Campa Chormaic Announcements

Tuesday 07.06.2011

Aogán Ó Feargháil chairman of the Ulster Council officially launched Campa Chormaic 2011 in the Brantry Bard, Co. Tyrone. Campa Chormaic began seven years ago with the intention of providing a living memorial to the Tyrone Captain Cormac McAnallen who passed away from a heart condition. Since Campa Chormaic’s inception the camp has seen unprecedented growth and is now considered the premier Irish Language and Gaelic Games summer camp in Ireland. The President of Campa Chormaic Michéal Ó Máirtín announced at the launch that in 2011 Campa Chormaic would provide summer camps in four counties in Ulster.

“I am delighted to announce that Campa Chormaic in 2011 will operate in four counties in Ulster and due to the demand in Belfast we are establishing a second camp in the county to cater for those children who do not attend a Gaelscoil”

Campa Chormaic has witnessed the growth of the camps go from the small numbers of seventy pupils who attended the camp in its inaugural year to a camp which now caters for over 600 pupils over a six week period. This year’s Campa Chormaic kicks off in Ballinascreen, County Derry in the grounds of St. Colm’s High School on the 4^th July. It then moves to the kingdom of Mourne in St. Malachy’s College, Castlewellan on the 11^th July. Campa Chormaic will then return to the Brantry Bard and Cormac’s home for a two week period beginning on the 18^th July.

2010 saw Campa Chormaic broaden out into Belfast to cater for the huge demand in the city from pupils who attend the large amount of Gaelscoileanna there. Following on from the success of the camp in Belfast, the committee of Campa Chormaic county Antrim have planned in 2011 to cater for children who attend Gaelscoileanna by providing a week for those who attend Irish Medium schools, to be held in the grounds of Bunscoil Phobail Feirste beginning on August 1^st. A second week is planned in Belfast to take place in St. Mary’s Grammar School beginning on the 8^th of August.

Chairperson of Campa Chormaic , Conall Ó Máirtín spoke at the launch of the immense pride felt by those who have worked in Campa Chormaic since 2005.

“It gives those involved in Campa Chormaic an enormous sense of pride to witness what began as a small idea out on the football field at the Bard by three men to now become the largest provider of Irish Language and Gaelic Games education in the country. It is a tremendous living memorial to Cormac who fully believed in the ideals of the founding fathers of the GAA, that of promoting the Irish Language, culture and Sport. Campa Chormaic is now spreading out through the province and we look forward to the day when Campa Chormaic is available in every county in Ulster”.

Micheál Ó Máirtín who has worked for many years as Director of Coláiste Mhuire Loch an Iúir added to this sentiment and reiterated that in today’s economic climate cultural groups like the GAA would have to support those who cannot afford to attend three weeks in a Donegal Gaeltacht college.

“Campa Chormaic plays a vital part in the development of the Irish Language in the North of Ireland. Not only does it provide education in Irish but it does so in a fun way that is linked to our native games. Campa Chormaic provides an opportunity for those who may be unable to go to a Gaeltacht college due to financial reasons to get a taste of the Gaeltacht without having to leave their own county. With many families now feeling the pinch Campa Chormaic not only represents real value for money but it is a unique experience that the pupils will treasure.”

As part of Campa Chormaic each child who attends receives a specially designed Campa Chormaic football jersey and Campa Chormaic have this year teamed up with Azzurri sports to produce the 2011 version of their jersey, which is only available to those attending the camp.

To get more details about Campa Chormaic or to book a place visit www.campachormaic.com or find Campa Chormaic on facebook.

Campa Chormaic 2011 Information

Campa Chormaic Co. Derry

Dates:

Week 1 – 4 July – 8 July
Age group – 10 – 16 years old

Location:

Morning Classes – St. Colm’s High School, 2 Magherafelt Road, Ballinascreen, Co. Derry

Afternoon training – St. Colm’s High School, 2 Magherafelt Road, Ballinascreen, Co. Derry

Campa Chormaic Co. Down

Dates:

Week 1 – 11 July – 15 July
Age group – 12 – 16 years old

Location:

Morning Classes – St. Malachy’s College, Castlewellan, Co Down

Afternoon training – St. Malachy’s College, Castlewellan, Co Down

Campa Chormaic Co. Tyrone

Dates:

Week 1 – 18 July – 22 July
Age group – 10 – 12 years old

Week 2 – 25 July – 29 July
Age group – 12 -16 years old

Location:

Morning Classes – The Brantry BARD, Brantry, Eglish, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone

Afternoon training – Eglish GFC

Campa Chormaic Co. Antrim

Dates:

Week 1 – 1 August – 5 August
Age group – 10 – 16 years old

Location:
Morning classes – Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh
Afternoon training – Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh

Week 2 – 8 August – 12 August
Age group – 10 – 16 years old

Location:
Morning classes – Scoil Mhuire Béal Feirste
Afternoon training – Scoil Mhuire Béal Feirste

Campa Chormaic have kept the fee for each camp at £40 which includes this years exclusive Campa Chormaic jersey

All application forms available on www.campachormaic.com or visit us on facebook