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On Friday 14th and Saturday 15th August last the girls of Castlemartyr and the surrounding area were treated to a wonderful 2 day camp hosted by our club. Bathed in glorious sunshine for both days over 75 girls from ages 5 to 13 enjoyed a very well organised series of activities ranging from intensive skills based sessions to rip roaring games.
With the help of parents, club committee members, older club players and siblings and club coaching staff each age group were ably catered for. There were also invaluable coaching sessions given on both days from guest coaches Michael Fahalee and Martin McSweeney.
But one of the highlights of the camp was the addition to the coaching staff of Killeagh’s and Cork’s senior camogie player Hannah Looney. Hannah gave master classes across a number of age groups on both days of the camp which provide to be major boost for the awe struck young girls.
It is said that you should not meet your heroes but on Friday that was disproved as the girls were treated to a visit from Corks three time All Ireland camogie medal winner and two time all-star recipient Orla Cotter. Unrushed, she spent time with each age group imparting advise, inspiring with words of encouragement and answering questions from her worshiping audience. Not only that, she treated the girls to a display of her flawless free taking abilities.
On Saturday morning Cork Senior Camogie full back Laura Tracy paid a visit and again her words of encouragement were eagerly heeded. The camp was heavily supported by local businesses, Aherne’s Centra, Castlemartyr and The village Greengrocer, Castlemartyr who generously provided lunches for the 100 plus people involved in the camp. The culmination of the two day camp was the prize giving for the cross bar challenge of which there were many successful competitors including guest coach Hannah Looney. The prizes were generously provided by The Gate Cinema, Midleton. Every girl that participated in the camp received a memento pack kindly sponsored by The Camogie Association,(a big thank you to Ross Corbet, Munster Development Officer), Molloy Auctioneers and Castlemartyr Camogie Club. If the level of eagerness, determination and sheer delight expresses by all the girls who participated in this camp is reflection on the future of Camogie then we can expect Cork to be raising the O’Duffy Cup for few years yet.