Major sports festival announced for Mullingar 2011

A new four day sports festival has just been announced for Mullingar and is set to attract some of the biggest names in sport to the town next March.The ‘Spirit of Mullingar Charity Festival Weekend of Sport' will take place from March 24 - 27, and is a fundraising weekend organised by Irish Autism Action, TEAM and Mullingar Athletic, run in conjunction with Destination Sport and sponsored by the Greville Arms Hotel.The launch took place in the Greville Arms Hotel yesterday, where Irish football legend Ronnie Whelan, along with GAA legend Bernard Flynn and the very popular RTE star Brian Ormond gave the details of what can be expected next year.The sports festival is set to have something for everyone including, Football with The John Aldridge Legends XI who face Mullingar Athletic FC in Gainstown in what is set to be a thrilling game, Golf with the Stars headed up by Bernard Flynn, Keith Duffy and Ken Doherty, and a Fun Run or Half Marathon with 32 county marathon man Gerry Duffy. There is even a Fashion Show for the ladies!Niall Murphy of Irish Autism Action said there will a great festival buzz about Mullingar next March:“We will have GAA and soccer legends in the town, we want to create the most sporting festival atmosphere possible, it should be a great weekend for Mullingar people and indeed the people of Westmeath,” said Niall Murphy.“It is a weekend of enjoyment but it's to help support local charities including Irish Autism Action, TEAM or Temporary Emergency Accommodation Mullingar, Saplings School and Mullingar Athletic,” he continued.“In these times it's hard to raise funds so what we really want to do is give something special back to the people who support us, it should be very exciting,” he added.Mullingar will see the likes of Phil Neal, Alan Kennedy, Lee Sharpe, Andy Cole, Jason McAteer, Don Hutchinson, Paul Walsh, Clayton Blackmore, David May, Andy Cole, Lee Sharpe and Dave Beasant, Niall Quinn and Keith Gillespie rock up for the event, while GAA stars DJ Carey, Joe Dooley, Michael Duignan, Bernard Flynn, Tommy Carr, Peter Canavan, Paul O'Flynn, Seamus Darby, David Beggy, Dara Ó Sé, Graham Geragthy, Benny Tierney, Seamus O'Hanlon, Tommy Lyons, Nudie Hughes will also be in town.