Nenagh Camogie to honour nurses on new jerseys
By Shane Brophy
Nenagh Eire Og Camogie Club will celebrate the international Year of the Nurse & Midwife by wearing a specially designed jersey to thank Ireland’s frontline healthcare staff.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought the importance of nurse’s front and centre, the World Health Organisation designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in honour of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.
It was from that anniversary that Nenagh Eire Og Camogie club were contacted by local nurse Sandra Farrell, current Director of Ormond Healthcare, who wanted to donate a set of jerseys to the senior team for the upcoming season.
To tie in this offer, Nenagh Éire Óg Camogie club in return wanted to express their thanks to all of the healthcare staff and nurses who have been hugely dedicated and have made many sacrifices since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. To do this the club have added the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife logo to the jersey.
Speaking at the launch of the new jersey at Nenagh Castle, Sandra Farrell commented on the work of the frontline workers during the current pandemic.
“Our healthcare workers have placed themselves at risk to keep us safe and we're so grateful to all of them for rising to the challenge in these unprecedented times,” she said.
“I am delighted to support Nenagh Éire Óg Camogie Club this year and I think it is a wonderful initiative that they have placed the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife logo on their jerseys as a way of showing their appreciation to the frontline staff.”
The jerseys are also the first set of officially licenced camogie jerseys, designed and manufactured in Nenagh by Gaelic Armour.
Gaelic Armour, founded in 2016 by local businessman Billy Hayes, became Tipperary’s first officially licenced supplier to the GAA and only the fourth brand to receive the highly contested inter-county licence. They recently opened a new state of the art facility in Stereame Business Park where they design and manufacture innovative on field playing kit to athletes, sports teams, and individuals.
Gaelic Armour, founded in 2016 by local businessman Billy Hayes, became Tipperary’s first officially licenced supplier to the GAA and only the fourth brand to receive the highly contested inter-county licence. They recently opened a new state of the art facility in Stereame Business Park where they design and manufacture innovative on field playing kit to athletes, sports teams, and individuals.
“Having recently relocated our entire operation to new premises in Stereame Business Park it is very satisfying to be designing and manufacturing for a local team based only a stone’s throw from the plant,” said Billy Hayes.
“It’s our aim to offer a real alternative in terms of design and technical innovation to GAA and Camogie clubs. Our goal is to grow our business and supply jerseys all over the country in the coming months and years ahead.”
Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District, Councillor Seamus Morris, who is a former PRO of Nenagh Éire Óg Camogie Club approached the current committee about also placing the Nenagh 800 logo on the jerseys for the coming season, marking the anniversary of the town.
Due to Covid-19 many of the celebrations have been postponed but not before the town got the opportunity to launch a new website, brand, and song. The Nenagh 800 logo will be added to the jersey and the club is delighted to support this initiative and create awareness of this historic year.
“It’s an historic day in more ways than one,” Councillor Morris said.
“With Nenagh 800 taking place this year, I am delighted that the club has agreed to place the Nenagh 800 logo on the jersey.
“Sandra Farrell, former Mayor of Nenagh Town Council, and a Camogie player with Nenagh at underage level has come onboard to donate a set of jerseys through her healthcare company Ormond Healthcare, a business that is providing a valuable service and supporting the local economy.
“We are in a fairly unique situation as the jerseys are being manufactured and supplied locally in Nenagh by Gaelic Armour who will be supporting the local economy employing a mix of staff from graphic designers to production operators at their facility in Nenagh for years to come.”
Commenting on the initiative, Nenagh Municipal District Administrator Rosemary Joyce wished Nenagh Éire Óg every success in the coming season and was appreciative of the fact that the club added the Nenagh 800 logo.
“Nenagh 800 is a very special year for the town and we hope to proceed over the coming months and into 2021 with any events that had to be curtailed or cancelled as a result of the ongoing pandemic,” she said.
“It’s very fitting to be at Nenagh Castle today to launch the jerseys as the castle is central and iconic to the Nenagh 800 celebrations and synonymous with Nenagh.”
Accepting the new jerseys, Camogie Club chairman Kieran Malone thanked Sandra Farrell for sponsoring the new jerseys.
“The new jersey is a great example of collaboration within Nenagh where we a have local business woman in Ormond Healthcare supporting the female athletes, Gaelic Armour making them locally, the opportunity to thank the frontline workers by adding the logo and finally we get to raise awareness of historic year of Nenagh 800.
“The club has received support from the Municipal District over the years in the form of many sports grants so it’s nice for us as a club to be able to give something back also,” he said.
The new Nenagh Eire Og Camogie jerseys will be available to buy in A Sportsman's Dream in Nenagh and available to order online in any size from www.gaelicarmour.com.