DOWN has a new camogie club, based in the Teconnaught/Drumaness area.
There has previously been a strong tradition of camogie in both areas, and new St Kevin’s chairperson Maria Ryan - a native of Silvermines in Tipperary - is hoping to draw on that tradition.
She said: “Initially we were hoping to get a team in Teconnaught itself but, following discussion with Cathy Mason from Drumaness, we have decided to combine forces and we have got huge encouragement and support from both parishes for the new team.”
Vice-chairperson Mason had seen the fruits of the hard work done by Annie Gelston in keeping a club running in Drumaness from the 1970s.
“Annie is looking down on us with pride, I would say. She worked very hard to keep the Drumaness club up and running for 30 or 40 years up until maybe the end of the 1990s. And I am proud to play my part in getting things going again.”
While plans were already afoot to make a start in 2021, the success of the Down team in winning the All-Ireland Intermediate title before Christmas will have increased awareness of camogie and it was no surprise that there was a huge turnout at the initial training sessions.
And when Covid regulations allow, Maria hopes see some of the current Down crop will be able to attend a training session at the new club.
“The county players are the role models and we want our girls to see them and want to be them.”
