Liam Mellows GAA Hurling & Camogie Club, based in the heart of the city of Galway, knows only too well the effort that goes to halting the drop in female participation in sport. The camogie side of the club was founded in 2005, and since then the club has worked hard to grow its membership each year, and currently fields two adult camogie teams, one of which advanced to Intermediate level in 2024. The club is acutely aware of the importance of retaining girls in sport into their teenage years. Research from Sport Ireland shows that girls are four times more likely to drop out of sports as they enter their teenage years, and the club has experienced this drop-off in participation, particularly during the recent COVID years. For 2024, the club set a goal to reverse this significant decline in female teenage participation in sports within the local community by promoting continued engagement in sports among young girls through camogie. Additionally, as Sport Ireland notes, girls who remain active during their teenage years and cultivate a passion for sports are significantly more likely to maintain a lifelong commitment to physical activity and exercise in adulthood.
In June 2023, Liam Mellows (under 12-14 players) hosted camogie teams from New York, Galway, and Mayo in a one-day blitz at Ballyloughane, Galway. The club has since been invited to participate in a similar blitz in New York at the end of this weekend. Thirty young club players from the U13 and U15 teams will participate in the 2024 Coast to Coast Camogie Blitz, which takes place on Oct. 26 (in Rockland County) and 27 (in Gaelic Grounds), marking the first time an underage team from Ireland has participated in a camogie blitz in New York.
Laoise Grealish, U15 club player, describes what camogie and the trip mean to her and her team: "We were all so excited when we found out that we were going to New York! It’s such an amazing honor to be the one of the first underage club teams from Ireland and even better to be going with girls I’ve been playing with, some since I started camogie with Liam Mellows at 4 years of age.
“Getting to play in Gaelic Park is an unbelievable opportunity and we’re so grateful to all the people who have helped to make this trip possible,” Laoise added. “It will be so special representing Liam Mellows Hurling and Camogie club, we intend on doing the club proud, inspiring more trips abroad in the future! As a group we will cherish this experience making friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”
Participating in this international blitz and providing the necessary resources requires a significant financial commitment. Along with extensive fundraising efforts undertaken enthusiastically by the club players over the past 12 months to cover player travel expenses, the club is also working with local businesses to support this goal of keeping young girls involved in sport. Fundraising to cover players expenses for the trip continues, and donations to this fundraiser are being accepted until Nov. 29 via www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/LiamMellowsNYBlitz.
Madeline McLoughlin of Liam Mellows Galway City Hurling & Camogie Club said, "We are delighted to unite with businesses in support of our drive to keep young girls in sport. We wish to thank Coffey and Arrabawn (Aurivo) for their generous sponsorship of jerseys for the blitz, and all the local businesses including Monaghans Centra and Gotham Drywall New York who have actively engaged with the club to help us reach our target fundraising goal. This cross-community initiative aligns with our club’s commitment and efforts to strongly encourage teenage girls to remain in sports. We are very proud to be one of the first underage camogie clubs from Ireland along with Cappataggle Camogie club to participate in a blitz in New York and look forward to playing in Gaelic Park."
