Aviva Ireland has teamed up with Women’s National Team duo Áine O’Gorman and Abbie Larkin to launch the Aviva Soccer Sisters Easter Camps, the first in-person Soccer Sisters camps since 2019.
The three-day camps, open to all girls aged 6 to 14, will take place over two weeks. The first camps take place between Tuesday, April 12th – Thursday 14th and the second camps kicking off on Tuesday, April 19th, until Thursday, April 21st.
Camps will take place in 100 football clubs across the country, and for the first time, Aviva will work alongside the Football Association of Ireland’s Football For All programme, hosting a camp in Irishtown that caters for children with additional needs.
In 2020 and 2021, Aviva Soccer Sisters pivoted to an online Virtual Skills Hub, which saw Irish International and Peamount United FC star, Áine O’Gorman deliver skills videos to over 6,000 children nationwide.
She was joined for the launch by Shelbourne FC prodigy Abbie Larkin. A graduate of the Aviva Soccer Sisters Camps herself, Larkin attended her first camp in 2012 and has since gone on to captain her country at underage level, while impressing with Shelbourne FC in the Women’s National League.
The 16-year-old forward achieved her dream of representing her country by making her senior international debut in a Pinatar Cup match against Russia just last month. That’s what you’d call a role model for the camps.
“We are extremely excited to see the return of the Aviva Soccer Sisters Easter Camps after a two-year pause on our in-person camps,” said Aviva Sponsorship manager Lisa Bergin.
“As proud supporters of the Women’s National Team, we understand the importance of the sustainable growth of football, and the importance of supporting football at a grassroots level.”
“We are delighted to continue our support of the development of the women’s game in Ireland, which with players like Abbie, is beginning to bear fruit. Aviva Ireland is also very proud this year to work alongside the FAI Football For All programme to provide a camp which will cater for children with additional needs, ensuring all children are safe to dream.”
“Getting the opportunity to further develop my skills every year at Aviva Soccer Sisters was a massive part of my development as a player,” added Larkin.
“I’m delighted to be given the chance to give back to my coaches and Aviva Ireland by supporting this year’s Aviva Soccer Sisters Easter Camps. I would really encourage any young players out there, who one day dreams of playing for Ireland, to sign up at their local club. You never know where it might lead.”
Join us after the St Patrick’s Weekend when we will be chatting to Lisa Bergin about the camps and Aviva Ireland’s European Sponsorship Award for the Safe to Dream Campaign.
