President’s Blog August 2011

President’s Blog: August 2011

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 Camßn 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:

See you at the games!

Joan O’Flynn
Siobhßn NÝ Fhloinn
Uachtarßn
L·nasa 2011

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