Camogie Open Day in Castleisland on Sunday 11am to 1pm

Co-organiser, Anne Walsh pictured with camogie enthusiasts: Amie Pidgeon, Currow; Sarah Mason, Ballymacelligott; Fiona Waters, Cologne, Germany and Clodagh Delaney, Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Some of the fully kitted out camogie trialists at Muire Gan Smál Presentation Primary School. Included are: Maria Greaney, Robyn Hayes, Michelle Burke, Louise Callaghan and Gabriela Socha.

Members of the Presentation Castleisland camogie squad front from left: Kelly Anne Nix, Saoirse McKenna, Annie Moriarty, Shauna Griffin, Anna McSweeney, Cara Fleming, Sarah Mason, Amie Pidgeon and Laura Cotter. Backfrom left: Clodagh Delaney, Aoife O’Leary, Abbie Kelliher, Muireann McBride, Sophia McGaley, Emma O’Sullivan, Ava McGovern, Nora-Ann Hartnett, Fiona Walter, Tara Enright, Orlaith O’Connor, Katie Cotter, Danielle Moriarty, Joanne Moynihan, Shauna Cronin, Sarah Glennon, Orlaith Buckley, Sarah Keating, Chantelle Broderick and Sharon Lane.

Camogie enthusiasts Sarah Mason, Ballymacelligott; Fiona Waters, Cologne, Germany and Clodagh Delaney, Castleisland prepared for Sunday’s open day at Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club between 11am and 1pm. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Schools in this and neighbouring parishes have been canvassed in recent days and weeks with the aim of setting up a camogie club to represent the St. Kieran’s district.

Former Players and Volunteers

Former players, club volunteers and anyone wishing to see the game return to the area are being invited to this open day.

There is a history of camogie in Castleisland going back a long way. There was a thriving club in Castleisland from the late 1960s up to the mid 1970s.

And the team represented the area in the inter club competitions in Kerry at the time.

A hurling club, which drew players from the dustrict, was also based in Castleisland at around the same time and it also engaged in intermediate club championship and county league games.

Camogie to Return

Now, the noble game of camogie looks well set to make a return to the area and some behind-the-scenes work has been conducted with that very aim.

Laura Collins, Kerry Camogie Development Officer along with former Cork minor player and now Cordal resident, Anne Walsh are currently training potential players in three schools in the Castleisland area.

Training and Equipment

The women are bringing the game to pupils in the Muire Gan Smál Presentation Primary School’s 5^th and 6^th class pupils; Kilmurry National School in Cordal in the 3^rd to 6^th. classes and to Presentation Castleisland Secondary School.

All the classes are receiving nine free training sessions along with equipment provided and sponsored by the Munster Camogie Council.

Support from Desmonds

“We hope, with the support of Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club, to start a camogie club for the girls of the area,” said Anne.

“Camogie is a great team sport and it’s getting a great response from the students and it would be great to have it here in Castleisland. We’re getting a great response from all the schools and we have decided to hold this open day on Sunday to meet people interested in getting involved with us.

Get Involved

“If anyone would like to get involved to help or support us we would be delighted to hear from them and they can contact Laura Collins, Kerry Senior Camogie panelist on 087 12 74 708 or myself, Anne Walsh on 087 75 90 967,” Anne concluded.

Watch this space.

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