Coillte announced a new three-year deal with the Camogie association earlier this year having already financially backed the sport for the last three years. The aim of the sponsorship is to promote, teach and improve the skills of the game amongst under-14 players from all over the country including our very own Westmeath. The 2007 Coillte U14 Camogie Development Squads which include players from Clare, Derry, Kerry, Laois, Louth, Monaghan, Tipperary and Westmeath were in attendance at Croke Park for the launch. This programme, part of the Strategic Plan for Camogie, aims to improve the skill level of U14 camogie players in designated counties. The partnership with Coillte began in 2004, which in fact was the Camogie Association's Centenary year. Present at the launch were Liz Howard, President of the Camogie Association, and David Gunning, CEO of Coillte, while Coillte District manager PJ Fitzpatrick spoke to the Maroon and White about the sponsorship and the strong ties between the GAA and them. The programme is also supported by the Irish Sports Council. Counties will participate in coaching sessions and blitz competitions focusing on the skills of camogie. "There are many similarities between Coillte and the GAA as we grow some ash trees and hurls are made from this, while every parish in the country has a GAA club and there is almost Coillte owned land in every parish. Another connection between the two is that many people who work with us are involved with the association in one form or another," said PJ. Coillte's association with camogie is a major boost to the sport, which has fallen behind ladies football in the pecking order to some degree, but a major push in sponsorship and more profile through television coverage and the media has brought the small ball game back into the spotlight. "It is of the utmost importance to develop the skills of the game at an early age and this is why Coillte felt that the under-14 is the perfect age for this. There was a massive day out in Croke Park where the girls got to go on the field and that is a huge incentive. "I'm sure everybody that is involved in the GAA would love to grace Croke Park, but not a lot get to do that, which is a huge shame," he added. PJ has been based in Mullingar for many years having originally hailed from Co Cavan and has seen at close hand what the development squads are all about. "The kids develop an appetite for the game, once they are looked after right and the aim of the sponsorship is to fulfill the potential of so many youngsters. This can also build team spirit among the girls, which will stand them in good stead in latter life. I've been out to see the girls in Westmeath train on a number of occasions and I've been very impressed by the skill level." The Lake County has been through its most successful period in recent years having won the Leinster SFC title in 2004, while the hurlers have not been outdone as they have amassed two Christy Ring Cup titles in the last three years and PJ admits that this has heightened the interest among the younger folk. "People in Westmeath are very passionate about the GAA especially in recent years with the success of the hurlers and footballers and that has seen many more kids get involved, which is great." There are high hopes in 2008 that Westmeath can continue that successful trend and obtain some more silverware, while many would love to see more titles garnished at underage level. A change of management in the hurling sees former Offaly hurler and All-Ireland medal winner Johnny Dooley take over at the helm from Seamus Qualter, who guided the county to those two Christy Ring Cup successes. Meanwhile, the county footballers will be looking to reproduce the form of 2004, and they will also be gunning for revenge against Longford in the opening round of the championship. Coillte has also been involved in sponsorship within the county as PJ revealed that they were sponsors of the Ballinagore side that captured the intermediate football championship in 2007. "Pat Hanrahan is a selector with the Ballinagore side and he used to work with us for many years. The club ran a raffle where the approached companies like ourselves to buy a ?200 ticket with the prize being the main sponsor for the year and Coillte was drawn out of the hat. "We were delighted with the coverage and thrilled that the team actually won the championship, which sees them go senior for the first time in their history and this is a remarkable achievement." PJ has spent the last 30yrs working in forestry and for the past seven; he has been the Coillte District Manager, which covers six counties. "Basically, I am responsible for all the management work that takes place on our forest estate in Westmeath, Cavan, Longford, Monaghan, Louth and Meath," he revealed. "There are 5,000 hectares of Coillte land in Westmeath alone. Coillte is a commercial company operating in forestry, land-based businesses and added-value processing operations. "Coillte is organised into three divisions: Coillte Panel Products, which manages its major panel products companies, Smartply and Medite; Coillte Forest which manages the Group's forestry business and Coillte Enterprise which comprise a range of businesses developed from the company's core skills and forest assets, including land development and Energy. Coillte continues to provide a much needed service to the country and the importance of their role is sometimes under estimated, but they have achieved great success and like the GAA, they plan to reach their goals in style. Tweet

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