Who are we?
Craobh Rua Hurling and Camogie Club is a community-based sports organization in Camlough/Bessbrook area of County Armagh, dedicated to promoting and developing the traditional Irish games of hurling and camogie. We foster teamwork, pride, and cultural heritage, providing opportunities for all ages to participate, learn, and grow in these dynamic sports.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We are fundraising to help our club to maintain the delivery of an effective Hurling & Camogie Nursery that will provide introductory level access to our club for young families in the surrounding area. Previously we have tried to set up a nursery for 4-6 year old's within our club and we have found a number of barriers to both the sustainability and the growth of this section. We therefore had a loss of opportunity for those hoping to engage and get comfortable in the club, particularly newcomers to the games of hurling & camogie.
The money we raise will go towards tackling some of these barriers, such as the hiring of facilities, purchasing of resources required for toddlers and young children and provision of a lead coach who can facilitate the sessions each week. This will allow us to offer the sessions at a very low or cost free amount to current and new members. Additionally we will be able to cater for a whole new cohort of 2&3 year old's (Na Pucairí Beaga - Little Puckers) within the hurling and camogie nursery and this is something that we have never before been able to do.
How we’ll spend the money raised
The total cost for the program is broken down as follows:
Expenses (30 sessions in 2025)
Hall Hire (£50/hour) £1,500
Resources for coaching - mini hurls / nursery gaa pack £700
Refreshments (tea/coffee/juice etc) £10 per session (£300)
Total Cost £2,500
Community impact
This programme will:
• Provide an accessible introduction to hurling and camogie for children in a deprived area. This will allow children to get early access to physical activity in a welcoming environment where they will learn new skills and movements.
• Encourage lifelong participation in physical activity by having a peer group coming through the ranks within the club which will be guided through our clubs player pathway and building a network of likeminded people who will learn and reap the benefits of living active lives.
• Strengthen the local community by fostering relationships among families and offering a fantastic outlet for children as they grow and develop both on and off the field.
• Lay the groundwork for future growth in hurling/camogie at the grassroots level and provide a model for our club to have provision for this age level for many years to come.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!