Are you a GAA mum (or aspiring to be one)? We've got the perfect camp for PARENTS

Volunteers are a huge part of the GAA – without them local clubs would struggle.

And whether you are into football or hurling (or neither), the minute you sign your child up to your local club you'll be asked to get involved in all aspects of GAA life: coaching, training, cleaning jerseys, minding equipment, anything really.

But it's a good thing.

This idea of 'all hands on deck' is important, and not just for the kids; it creates a wonderful sense of community spirit that is not necessarily seen in all sports. 

But there are never enough volunteers.

Never enough mums or dads to help deal with the serious job of training kids from as young as four to not only be good at the sport, but to also love it.

So, in order to encourage and increase vital numbers in GAA clubs all over Ireland, SuperValu are hosting volunteer camps in Mayo, Dublin, Cork and Meath in August and September.

On hand at each of the events to encourage attendees and give them the sporting edge will be SuperValu’s exciting line-up of GAA ambassadors including Lee Keegan, Alan Brogan, Paul Kerrigan and Bernard Brogan.

As a winner of four All-Ireland medals, Bernard Brogan has experienced first-hand the importance of encouraging children to get active from an early age.

Playing with St Oliver Plunkett’s for over two decades, Brogan knows how crucial volunteers are to the vitality of local GAA clubs and insists that there are many ways for the local community to get involved

"Volunteers are vital for sports at a grass-roots level so it’s great to see local retailers really get behind the local clubs and encourage, educate and inspire volunteers to get involved," Bernard said.

"From coaching to car-pooling, washing jerseys to refereeing, there really is something for everyone. So whether you’re a member of your local GAA club or not this is the perfect opportunity to give back to children in your local community.”   

Now in its eighth season as an official partner of the All-Ireland Football Championship, SuperValu’s network of retailers continue to show a remarkable commitment to the sport, not just at national but also regional level and typify how SuperValu can have a direct benefit to the local communities in which they are embedded.

Whether it’s facilitating in-store fundraisers, sponsoring jerseys or perimeter boards in the local communities, it is estimated that the retailers donate circa over €1,000,000 per annum collectively to local clubs throughout the country.

Dates and times of all camps are below (and you don't have to have a child involved in GAA to sign up). All those interested in taking part can register in their local SuperValu or on Facebook: 

SuperValu GAA Volunteer Camp Mayo:

• The Parke GAA grounds, Castlebar, 22nd August at 7pm

 SuperValu GAA Volunteer Camp Dublin:

• Skerries Harp’s Pitch, Skerries, 2nd September at 11am

 SuperValu GAA Volunteer Camp Cork:

• Midleton CBS, Midleton, 9th September at 11am

 SuperValu GAA Volunteer Camp Meath:

• Trim, 30th September at 2pm

Will you be signing up?