Five years have passed now since Cormac Mc Anallen passed away. Many described Cormac as a Giant of a man and Campa Chormaic was organised in memory of him that his memory would be kept alive and the ideals that he held so tightly when he was with us would be promoted – Love for his Country, love for his Language and Love for Irish heritage and Gaelic Games.

We are now heading into the fifth year of Campa Chormaic. We hope that 2009 can be as special as the four years that have gone before. Campa Chormaic has grown significantly since it was started and there is nothing else like it in the country. Campa Chormaic is a summer camp that is aimed at young people between 9 and fourteen years old. It consists of Irish Language classes in the morning and Gaelic Games training session on the afternoon – the likes of it cannot be found anywhere else in Ireland.

“We started in 2005” said Conall Ó Máirtín, chairperson of the camp “and to tell the truth, we did not know what was in store for us or what way things would develop. The only thing that we were sure of was that we wanted to develop a permanent memorial in honour to Cormac. Cormac believed strongly in the aims of the GAA that the founding fathers of the GAA placed such emphasis on, the importance of Irish language and the importance of our native games – the aim of our Camp is to promote these ideals amongst young people in an enjoyable format.”

The committee of Campa Chormaic is delighted to announce that a second Campa Chormaic will take place this year in Castlewellan, County Down. Campa Chormaic in County Tyrone has been so successful that other counties saw the good work that was being carried out and they now want to develop the Campa Chormaic format in their own counties.

“I think that it is very appropriate this year, when the GAA is celebrating 125 years since the association was founded, that a second Campa Chormaic is coming to life in County Down, as the basic aims of Campa Chormaic to promote the Language and Irish heritage mirror the ideals of those who founded the GAA.”

The committee of Campa Chormaic is extremely grateful to the large support received from various groups but specifically JB Barretts Concrete from Eglish who have been happy to support Campa Chormaic from the beginning and who are working hard to help Campa Chormaic for several years now. The committee would also like to thank the Tyrone County Board and the Ulster Council who have been committed to supporting Campa Chormaic its onset.

This year were are pleased to announce that FPM Accountants of Newry County Down will be sponsoring Campa Chormaic county Down in conjunction with the Down County board and the Ulster Council.

We on the committee of Campa Chormaic are looking forward to another excellent summer, in County Down and in County Tyrone – bígí linn!!