Kids have a ball at Cúl camps
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HOLLYWOOD GAA Club was the venue for the last of the VHI GAA Cúl camps held in Wicklow this year. In all 26 such summer camps were held throughout the county in 2010 catering for in excess of 2,000 boys and girls from primary schools. Hollywood was one of four Cúl camps held the week before last. They were joined by Glenealy in staging hurling camps, while two football camps were held at Enniskerry and Newtown.
These GAA Cúl Camps, which take place over six weeks during the summer holidays, teach the basic kills of hurling, football and camogie and it would appear that they have lost none of their appeal with the young boys and girls who are aged between six years and 13.
Only one Cúl Camp failed to go ahead in 2010 because of a lack of numbers - that was a hurling camp in Wicklow town - but even then the children who registered did not lose out as they were catered for in other Cúl camps being held close by.
Hugh Kenny, the games administrator for the county, said that they were very pleased with the success of the VHI GAA Cúl Camps in 2010 and the children enjoyed them immensely.
Started back in 1993, the camps have lost none of their attraction for the kids. Last year they had record numbers attending, with the figure topping 2,200, while in 2010 the numbers were only marginally down despite the recession.
'Parents dig deep to ensure that their kids go to the summer camps and very often they plan their summer holidays around the camps,' he said. 'Sending three children to a camp can be expensive for a family in the present economic climate, but parents see the value to be gained for their children in participating'.
You know what they say about all work and no playâ?¦ and it is recognized now that participation in sports plays just as an important role in a child's development and character formation as learning in the classroom.
At the week-long camps the children learn the skills of hurling, football and camogie, participate in skills competitions and enjoy fun events. A healthy mind in a healthy bodyâ?¦.
At the camps, the children reaped the benefit of the knowledge and experience of such leading Wicklow hurlers as Paul Sutton, Ronan Keddy, Graham Keogh, Jim Bob Doyle and Enan Glynn; and star footballers like John McGrath, Gary Duffy, James Stafford, Leighton Glynn and Paul Cunningham from Bray.
Ladies football and camogie coaches also attended the Cúl camps to impart their expertise to the children.
And at the end of it all, every child came away with lots of goodies. Each child was presented with a kit bag and gear, boot bag to name put a few of the gifts.
Hugh Kenny said that the Cúl camps went well this year, the children enjoyed themselves, and especially pleasing was the fact that the camps were injury free.
The weather also shone on the camps this year whereas it lashed rain for the whole summer in 2009.
