How Cúl camps became an Irish phenomenon

Analysis: GAA Cúl Camps have been the staple of Irish summers for thousands of children since the 1980s

It's that time of year when thousands of children flock to GAA grounds around the country and immerse themselves in Gaelic games for an entire week. From sporadically organised camps run by pioneering GAA clubs to anticipated annual events, Cúl Camps have become a national phenomenon.

The first GAA summer camps were held in the 1980s. A summer camp in Portarlington, Co. Laois in 1986 was advertised in the Leinster Times newspaper 'for 6 to 16year olds and a tiny tots camp for children under 6 years of age’. Run by qualified P.E. teachers, the highlight of the camp the following year was Kerry footballer Jack O'Shea ‘spending all day on Wednesday’ there. Steadily, more clubs embraced the idea and with each summer, more GAA camps sprouted around the country.

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From GAA, former Donegal star Michael Murphy pays a visit to the Cúl Camp in his local GAA club in Glenswilly, Co Donegal

GAA summer camps are reflective of their time and have progressed along with the association itself, its rules and its coaching. While now there is a dedicated website with rules and guidelines for participants, for early GAA camps, a note in a newspaper advised that children don’t even require a helmet. In advance of a 1992 summer camp, participants were reminded that ‘helmets are not obligatory’ because ‘some of the older players find it impossible to play wearing a helmet’.

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