town Hockey club came together for a month-long programme where the U14 camogie and hockey girls received skills-based coaching on the various similar and different aspects of each game. The coaches and organisers of both clubs deserve a massive mention for their energy, interest and promotion of the programme, as they took ownership of and ran their respective sides with great enthusiasm. This programme has seen a number of girls show interest and, in some cases, take up the respective sports and has served as a player recruitment avenue for both.
Massive well done to all the players who participated and to Leona O’Connor (camogie) and Sandra Hatton (hockey) for coming on board to make this pilot happen. They are already planning their next get together!
