GAA/GPA Launch New Elverys Youth Camps

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and Gaelic Players Association (GPA) are delighted to announce the launch of the Elverys GAA/GPA Youth camps, offering the chance for kids between 13 to 15 years of age to learn the skills of Gaelic football and hurling from their GAA heroes, in high quality venues across the country over a two week period, from June 24-28 June and July 1-5.

The announcement is the latest joint venture between the GAA and the players' body and will see these youths get an insight into the life of an inter-county player in an action packed week that will include conditioned games, skills development, mental preparation, sports nutrition and athletic development.

All participants will receive a limited edition Elverys Sports pack while there will also be an exciting skills competition with the chance to win a Lenovo laptop in each camp. The camps will be co-ordinated by leading GAA players such as Bernard Brogan (Dublin football), Michael Murphy (Donegal football), Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny hurling), Brendan Maher (Tipperary Hurling) and Darran O'Sullivan (Kerry football).

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas , Liam Ó'Néill said: " Elverys have been major sponsor in the GAA for many years and as the leading GAA retailer in Ireland we are delighted to be working with them on these new and exciting Youth Camps.

"The huge growth in numbers attending the GAA Cúl Camps has highlighted the opportunity for the Association to build on this success and encourage participation amongst a slightly older ager group of children. We are very proud of the calibre of GAA players we have involved and believe that it is an endorsement of the camp model we have developed in conjunction with the GPA."

Speaking at the launch, Elverys General CEO, Patrick Rowland said: "The Elverys brand is synonymous with sport in Ireland and we have been supporting gaelic games and the GAA since its foundation. We are very excited about this new initiative that will give these kids unique access to their GAA heroes, while at the same time learning the skills of GAA. We have been working hard with the GAA/GPA in recent months to create a camp that will be innovative, engaging and memorable for all the participants.

Gaelic Players Association CEO Dessie Farrell was also in attendance and added: "This is wonderful opportunity for kids to spend a week with their GAA heroes learning the skills of GAA. Two members of the GPA, James and Bernard Brogan from Legacy Consultants have been instrumental in getting this project off the ground and I am really looking forward to this exciting new initiative with an established GAA supporter such as Elverys.

"It's a very important age for kids to stay involved in sport and we feel very strongly about putting in place this type of initiative that gives kids the chance to stay involved in the GAA, in their communities during the summer."

Martin Skelly, Leinster chairman and GAA Vice-President was also in attendance to unveil inter-county players John O'Loughlin (Laois), Dessie Dolan (Westmeath), Benny Coulter (Down), Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny), Noel Connors (Waterford) as Camp Leaders who will be coordinating and coaching in their respective Elverys GAA/GPA Youth Camps across the country.