Camogie's centenary plans revealed

News round-up: A large attendance turned out at Croke Park yesterday for the launch of the Camogie Association's centenary celebrations…

News round-up: A large attendance turned out at Croke Park yesterday for the launch of the Camogie Association's centenary celebrations in 2004.

At the announcement attended by John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, the President of Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael, Miriam O'Callaghan, outlined the plans to mark this milestone in the game's history.

Noting that the association predated women's suffrage she added: "Reaching a centenary is a significant achievement by any standards but reaching it in such a healthy and vibrant state is more than significant. Since 1904 our game has grown beyond the expectations of its founders.

"Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael has made a significant statement in its very formation and right throughout its history has impacted on the life of Irish women and Gaelic games. It continues to be a ground breaking organisation with vision and courage."

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The association is due, with the women's football association Cumann Peile na mBan, to amalgamate under the umbrella of Croke Park and the president referred to this, saying that "the next milestone will be the successful integration of the three organisations".

Seán Kelly, GAA President, also referred to this process in his speech: "We in the GAA are delighted to be associated with you, our sister organisation in this historic year. Of course the recent pilot scheme aimed at establishing the best framework for complete integration.

"It is our intention to move forward in a confident and ambitious manner as a united body with the combined membership, skills, expertise and resources of the three associations at our disposal."

Among the milestones of the camogie association's first century picked out by O'Callaghan were the institution of a university competition, the Ashbourne Cup, in 1914, the export of the game to the United States in the 1930s, the appointment of the first full-time officers in the 1970s, the recent expansion of teams from 13 to 15 players and the appointment of a full-time sponsorship and finance manager, Sinéad O'Connor.

In his speech the minister paid tribute to the association: "I am sure that those pioneers who organised the first public game of camogie in Páirc Tailteann between Craobh A'Cheithnnigh and Cuchullains in 1904 would be delighted with the way camogie has grown to become one of the most popular and widely played female sports in Ireland with approximately 84,000 players.

"I would like to pay tribute to those pioneers for introducing a wonderful sport to the multitudes of Irish women who have graced the fields and stadiums of Ireland throughout the last 100 years."

He concluded by thanking the association's president for her invitation and wishing "you all every success in celebrating your first 100 years. Here's to the next 100".

The minister praised the appointment of a team of ambassadors, including one from each county, whose function it will be to promote the game.

Next year's centenary events include: the staging in February of the Ashbourne Cup in UCD, the first university to field a camogie team and later that month the announcement of the Team of the Century; in March a camogie exhibition will be mounted in the GAA Museum, a history will be launched and a set of centenary stamps will be issued by An Post.

June's Féile na nGael finals will be held in Navan, where the first camogie match took place in 1904.

Next year's All-Ireland finals take place on September 19th and the following month the association will participate, with the assistance of a €25,000 grant from Croke Park, in the GAA's International Rules events by playing against shinty players from Scotland - an exchange that has only hitherto taken place at club level - and organising a tournament with clubs from overseas.

A documentary on the game will be broadcast by RTÉ and the centenary year logo designed by Mark Dignam was unveiled.

Finally, the camogie All Stars for this year were announced. Sponsored by the Lynch Hotels Group, the awards were formally presented at an awards dinner last night in one of the sponsor's hotels, The Green Isle in Dublin.

Not surprisingly All-Ireland champions Tipperary lead the way with seven players, followed by finalists Cork with four.

Limerick have a strong presence with three at the end of a year that saw them reach the All-Ireland semi-final - although there is no representation for the other defeated semi-finalists Galway.

Intermediate champions Antrim complete the team with centrefielder Jane Adams gaining the only place to go outside of Munster.

2003 CAMOGIE ALL STARS: 1 Jovita Delaney (Tipperary); 2 Rose Collins (Limerick), 3 Una O'Dwyer (Tipperary), 4 Stephanie Dunlea (Cork); 5 Mary O'Connor (Cork), 6 Ciara Gaynor (Tipperary), 7 Therese Brophy (Tipperary); 8 Vera Sheehan (Limerick), 9 Jane Adams (Antrim); 10 Emer Dillon (Cork), 11 Clare Grogan (Tipperary), 12 Eileen O'Brien (Limerick); 13 Éimear McDonnell (Tipperary), 14 Deirdre Hughes (Tipperary), 15 Fiona O'Driscoll (Cork).