Belfast Woman Wins €10K for Irish Camogie Club She Founded

A Belfast woman who helped launch a brand new camogie club in rural Ireland has been named the nation's top community sports volunteer, bringing home €10,000 for her team.

Marie Turkington of Annaghdown Camogie Club won EirGrid's 2026 GAA Community Heroes Competition, which celebrates volunteers who strengthen Irish communities through Gaelic sports. The prize money will help support the young club she co-founded just four years ago.

Marie's journey shows what happens when newcomers embrace their communities wholeheartedly. After moving from Northern Ireland to Annaghdown in County Galway, she didn't wait for opportunities. She created them.

In 2022, Marie became a founding member of Annaghdown Camogie Club. Since then, she's managed both the U12 and U13 teams, serves as Vice Chair, and runs a social camogie program designed to welcome players of all ages and skill levels.

Her work extends beyond the field. Marie transformed the club's social media presence, helping connect members and attract new players to a sport traditionally dominated by established clubs with decades of history.

"Her obvious commitment to her club and community is inspiring and the essence of what a Community Hero represents," said Sinead Dooley, EirGrid's Head of Public Engagement. The company launched the campaign to honor volunteers who give their time and energy to help GAA clubs flourish across Ireland.

The Ripple Effect

Marie's win means more than recognition. She first secured €5,000 by winning the Connacht regional round of the competition. Her national victory added another €5,000, doubling the financial boost for a club still establishing its foundation.

For a four-year-old organization competing against clubs with generations of tradition, that €10,000 represents equipment, training resources, and opportunities that might have taken years to accumulate. Marie also received two tickets to watch Galway compete in the All-Ireland Hurling Final.

The real impact stretches beyond one club. Young girls in Annaghdown now grow up with camogie as a natural part of their community, something that didn't exist before 2022.

Marie's story proves that community heroes aren't always lifelong locals—sometimes they're newcomers who see potential where others see empty fields and decide to build something beautiful.