TV star Moone Boy helps launch Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps 2016

With over 100,000 children taking part last year, Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps is Ireland biggest summer camp and the 2016 programme launched this week by David Rawle, star of the TV hit series Moone Boy. David joined an all-star GAA panelofAidan O’Shea, Ashling Thompson, TJ Reid and Aimee Mackin for an impromptu training session at Croke Park.

Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps are for children aged 6-13 and involve an action-packed week that focuses on acquiring new skills, improving wellbeing, forging new friendships and ultimately, having fun whilst participating in Gaelic games.  The camps, which started nine years ago, run from July through to August and this is Kellogg’s fifth year of sponsorship.

Moone Boy’s David Rawle is a Cúl Camps enthusiast, having attended his local Co. Leitrim camp in 2008 and according to David, whilst his skills were somewhat questionable his commitment and effort were legendary.

The camps offer training in all four disciplines, hurling, camogie, football and ladies’ football as well as rounders and in some camps, handball.  Not only do they take place in Ireland but such is the popularity of the camps they  are now also organised in the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, the US, Canada and across Europe.

 

Surprise training sessions

Recognised as Ireland’s best-value summer camp at €55 per child, all young participants will receive a complimentary GAA zipped training top, jersey and backpack.

In addition, one camp in each province will receive a surprise visit from one of the four Kellogg’s Cúl Camps’ GAA ambassadors; Ashling Thompson, (Cork, camogie), Aidan O’Shea, (Mayo, football), TJ Reid (Kilkenny, hurling) or Aimee Mackin (Armagh, ladies Football).

Each of the Cúl  Camp’s ambassadors will join in with the training and coach the children the fundamental skills of the GAA games, making sure they are put through their paces in a fun and engaging way that may one day have them playing at an All-Ireland Championship at Croke Park.

 

Powering Play through nutrition

The benefits of Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps extend beyond active play and research amongst children attending last year’s camps showed that 100% responded that they now know that eating healthy food gives them energy and helps them to grow.  All children surveyed also confirmed that they now understood the importance of drinking water and keeping hydrated when playing sport.

A key component of Cúl  Camps is a nutrition-based programme, Kellogg’s Powering Play, which was launched last year and helps children understand the importance of healthy eating and in particular, the importance of nutrition in fuelling physical activity.

All participating children will receive packs with nutritional information to help  promote greater awareness for the food choices they should be making to help power their play, both on and off the pitch.

Speaking at the launch of the 2016 Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps, GAA President, Aogán Ó Fearghail said: “The Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps are a huge part of community life in Ireland, teaching children fundamental skills not only in GAA but with a strong focus on improving physical wellbeing and empowering them with information on nutrition.  Ultimately, the camps are about encouraging friendships and fun, which is what being a child is all about.  With more than 100,000 children attending the camps in 2015, its popularity is increasing year on year, and this year it’s going to be even better with an action packed schedule planned for all the youngsters.”

Kellogg’s Managing Director for Ireland Jim McNeill said: “With over 500,000 members, GAA is incredibly influential in Ireland and has a particular relevance to local communities, appealing to both adults and children. Last year, Kellogg’s Cúl Camps attracted more than 100,000 participants and we are incredibly proud of our association with this programme and the way in which it has grown, year-on-year.  Our ambition and hope are that even more children will join us this year and experience the fun and benefits of Cúl Camps. The programme for this year’s Cúl Camps really emphasises the link between making healthy food choices to benefit physical performance both on and off the pitch.”

This year, Kellogg’s is giving families the opportunity to win €5,000 worth of training gear for their local club, plus a €500 family voucher by purchasing special packs of Kellogg’s cereal and snacks in-store. For more information parents can log on to www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie/