*Brid MacNamara. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
Live streaming has helped to prevent COVID-19 undoing all of the inroads made as part of the 20×20 campaign, Clare Camogie’s PRO has said.
Ruan native Brid MacNamara who raised close to €16k for the organisation in a summer fundraiser that saw her virtually walk the distance to Croke Park and back was hailed by club delegates as one of the highpoints of the year at the recent AGM of Clare Camogie. She singled out her own club for providing memories that she will “cherish forever” on the final night of the fundraiser.
Of the year gone by, Brid reflected that it was “a year when our world became concentrated in the 5km around us, a year which saw so many changes to how we live our lives, when the new normal became face masks, hand sanitiser and keeping our distance. I want to extend a sincere thanks to all our players and mentors both club and county, club and match officials –your efforts ensured that our game continued. I am in awe of you all, especially the girls, because despite the Covid-19 situation around us I commend you for the efforts that you put in night after night, week after week, game after game, ye are the role models for future generations, and the reason I, and my fellow officers do what we do”.
Social media’s advantages and disadvantages continue to offer lessons, she noted. Brid acknowledged the continued support of all local media outlets including The Clare Echo plus local photographers.
Channel Clare’s launch allowed Clare Camogie to ‘deliver for supporters’ by streaming four adult finals that were being held behind closed doors due to public health guidelines. More than 12,000 persons watched the games online which were presented by Peter O’Connell and Mark Dunphy. County final weekend also included the publication of a programme with details on all eight finals, a first for the organisation.
Live streaming helped to alleviate some of the impact experienced on the 20×20 initiative, she believed. “The 2020 initiative, one of whose aims was to increase coverage by 20%, may have been dealt a blow by the arrival of COVID however with Clubs & Counties all using live streaming to broadcast games more people than ever had the opportunity to watch our game”.
Volunteerism increased during the year, Brid maintained. “One good thing to come out of COVID is that a number of people put their hand up for match reporting so this should benefit all clubs in 2021 when hopefully we can get back to a more normal season”.
