New Member FAQ

Welcome to Dicksboro GAA & Camogie Club! 🇱🇻

Whether your child is completely new to hurling or camogie or has played before, we're delighted to welcome you to Dicksboro! We know that joining a new club can come with lots of questions, so we've put together this handy guide to help you get started. Our aim is to provide a fun, friendly and welcoming environment where children can learn new skills, make friends and develop a love for Gaelic games.

What is hurling?

Hurling is one of Ireland's oldest and most exciting traditional sports. It's a fast-paced team game played using a wooden stick called a hurley and a small ball called a sliotar (pronounced "slit-er"). Players score by hitting the sliotar into a goal or over the crossbar. Hurling is played in communities throughout Ireland, from children as young as four or five right through to adults. It's also popular in schools, colleges and universities.

What is camogie?

Camogie is the version of hurling played by girls and women. Like hurling, it involves using a hurley to strike a sliotar into a goal or over the crossbar. Both sports are fantastic for developing coordination, teamwork and confidence.

Why should my child get involved?

Hurling and camogie are about so much more than sport! Joining Dicksboro gives children the opportunity to:

Make new friends and become part of the local community.
Develop coordination, balance, agility and fitness.
Build confidence, teamwork and social skills.
Learn new skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Enjoy being active outdoors.

You don't need any previous experience or knowledge of Gaelic games to get involved. Everyone is welcome!

Training & Equipment

What should my child wear to training?
Comfortable sports clothing suitable for outdoor activities. All training takes place outdoors, either on grass or an artificial turf (astro) pitch, so please dress appropriately for the weather.

Footwear:

Grass pitches: Football or hurling boots are recommended.
Astro pitches: Suitable runners or astro footwear.

If your child decides to continue playing, suitable footwear can be purchased from most sports shops.

What should my child bring?

A bottle of water.
A hurley and helmet, if they have them.
Warm clothing for colder weather.

Don't worry if your child doesn't have a hurley or helmet yet! Equipment will be available to borrow at training sessions. Please label all jumpers and other belongings so we can return anything that gets left behind.

Does my child need to attend every training session?

We encourage children to attend training regularly, as this helps them develop their skills, build friendships and feel part of the team. However, we completely understand that families have other commitments and that children may occasionally miss a session.

How often does training take place?

Training generally takes place weekly, with some age groups training twice a week during the summer months. You'll find the current training schedules for each age group below.

Will my child have matches or need to travel?

Our youngest players take part in friendly mini-tournaments known as blitzes, where they get to play against children from other local clubs.

Under 6: Blitzes are organised with nearby clubs. Some travel may be involved, but participation is not compulsory.

Under 8: Blitzes take place more regularly, particularly during the summer months. Some travel to other clubs is involved.

Blitzes are a great way for children to enjoy matches, meet new friends and experience the excitement of playing as part of a team.

Do I need to buy club gear?

No, official club gear is not required to get started. If you'd like to purchase Dicksboro clothing, you can browse our official O'Neills club shop.

Visit the Dicksboro Club Shop

Membership & Club Communication

How do I become a member?

If your child enjoys training and would like to continue playing hurling or camogie, you'll need to complete their club membership. Membership is mandatory for all players continuing with the club, and helps ensure that the appropriate insurance arrangements are in place for club activities.

How will I find out about training, matches and club news?

We use the ClubZap App to keep parents and guardians informed about training sessions, matches, events and club announcements.

To get started:

Download the ClubZap app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Open the app and select Dicksboro GAA & Camogie Club.
To register for membership, go to Clubhouse → Membership.
Go to Chat and request to join the relevant team chat group for your child.

Our 2027 underage chat groups are:

Hurling Under 6 2027
Hurling Under 8 2027
Camogie U6 2027
U8 Camogie 2027

These groups are where coaches share important information about training, matches and upcoming activities.

Volunteering & Getting Involved

I'm a parent or guardian. Can I help out?

Absolutely! Our club relies on the fantastic support of parents, guardians and volunteers. We're always delighted to welcome anyone interested in helping with our underage teams, whether that's as a coach, mentor or general helper.

No previous coaching or playing experience is required!

If you'd like to get involved, please contact:

Cillian Breathnach
Phone: 086 305 0091

We'd love to hear from you!

Anything Else I Need to Know?

Just one thing — come along, get involved and have fun!

At Dicksboro, we're proud of our club and the friendships, community spirit and opportunities it offers to children and families. Whether your child goes on to play for years or is just discovering Gaelic games for the first time, we want their experience to be a positive and enjoyable one.

For more information, visit our club website or follow us on social media.

Website: www.dicksborogaa.com

Instagram: @dicksborogaa

Facebook: Dicksboro GAA & Camogie Club

Please support Dicksboro GAA Club & Player Development Projects

by joining the Club Lotto for as little as €2 per week.

👉🏻 Click HERE for Lotto 👈🏻

Thank you for your continued support.