Ratoath to stage hurling camp as GAA spreads to Europe

Ratoath GAA club will host an international hurling training camp for teams from Denmark, Norway, France and England.

Paul Reddy, a cousin of former All Star Derek Lyng who is leading the 28-strong party from Denmark, accidentally sparked a new international hurling dimension when an interview he gave 18 months ago outlined how he had introduced the game to his school in Denmark.

A Norwegian PE teacher living in the south of France sought him out with a proposal to gain EU funding for a camp. The duo drew up a 50-page plan for an educational funding body called Comenius and four schools were given €24,000 for the five-day trip.

“Hurling generates wild interest wherever it is played. Before leaving for Ireland it was impossible to speak to the kids about anything else but hurling,” said Reddy.

In the 2012/’13 school year, the Denmark group will travel Norway, England and France: “The children love it, and their parents love having them involved,” he continued.