During the month of September, Tullamore Library will host an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia commemorating the 50 year anniversary of Tullamore Camogie Club!
Tullamore Camogie Club is the largest and longest standing club in Offaly. Whilst Camogie was played in Tullamore on an intermittent basis in the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1960’s it was not until 1973 when Mary Hanley (nee O’Brien), who on being appointed to a teaching post at Tullamore College, started a camogie team in the school and branched out to a club in the town that a club was finally sustained. During its formative years, Tullamore being the only club in the county, played their club competitions with Laois and took the Laois County Senior title in 1974 and 1975.
Following the formation of a County Board in Offaly in 1979 took the Junior (most senior competition at that time) in 1980 and 1981. The club has grown from a single adult team with approximately 25 members to a current membership of over 200 catering for players from 4 years of age upwards and competing at all underage levels together with two teams at adult level. In addition, the club have a social camogie group for parents/former members. The club has been well represented at intercounty, provincial and international levels over the years with club members taking All Ireland county medals at under 16, 18 and Junior & Intermediate level. Our club has also had a number of players being recipients of individual awards at county and National level.
Camogie is played in many of the local Primary Schools who compete in the Primary Schools competitions and have gained success over the years. Likewise, the local Post Primary schools participate in competitions at county and provincial level again success at provincial and All Ireland level.
Our club has been fortunate with a high calibre of administrators and coaches who have been recognised with awards for their endeavours and the club itself has also been the recipient of a community award from Offaly County Council.
In this our 50th Year as a club we have a significant schedule of activities which reaches into the community – Camogie on Greens in Cloncollig and Norbury Housing Estates, Inclusion Day, Primary and Post Primary School Blitzes, Art Competition, Tree planting – along with camogie and social activities for all our players, members and their families.
We wish to thank the staff of Tullamore Library for the opportunity to share our history with Library visitors during the month of September.