Squareball, gaa shop, gaa gear, gaa tshirts, clothing, merchandise.

If you’re lookin’ a bit of craic and god knows what else, get yourself down to the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh for the annual Congress of Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael. The weekend will also mark the swansong of President Liz Howard’s spell in charge.

Looking back over Liz’s period in the hotseat, it has been interesting to say the least, with a few curious outbursts. Readers of Talking Balls will recall her giving the local broadcasters a good caning over their coverage of foreign sports whilst all the while failing to broadcast mna na hEireann ag imirt.

Liz’s time in charge also included a curious demonstration at the All Stars last year where a troupe of semi-naked men with man boobs drummed furiously up on the stage, as the All Star award winners looked on, slightly bemused. At the same awards ceremony some of the unsuccessful nominees were a little disappointed at the absence of the usual kitbag of gear – that despite requests from the organizers that they provide their sizes in advance.

It has long been a bugbear of Talking Balls that camogie suffers in comparison to Ladies football. Talking Balls prefers camogie to the peile every time, but you have to hand it to the ladies footballers – they really have their hands on the big balls when it comes to PR and television coverage. One experienced TV exec told us: “Camogie needs to look at the way its presented, take a look at other games and sex itself up a bit to remove some of the starch.”

One of the motions to the CamogieCongress highlights the perception problems that camogie has with itself. The motion put forward by Ard Comhairle proposes that “every club affiliated to Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael is required to purchase two adult tickets for the All Ireland Camogie finals in Croke Park.”

This is a particularly camogie-esque approach to marketing their own game – not for them the intention to market the occasion as an irresistible and ‘must see’ occasion for camogiers the length and breadth of the country. Instead, we have this ridiculous school-marmish Thatcheresque dictat.

The other matter of note is the inauguration of new uachtaran Joan O’Flynn of Kildare (originally from Cork). Ahead of the weekend’s clár, craic, ceoil agus cúirtéireacht, Joan commented, “I am honoured and excited to lead Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael for the next three years. Camogie is a thrilling and exciting game. . . We want to build on the progress already made. I want to develop our thriving club scene and expand playing opportunities for players of all ages and abilities.”

Indeed. It’s a long way from Tipperary, but we’ll see what happens.