GAA Cúl Camps to go ahead as plans are unveiled

The GAA has announced new plans for the staging of the 2020 Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps.

The camps themselves will start on July 20 with an exciting new GAA Cúl Camp TV programme airing on TG4 getting kids warmed up from June 29.

This first phase of camp activity will be broadcast Monday to Friday, from 10.25 to 11am, and repeated at 5.15pm from June 29 to July 17. It will also be available on the TG4 player. The GAA Cúl Camps series will be produced by Waterford-based Nemeton TV, and presented by Gráinne Bleasdale.

The series will include skills, drills, games, nutrition, and wellness segments that are likely to appeal to all the family from multiple All-Ireland winning Cork camogie and football star Rena Buckley, Dublin hurler Liam Rushe and former Donegal football star Kevin Cassidy.

Recent developments with the Government and GAA roadmaps, and extensive planning relating to health and safety, mean details for this year’s camps can now be confirmed. In line with the Safe Return to Gaelic Games Document, children will be welcomed back to club venues around the country from Monday, July 20.

A list of all venues will be confirmed on the cúl camp website gaa.ie/kelloggsculcamps on Monday, June 22 when bookings reopen.

The following camp times may be altered in selected venues due to the current circumstances: 9.30am to 1.30pm, 10am to 2pm, 2.30pm to 6.30pm.

These options will be clearly outlined on the camps website and details on specific camps safety protocols will be shared with all those registering for camps.

The Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps kit always proves popular with primary school children all around the country and beyond. Given current circumstances, camps schedules may be reduced in certain counties which has prompted the GAA to make the kit available for sale for children who may not get the option to participate in the 2020 camp programme. The kit will be available for sale online at gaa.ie/kelloggsculcamps.

For the over 4,000 people who had pre-registered for 2020 camps, they have been contacted with three options: (1) a full refund; (2) a delivery of kit and a refund of the remaining amount; or (3) priority for a place on one of the rescheduled camps.

To allow for all health and safety measures, capacity at certain camp locations and venues may be reduced this year and in some instances demand for places will outstrip availability. Early booking is strongly advised.

Since 2006, 1,389,539 children have participated in the cúl camps programme including over 156,000 children and nearly 6,000 coaches in 2019.

GAA President John Horan has welcomed confirmation of details for the 2020 camps. He said: “I am delighted that we are in a position to confirm plans around arrangements for our 2020 Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps and acknowledge all of the work that has taken place in recent weeks in an effort to get us to this point."

Stating that 2020 has been "a very challenging year for everyone", Mr Horan said: “We were determined to run the camps this year and while they have to be organised differently, I hope the essence of what they represent will still shine through. I’d also like to acknowledge the support of long-term partners Kellogg's for their ongoing support and also TG4, who will play a central role in the first phase.”

Ruth Hughes of Kellogg's and TG4's Head of Sport, Ronán Ó Coisdealbha, both expressed delight with their involvement in this year's Cúl Camps.