Recognising Camogie talent
During the last few weeks the talent and abilities of Camogie people received lots of well deserved public recognition. This included:
ò Angela and Ann Downey on winning the Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Lifetime Achievement Award
ò Sarah Dervan, centre backwith Galway All Ireland Intermediates champions winning Galway GAA’s Camogie Player of the Year
ò Kay Dunne, Cork Camogie Board and Ballincollig Camogie receiving the Evening Echo Women’s Sports Star Hall of Fame Award
ò Marion Conway, Roscommon recognised at Connacht GAA Awards
ò Etty Kelly, Rita O’Hanlon-Wright and Mary McArthur acknowledged as the æ founding sisters’ of London Camogie at its 21st anniversary celebrations last week
ò In early March, Cashel Town Council will give a civic reception to the Cashel Camogie, All Ireland Senior Club Champions.
Provincial changes
There’s some personnel changes afoot within the Provincial Councils following the recent Conventions. Catherine Neary Kilkenny takes over as Cathoirleach from Ray Quigley in Leinster. Rachel Hogan will be in charge of the purse strings there. Briege McGilligan from Derry is the new Runai in Ulster. Marion Conway is Connacht’s Runai.
I attended all Conventions which were very successful. Connacht elected Maeve Healy as its new Development Officer. Munster, Ulster and Leinster will fill this position at their first meetings. Development Officer is a new role within County Boards and Provinces. It will be vital to delivering on our new national development plan and strengthening links between the clubs, administrators and full time development team.
Camogie Charity Challenge-17th April
The Hope Foundation, which supports women and children in Calcutta, are hosting an innovative event on 17th April at Blackrock Hurling Club in Cork. All Ireland Senior Champions Cork will take on a Rest of Ireland team, managed by Sandy Fitzgibbon, Jack McGrath and John Pender. I attended the Camogie Charity Challenge launch last week, along with Madeleine Cummins from Hope, Amanda O’Regan, 2009 Cork Captain and Marie O’Brien, Blackrock Hurling Club. Great to see our current stars supporting work to give children better life opportunities in India.
Ashbourne and Purcell Cup Finals
The excitement is mounting as the draws for the Ashbourne and Purcell Cup Finals weekend are finalised. Sixteen teams will present themselves in Cork Institute of Technology on weekend 20th/21st February seeking lots of Camogie action and some glory and silverware too. That’s up to 400 Camogie players all in the one place! Its got to be the biggest gathering of third level female athletes anywhere in the country this year.
Judging by the professionalism and interest in the launch last week and the outstanding facilities of CIT it should be a memorable weekend. Congratulations to Comhairle Cham¾gaÝochta Ard-Oideachais and CIT on the initiative to unite the Finals and best of luck to all teams.
So, get Valentine’s weekend out of the way first! Then put the following weekend in your diary for Ashbourne and Purcell and look forward to seeing you there.
Siobhßn NÝ Fhloinn
Joan O’Flynn
11 February 2010
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