IAN O'RIORDAN
The Camogie Association is reporting a 23 per cent growth in club registration over the past decade ahead of this weekend's Annual Congress. There are now 547 clubs across the four provinces, up from 447 in 2003.
The association has also grown from just one full-time and one part-time employee in 2003 to 16 full-time positions in 2014, and expenditure has quadrupled from a baseline of €252,982 to €1.125 million in 2013.
These are among the issues highlighted in the report of association director general Joan O’Flynn: “Statutory funding was critical in expanding the Camogie Association staff team,” she says. “The impact of funding is evident from a base of a full-time Ard Stiúrthóir and part-time administrative support in 2003 to an all-Ireland complement of 16 posts.
“This has facilitated the association to strengthen its leadership and development capacity and expand our coaching and development expertise, communications and public relations expertise and financial management and administrative expertise.”
O'Flynn has also attended recent Central Council meetings of both the GAA and Ladies Gaelic Football Association regarding the "One Association" model, which could see all three associations join forces under the one umbrella.
'Endorsement'
"This was on the occasion of their Central Councils' consideration of a motion to open negotiations on One Association to promote and manage all Gaelic games. The Camogie Association's Ard Chomhairle passed such a motion in November 2013 and this motion is on the Congress Clár for endorsement."
There is also reference to new camogie activity in Europe, Australia, Asia, the introduction of competition structures in the US for American-born players, the introduction of underage camogie in North America and Britain.
The other main item on the agenda is the election of a president elect for which there are two candidates: Kathleen Woods, Ulster Camogie Council Chairperson and Catherine Neary, former Leinster Camogie Chairperson.
This year the Association also celebrates its 110th anniversary.
