Sinéad McNulty: Camogie is in a good place - but let’s make it better

2019 was a seminal year for camogie on many fronts, as it was for women’s sport in general – for all the right reasons.

We saw thrilling matches, a record crowd attend our All-Ireland finals, major increases in media coverage, growth in memberships and new clubs being founded around the country and beyond. The perspective on the role and impact of women in society over the past decade has evolved; highlighted by movements such as #MeToo, and the ‘30% Club’ which have acted as lightning rods for women to stand up, and use their voice more actively than ever before, eliminating barriers – both real and perceived.

The role of women in all aspects of sport - participation, high performance, officials and leadership is making similar strides. We’ve seen a huge change in the Irish sporting landscape in the last decade much of which has been reflected in our own standing and progression as a sport.

Participation numbers are at an all-time high, and our staff team has grown in numbers, experience and capacity to match the needs of our membership. Sponsors have flocked towards our game, and media coverage is constantly reaching to new areas and more eyes on our game.

With such growth the very dynamic of our heritage sport and Association has also changed, presenting many positive challenges for us to tackle and overcome. The increasingly professional approach towards match preparation, in particular at the elite level of the game has brought with it a greater need to look at how our game is played. Indeed, the level of coverage and serious, critical analysis of our game has helped to drive the Association forward in areas such as our recent trialling of playing rules.

Players themselves are becoming more empowered to play a wider part in the Association, one that is not limited to the playing field.

Player engagement is now a key focus of the Association to ensure that we all move forward together and at the same pace.

Support structures for players, referees, volunteers and our wider membership are critical to creating an environment for camogie to continue to flourish. As a volunteer-based organisation much of our work is dedicated to supporting our members and developing their capacity to grow and sustain our game on all fronts and in all parts of the country and beyond.

There are still some challenges facing us as an Association – growing the numbers of female referees and coaches, and tackling player drop-out at key transition stages remain major issues.

National and international campaigns and frameworks such as Sport Ireland’s Women in Sport Policy, help us to look at new and innovative ways of tackling these issues giving rise to new initiatives such as our recently launched M.N.A. Programme which will specifically target increasing numbers, upskilling and mentoring the female coaches involved in our game.

Next month we will launch a new National Development Plan setting out our vision for the future, with clear and ambitious targets to build on the positive developments in camogie over the past decade and more. Engagement and building capacity is key to the success of this plan.

‘A rising tide lifts all boats’ and the collective progress and achievements of women’s sports both in Ireland and internationally is positive for everyone involved. Our peers are on a similar positive and progressive path – we are pioneers for Irish women’s sport – with each new achievement by an individual sport, team or athlete bringing immense pride – and raising the bar for all of us.

Record attendances in recent years by our colleagues in the LGFA and across the water with women’s soccer – seeing 50,00 plus in a stadium, have shown what is possible for major women’s sports events. Our athletes merit these attendances, and more.

The international attention which the FIFA Women’s World Cup enjoyed last summer - the way in which it captured the public’s imagination, particularly the role played by Irish official Michelle O’Neill – illustrated the appetite for quality coverage of women’s sporting events and showed that the public both male and female recognise quality sport as quality sport – once they have the opportunity to do so.

Such achievements build the case for further investment and growth. They demonstrate the merits of the athletes and sports and dissipate the voice of the naysayer.

On a practical level sporting organisation’s across Ireland and the world can be more ambitious in their plans to grow women’s sport - this a very exciting time. Ultimately we are working to provide opportunities for girls and women to play and enjoy sport to the same extent as their male counterparts.

We’re on the right road towards achieving this, momentum is building and moving faster than ever – let’s all play our part and get involved!

- The author is Ard Stiúrthóir of the Camogie Association.

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