Gala All Ireland Camogie Finals Day – Celebrating Diversity in Ireland

Gala All Ireland Camogie Finals – Celebrating Diversity in Ireland

This year’s Gala All Ireland Camogie Finals will celebrate diversity in Ireland with 200 families from new communities attending the Association’s premier sporting event on Sunday September 12th in Croke Pak.

As part of the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion the Camogie Association has teamed up with the New Communities Partnership and The Integration Centre to bring 200 families and 50 community leaders to GAA HQ for Camogie Finals Day.

The aim of the initiative is to introduce camogie to new communities, particularly females, and to offer camogie as a fun and socially inclusive activity.

Speaking at the launch Camogie President Joan O’Flynn: “”In recent years, communities in Ireland are increasingly diverse as more people of various nationalities and ethnic and cultural backgrounds come to live and work here.  There is also an emerging understanding that the opportunity to participate in sports is not the same for all groups in society.

Welcoming 200 families from new communities to Gala All Ireland Camogie Finals Day is a statement of intent of our commitment to reach out and promote the positive inclusion of groups who may be under-represented amongst our players, volunteers and supporters and to identify and work to overcome barriers that may inhibit some groups from getting involved in Camogie.””

The chosen families will participate in a meet and greet session on Camogie All Ireland Finals day providing them with information on the games. In addition 32 children, representing each county nationwide, will accompany a team member from the senior finalists; Wexford and Galway; in the pre-match parade.

The initiative is being funded by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs as part of the EU Year to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion.

 “”I am delighted that my Department could provide funding for this event.  Events such as this one are a great way to encourage young people from new communities into trying a new sport in a fun and socially inclusive way.  One of the aims of the 2010 EU Year for Combating Poverty and Social Inclusion is to tackle marginalisation and sport is an excellent way to engage with new communities,”” said Minister for Department of Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey.

Dublin City Council and the GAA Social Inclusion Committee are also supporting the project. 

This year, all four provinces will be represented on the field of play as Ulster side Antrim play Waterford in the Gala Premier Junior decider at noon; Offaly take on Wexford in an all Leinster affair in the Intermediate final at 2.00pm while Galway and Wexford take centre stage in the Gala All Ireland senior final. Throw in time of 4.oopm

ENDS

Notes

ò The Camogie Association æCelebrating Diversity in Ireland’ initiative is part-funded by the Social Inclusion Division of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs as part of the EU Year to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion, Dublin City Council and the GAA Social Inclusion Committee.

ò The Integration Centre works for the integration and inclusion of people from immigrant backgrounds in Ireland. The Centre specializes in planning, monitoring and advocacy at city, local, national and international levels and provides regionalized information, advice and training services. There are more than 250 affiliated organisations as part of the national network.

ò New Communities Partnership is an independent national network of 116 ethnic minority led groups comprising of 75 nationalities with offices in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. NCP provides communal social space for ethnic minority groups to interact; representation and participation of ethnic groups in consultative fora and information to member organisations, the wider community and ethnic minorities.

ò The Gala All Ireland Camogie Finals take place at Croke Park on September 12th 2010. Antrim play Waterford in the Premier Junior at noon; Wexford play Offaly in the Intermediate at 2.00pm; Wexford play Galway in the Senior decider at 4.00pm.

ò Ticket prices for the Gala All Ireland Camogie Finals
Adult : €30/Juvenile (U16); €5/Student: €10 (Buy full price ticket and get refund on the day)

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