Campa Chormaic 2007

Go mbeannaí Dia daoibh a chairde Gael, the months have passed quickly since last year. It’s hard to believe that it’s now the end of spring and that the fourth Campa Chormaic is nearly upon us, Campa Chormaic 2008.

As you probably all know, especially those who have spent a few summers with us, Campa Chormaic was set up as a tribute to Cormac Mac an Ailín, the former captain of Tyrone, an all-Ireland winner, teacher, Gael. The camp was established as a tribute to him to inspire the young people of east Tyrone and the surrounding areas to adopt and cherish the values which Cormac espoused, namely the promotion of the Irish language and of Gaelic games.

There’s a proverb in Irish, Lá níos sine, lá níos eolaí, a day older, a day wiser. In the case of Campa Chormaic, this seanfhocal should definitely read, ‘a year older, a year wiser – and stronger.’

We had an extremely successful year in 2007. Everyone connected with the camp in any way, students, leaders, trainers and teachers all enjoyed the two weeks in the Brantry and in Eglish immensely. Campa Chormaic is going from strength to strength, without a doubt. I can confidently say that we provided students last year with an extremely beneficial and worthwhile experience as well as the opportunity to enhance their knowledge, skills, their appreciation and their respect for the Irish language and for Gaelic games. There’s no doubt that Cormac would be proud of the achievements of the students of Campa Chormaic 2007.

We catered last year for around 100 students on each week of the camp, with Irish lessons in the morning and sporting activities in the afternoon in Eglish. The atmosphere around the Brantry Bard was inspiring; it was clearly evident that the students were trying their best to use the Irish that they were learning in class. The lessons were interesting, engaging and enjoyable and the beautiful setting of the Brantry no doubt added to the atmosphere.

The trainers were extremely happy with the great effort made by all students on the playing field for the afternoon activities. Mattie McGleenan, our training supervisor, said that it lifted his heart to see young people playing their native games and to hear them trying their best to practise their native language.

I would like to personally express my gratitude to every one who assisted in the running of Campa Chormaic last year. Firstly, I’d like to thank those who help run the Brantry Bard, those who helped us keep the place nice and tidy and to create a friendly learning environment within the Bard. We’re extremely grateful to CLG Naomh Pádraig in Eglish who let us use their playing field for the afternoon activities.

The trainers were extremely happy with the great effort made by all students on the playing field for the afternoon activities. Mattie McGleenan, our training supervisor, said that it lifted his heart to see young people playing their native games and to hear them trying their best to practise their native language.

I would like to personally express my gratitude to every one who assisted in the running of Campa Chormaic last year. Firstly, I’d like to thank those who help run the Brantry Bard, those who helped us keep the place nice and tidy and to create a friendly learning environment within the Bard. We’re extremely grateful to CLG Naomh Pádraig in Eglish who let us use their playing field for the afternoon activities.

As has been the case every year since the inception of Campa Chormaic, the special guests greatly enhance the experience of the students. These are people who generously give up their own time to share their skills and experience with the students. We were extremely lucky last year to have the likes of Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton, Ciarán Gourley and Diarmuid Marsden at Eglish helping the students. People like these are excellent role models and they greatly helped the students to improve not only their skills, but also to reassess their own attitudes towards Gaelic games.

We decided last year that we would have one big prize giving ceremony for all students at the end of the two weeks. The committee of Campa Chormaic felt that this would bring the students from the two weeks together and add to their sense of community at Campa Chormaic. Everyone came together on the last night to celebrate their achievements both on the playing field, and in the classroom. This event served to focus the students’ attention on the aims and objectives of the course – the promotion and development of the Irish language and of Gaelic games in this area. Mícheál Ó Máirtín, the chairperson of Campa Chormaic reminded us that Cormac himself was the perfect example of these two aims.

The achievements of every student that attended Campa Chormaic were recognised at this prize giving event. Each child was presented with a special Campa Chormaic medal, a certificate and a sports strip. As well as that there were additional prizes for the people in each class who made the most effort in each class during the course. As I have already mentioned, everybody involved in Campa Chormaic immensely enjoyed Campa Chormaic 2007, as they did the two years before that. I have no doubt that this level of enjoyment and engagement with the language and culture will be equalled, if not surpassed in 2008.I’m greatly looking forward to Campa Chormaic 2008, and hopefully to seeing you all again in the Brantry this summer.

Beirigí Bua.
Conall Ó Máirtín
Stiúrthóir.