The Camogie Association is setting its sights high, with plans to draw a crowd of 50,000 to its All-Ireland finals by 2026. This ambitious target forms a key part of the association's 'Strategic Plan 2024-2027 – Our Game, Our Passion', which seeks to boost overall attendance at fixtures by 20% over the coming years.
Guided by insights from the comprehensive “Research Baseline for Camogie” study, conducted by the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, the plan outlines a clear path for the sport's growth. Alongside the attendance goal, another primary objective is to increase membership by 10% within the next three years.
Today, the Camogie Association launches its Strategic Plan 2024-2027 – Our Game, Our Passion, informed by detailed research into the Game. 🗞️
Read the full press release here - https://t.co/j3ZusC2HUH#OurGameOurPassion— The Camogie Association (@OfficialCamogie) March 28, 2024
From 2024 to 2026, The Camogie Association's key target areas include:
- Raising attendances at camogie fixtures by 20% by 2026, culminating in an All-Ireland final attendance of 50,000 by 2026
- Growing membership & Club numbers by 10% over the next three years
- Building capacity for coach, referees and volunteers through education and development programmes.
The baseline research study provides detailed insights into the current status of camogie and identifies priorities, challenges and opportunities for Camogie.
With an eye on expanding the reach of camogie, the association aims to more than double the current All-Ireland final attendance within a relatively short timeframe. Last August, a record-breaking crowd of 30,191 witnessed the senior final clash between Cork and Waterford, surpassing the previous record of 24,730 that was set in 2019 when Galway beat Kilkenny.
The study's findings shed light on the current landscape of camogie, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Encouragingly, feedback from participants indicates high levels of satisfaction with club friendliness, organization, and social media engagement. Additionally, there is consensus among respondents about the potential benefits of integrating fixtures and leveraging the sport's unique cultural significance.
Outgoing Camogie Association president Hilda Breslin emphasized the importance of member input in shaping the future of the sport: “While we work to define what the future of Gaelic Games looks like, it is imperative that we focus on the development of our sport to secure Camogie’s future, cement our place as a leading female field sport and celebrate Camogie’s unique place in Irish culture, heritage and history.”
