Community
Old Christians GAA Club brings inclusive sport to the heart of the community
Old Christians GAA Club has brought inclusive sport to the heart of Limerick’s south inner city, hosting the GAA’s Inclusive Cúl Camp. Photo: Nigel Dugdale
Old Christians GAA Inclusive Cúl Camp brings inclusive sport to the heart of Limerick’s south inner city
By Éanna Mackey
For the second consecutive year, Old Christians GAA Club has brought inclusive sport to the heart of Limerick’s south inner city, hosting the GAA’s Inclusive Cúl Camp at Power Park in Rathbane this week.
Eighteen children, supported by a team of 12 dedicated coaches, took part in Gaelic games across the camp’s sessions, with many of them picking up a football or hurley for the very first time.
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The initiative was funded by the HSE, with assistance from the Limerick County Board, and was specifically aimed at boosting inclusivity — ensuring that every child, regardless of background or ability, could experience the pride and camaraderie that comes with being part of the GAA.
Old Christians secretary Gary Culbert said it meant a great deal for the club to be selected once again.
“It was brilliant over the last couple of days to see everyone getting involved and enjoying the sport that we all love. The club is only delighted to be able to host it and be a part of this very special event for the second year running,” he said.
The camp is the latest in a series of community-focused efforts by Old Christians to re-establish themselves as a cornerstone of local life. In recent months, the club has made a concerted push to reconnect with residents and create more opportunities for young people in the area to engage with sport.
Just last week, they ran a free summer camp for local children — again introducing many to Gaelic games for the first time — a gesture that was warmly received.
“We class ourselves as a massive part of our community, and we want everyone to know that we are here for them. There is nothing in this area as a communal hub; we’re all that’s really around here, and we want every youngster in the area to know that we are here and know that they are welcome to use our facilities and get involved.
“It was marvellous to see the 18 children down here today and over 70 kids last week. To make it even better, we managed to put it on free of charge. A few months earlier we also had over 380 children from the local DEIS schools down for a blitz. We’re hoping that we can get our club up and running in our community again.”
With eyes firmly on the future, Old Christians are determined to build on this momentum, encouraging more people to get involved in any way they can.
“We’re always open to new members, players, helpers and coaches. We are here to serve our community, and we’d only love to see more people up at the field involved with us, because that’s what we are there for.”
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