Ulster Camogie Players Forum

Camogie players and officials from right across Ulster and beyond gathered at the Balmoral Hotel on Monday night March 21st for the inaugural Ulster Camogie Players Forum.

Seven-time All-Ireland Senior Camogie winner and current National Director of Camogie, Mary O’Connor was the keynote speaker on a night which saw the first ever Forum for Women’s Gaelic Games.

O’Connor addressed the Forum about the direction Camogie in Ulster is taking at present.

“It’s important to talk about the standard of Camogie in Ulster – not just at inter-county level but also at club level” she said.

“It does certainly bring a contrast. When I started playing camogie in the mid-nineties Camogie was still 12-a-side at inter-county level.

“You had Down, Antrim and Armagh all competing at Senior level. I remember coming up to play Armagh, and also Antrim at Casement Park.

“Currently we have no Senior county team. Is that coincidental? The game has gone to 15-a-side and teams have gone down a grade – maybe there is food for thought there.”

On a positive note O’Connor is pleased to see strong progress by Ulster schools teams.

“Three Ulster schools recently beat Munster opposition in All-Ireland semi-finals and there is certainly Trojan work being done in schools at present.

“Over the last 10 Senior All-Ireland’s it has been Munster teams that have won either Tipperary or Cork – so that is something to note as well.

“Second level schools are definitely making huge progress from Ulster in All-Ireland competition.”

Attendees also heard from Outgoing Ulster Camogie Chairperson Catherine O’Hara, who is in the running to take over from Joan O’Flynn as National Camogie President, at Congress in the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast next weekend.

Westmeath’s Aileen Lawlor is also in contention for the role.

“This is a historic first here tonight in the Balmoral Hotel,” O’Hara said.

“From little acorns big trees grow. You (the players) are very much the cornerstone of Camogie in Ulster and it is important that your voice is heard.

“Players and Administrators should not be seen as separate entities and it is important for all of us to join together in strengthening the Camogie brand going forward.”

The event was jointly sponsored by the Irish News, Linwoods and O’Neill’s.

Among the other speakers on the night were incoming Ulster Camogie Chairperson Kathleen Woods, CCAO PRO Fionnuala Carr, Ulster Vice Chairman Martin McAviney, Paddy Heaney of the Irish News, Ulster Gael Linn manager Joe Baldwin and Eugene Young, Ulster Council GAA Director of Coaching and Games Development.

MC on the night was Ulster Camogie PRO Cóilín Duffy, while Paddy Hunter Q101fm Sports Editor chaired the panel discussion.

Pictured at the Inaugural Ulster Camogie Players Forum are left to right: Fionnuala Carr (CCAO – 3rd Level Camogie PRO), Mary O’Connor (National Director of Camogie and former Cork duel player), Cóilín Duffy (Ulster Camogie PRO), Kathleen Woods (Incoming Ulster Camogie Chairperson)

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