The Foras na Gaeilge Senior Camogie Championship was launched in Croke Park by Miriam O'Callaghan, Uachtarán Cumann Camogaiochta na nGael and Seosamh MacDonncha, Chief Executive, Foras na Gaeilge.  Speaking at the launch Miriam O'Callaghan, Uachtarán Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael said "the partnership between Foras na Gaeilge and Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael is a perfect fit, as both organisations are committed to the promotion of the Irish culture and language.  We celebrate the recent announcement that Irish is now recognised as an official EU language.  We in the Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael celebrate the fact that camogie is now played widely across Europe." This is the eleventh year for Foras na Gaeilge to sponsor the championship.  Speaking at the launch Seosamh MacDonncha, Chief Executive, Foras na Gaeilge said "Foras na Gaeilge has sponsored this championship for the last eleven years and enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership with Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael. We are delighted to note that the momentum >from last year,s Centenary celebrations has spilled over into 2005 and that the support for all teams both from the players and supporters continues to grow.? Present at the launch were the captains of the participating counties: Deirdre Hughes (Tipperary), Therese Maher (Galway), Elaine Burke (Cork), Mary Leacy (Wexford), Carol Murphy (Limerick), Imelda Kennedy (Kilkenny) and Carla Doherty (Antrim). This year's championship promises to be an exciting one following a very competitive league campaign where Galway defeated Cork in an intense final.  Galway, who won their only senior title in 1996, are now managed by Sharon Glynn who starred in that final.  She is the only female manager of a senior inter-county team.    Reigning champions, Tipperary, who have won five of the last six titles, will also be strongly challenged by Cork, Wexford and Kilkenny.  Limerick are building a strong panel and have recruited former Limerick hurler Ger Hegarty to take charge of the side.  Antrim are also building on their All Ireland minor success of 2004 and will be hoping to improve on their results in 2004.  The links between camogie and hurling were evident in Croke Park where All Ireland medal holders Pa Dillon (Kilkenny), Mick Jacob (Wexford) and Len Gaynor (Tipperary) joined their daughters Jillian, Ursula and Ciara who are  camogie stars with their respective counties.   Niamh Cunningham was joined by her dad Ger who wore the saffron and white of Antrim while Amanda O,Regan came with her father, Mick, who played football with Cork.  Camogie, now in its second century, is thriving on the success of Centenary Year which saw an upsurge in participation reflected in the increased number of players and clubs across Ireland and abroad. Tweet

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