Deadline of next week for Community Games areas

There was a strong turnout at a public meeting to discuss reactivating Community Games areas, in The Greville Arms Hotel last Thursday evening.

The main point to come out of it was that anyone who is keen to see the games where they live has a deadline next week.

Emily Wallace, chairperson of Westmeath Community Games, said: “If you want to get involved in Community Games in Westmeath, the deadline is September 25, to either look at an area, activate a previously existing area, or look at merging current areas.

“So, you’re talking about an opportunity for people to get involved locally. You’re facilitating kids from six to 16 across a wide range of activities, track and field, drama, heritage... you name it – it’s covered under Community Games.”

Asked if there were particular areas that required attention, she said: “Mullingar. The town is empty. Taghmon Turin, The Downs, Gainstown, currently surround Mullingar and are active, but all the way back to Ballynacargy is empty – there is no active Community Games.”

Ms Wallace said there are 21 Community Games areas there that could be reactivated.

She said that as well as Mullingar being empty, that was also the case in Rochfortbridge and Delvin, plus various other pockets.

Explaining how the games might start again, she said interested parties would need a committee of around four (chair, secretary, treasurer and children’s officer), and they would need three activities – which could be any three, not necessarily the big ones such as football or art.

Anyone interested in getting Community Games going where they live should approach people in their locality who had been involved in the past, such as staff at schools, or anyone who might know the area boundary.

Ms Wallace pointed out that the information is local, but in cases where there is interest but no clear starting point, people should get in touch with the Westmeath Community Games setup.

There is a modest cost involved – €125 to register, plus costs of entry further along in the process.

The best way to find out more is via Facebook or contact Ms Wallace or Westmeath secretary Karen Walsh (who also addressed Thursday night’s meeting).

• The first meeting of Westmeath Community Games was on Monday January 24, 1972 in the Lake County Hotel, Mullingar, and Jack Coleman was elected chairperson; Josephine Glennon, secretary; Noel Daly, treasurer; and Peter Kenny, PRO. It was decided that Westmeath would concentrate on athletics for 1972.