From 30 June to 4 July, St Mary’s University College hosted the first Antrim Michaela Foundation Girls’ Summer Camp. A thirty-strong team of voluntary leaders delivered a week of fun activities to the fully subscribed group of eighty campettes.

The Michaela Foundation Girls’ Summer Camp is unlike any other camp. It gives young girls aged 11-13 the opportunity to develop their confidence and self-esteem whilst participating in activities across five elements: fun, faith, fashion, wellbeing and fáilte.

St Mary’s University College was a hive of happy activity all week with campettes creating fascinators, dancing hip-hop and participating in many more activities. The week at camp was made even more special with the arrival of local sporting role models Eleanor Mallon, Cathy Carey, Daniel McKernan, Tomás Ó Ciaráin, Micheal Dudley, Michael Bradley, Patrick McBride, Conor McCann, Chrissy O’Connell, Joanne Campbell, Emma Connolly, Aileen Martin, Danny Wallace and Declan Lynch.

Michaela Scholar, Aoífe Ní Shiadháil, also joined the campettes for the day. Thanks must be given to the wonderful facilitators who came to the camp for particular activities, such as Frances Vallely for cupcake decorating, Maeve Wright for animated Zumba classes, Mairead Morgan for fabulous flower arranging and Rachel Clinton for helping the girls with their beautiful hairstyling.

Camp coordinators, Orla McIntyre and Sarah-Jane Maskey, credited the success of the week to the energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers and campettes:

“It has been both a privilege and an honour to be associated with the very first Antrim camp. These happy memories will stay with us forever. The hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of our amazing leaders were matched equally by the eagerness, sincerity and sheer passion of the campettes.”

McIntyre and Maskey also acknowledged the great generosity of local businesses towards the Camp, including La Cuisine at the Pump House, Duncrue Road; Thyme Sandwich Bar, Andersonstown Road; Fáilte Restaurant; Fancy Fayre Florists; Clarke’s Fruit Shop, Martinstown Spar; Entyre Quality; Tyreway; Logan’s Coach Hire; Darragh Coach Hire and Causeway Coaches.

On behalf of Michaela Foundation, Úna Kelly said:

“We are thrilled with the success of the first Antrim Camp. The campettes had an absolute ball! We are most grateful to Peter Finn, Principal of St Mary’s University College, and the College Management Team for letting us avail of their wonderful facilities. It has been the perfect location!”

The Michaela Foundation Girls’ Summer Camp ended on Friday, 4 July with an extraordinary camp celebration. Recently elected Lord Mayor Nichola Mallon, Antrim Rose Caithlin Corrigan, Micky Harte and the campettes’ families were present.