A fantastic few days were had at St Pats Summer Camp 10-12 August. The numbers were capped at 150 with the Club’s Covid Protocols. These spaces were nabbed up almost immediately due to demand – everyone’s been missing their football & hurling.The organisation load for the camp was huge with the children split into two time slots. The Club are extremely grateful to the parents & mentors who pulled such a great camp together while abiding to the protocols. The kids cared nothing for these additional requirements and took to the pitches with gusto! Hearing their howls of laughter as they ran around Ballymastone raised everyone’s spirits. St Pats have asked that we pass on their thanks to the wonderful cinnirí involved in the Camp. The young people on their TY Cinnire Programme really came into their own during the 3 days. They have completed their Bronze Gaisce Award through the Club having completed the Foundation Coaching Course. Many have chosen to further their knowledge and are awaiting places on the Level One Course and Referring Courses. Kudos to Katie Bell, Dylan Carr, Ella Culleton, Kim Finnegan, Rachel Herlihy, Ellen Kirwan, Gavin Matthews, Oisin McGillicuddy, Adam Reynolds & Katie Wood for their hard work.The presence of adult players added to the sense of community. The children enjoyed interacting with them and the players enjoyed the flash-back to their own camp experiences varying amounts of years ago! Thanks to Stephen, Tom, Killian & Evan from the GAA teams and to Aisling, Clara, Ella, Ellen, Josie, Katie B, Katie W, Laoise, Molly & Niamh from the LGFA team. Seeing these young people giving back to their club, paying back the renowned GAA ‘debt of gratitude’ makes everyone in the club #ProudToBePats.When asked their three favourite parts of the camp, the children replied “the fun, chasing the coaches with dodgeball on the last day & the ice-cream”. It was genuinely heartening to hear such fun being had again at Ballymastone. Perhaps we all took our summers of Gaelic Games for granted - but we certainly don’t any more!The Club’s Academy for girls and boys born 2013, 2014 & 2015 has recommenced on Saturday mornings 11h00 at Ballymastone. The 2016 section will start up in September. To be added to the comms list or for any queries, just contact info@stpatsgaa.comNext up on the Club’s Juvenile calendar are the Mini All Irelands for Hurling & Football. Keep an eye on their Facebook page StPatsGAA for further info.