Fifteen children attended Killarney Celtic's FFA section of their mainstream camp; coordinated by Jane O'Donoghue and coached by Karen O'Donoghue who has assisted with the club's weekly FFA team for six years as the Head coach.
Karen says she has seen first hand the confidence that playing football and being part of a team has given the children. She includes a number of short, fun exercises and modifies the games so that everyone can take part.
The following week, Carrigaline United ran a standalone FFA camp, which was attended by 20 children. Bryan McCarthy, from the club's FFA team, coordinated the event and four experienced FFA coaches looked after the activities each day.
Bryan was delighted with the success of the camp and believes that the children who attended made great progress and the club's FFA section will grow in numbers come the start of the new season in September.
An additional bonus was the opportunity provided to three former players from within the FFA programme - now in their late teens - who have completed introductory coaching and safeguarding courses and are now giving back to the programme that gave them the chance to play football by becoming the coaches who will bring through the next generation.
Nick Harrison, from the FAI FFA programme in Munster, believes both formats of the summer camp were a success and that, along with the FFA Easter Camp held earlier in the year, there are now a number of opportunities available for clubs who wish to provide an additional outlet in the school holidays for children with additional needs in their community.