Ahead of the Camogie Association’s 2017 Annual Congress, Ard Stiúrthóir Joan O’Flynn has released her Annual Report which highlights a strong year for the Association on a number of fronts.
Many of the highlights in 2016 revolve around the Association’s National Development Plan, Our Sport, Our Future, 2016-2019 which sets out to improve the sport across several strategic action areas.
The Report documents 21 Key Performance Indicators to be achieved by the 2020 Annual Congress to further strengthen the sport. These include:
– Guaranteeing ‘game time’ at club level starting with a minimum of 12 games per year for all underage players in each age group (U8 – U16).
– Setting a target to promote female Referees by aiming to have 25% of National and Provincial Referees as female.
– Improving the standard of the game by introducing mandatory coaching qualifications for all county teams.
Amongst the highlights for the Association in 2016 included in the Report were:
– September’s All-Ireland Finals saw a 25% increase in the attendance at the Finals to 20,037 from 16,610 in 2015 which also made it the highest attendance at the All-Ireland Finals in 10 years.
– TV viewing figures also increased by 8% on 2015 with a peak audience of 328,000 tuning in to watch the Finals.
– The All-Ireland Semi-Finals were also broadcast live on RTÉ, and an agreement was reached to continue to broadcast them for the next 5 years.
– A 20% increase in sponsorship income and a first ever title sponsor of the National Leagues with Littlewoods Ireland.
– €1million in government funding to support Camogie and Ladies Football players which will be distributed in 2017 and 2018.
– A significant increase in the number of qualified coaches with 1,275 coaches accredited across Foundation Level, Level 1 and Level 2, almost 50% more than in 2015.
– A 5% year on year increase in registered members from 2014 to 2015, and 2015 to 2016.
The full Ard Stiúrthóir’s Report 2016 can be viewed here
The 2016 Annual Report of Committees to Congress 2017 can be viewed here
Annual Congress 2017 will take place in Croke Park stadium on Saturday March 25th and Sunday March 26th, where delegates will vote on a range of motions as well as welcoming the Association’s new President Elect, Kathleen Woods who has been elected unopposed.
