Fun day at The Downs GAA for everyone
Image 1 of 13
Riley Geoghegan on the bouncy slide.Image 2 of 13
Caroline Coyne, Niamh Bradley and Aine Quinlan enjoying a bit of sunshine at The Downs family fun day.Image 3 of 13
Taylor Duncan, Aoibhe Martyn and Isabella Carroll from The Downs.Image 4 of 13
Islan and Jonathan O’Brien from Mullingar.Image 5 of 13
Laurie D’Arcy and Marie Carroll at the tea and coffee hut.Image 6 of 13
Paddy Kenny, Davina McCormack and Joe McCormack at the BBQ.Image 7 of 13
Sarah and Anthony Shiels relaxing at the family fun day.Image 8 of 13
Lily Tynan and Masha Verhovod do battle!Image 9 of 13
Elouise and Vicky Bramley from Gaybrook.Image 10 of 13
Seamus Conroy from Coralstown and Sean Bardon from The Downs.Image 11 of 13
Fionn and Paidi Corroon enjoying their ice creams during the family fun day.Image 12 of 13
Stephen Bonner and Edward Quinlan at the family fun day.Image 13 of 13
Nathan Bennett from Mullingar.The annual family fun day is held at The Downs GAA Club, but it’s more the whole community, not just the GAA community, and the organisers are delighted they had a great turnout again this year.
It was on Sunday, June 23, from 2pm, and “mastermind behind it”, Paddy Kenny, has rallied up local groups like The Downs GAA, LGFA, Kidzone, Scór, Community Games, Active Retirement Group, the playground group, and more for a day of celebrations and surprises.
There were epic showdowns between Newdown and Greatdown, including tug-o-war, street league, and darts tournament, and for the youngsters, there was the water dunk, fun races, and ABC Bouncy Castles were there with soft obstacle courses and darts.
There was loads of food, music, dancing, a bake sale, and the bar opened at 4pm when there was live music and good times.
Edward Quinlan, one of the organisers, speaking to the Westmeath Examiner at the event, said: “The weather is playing ball today, which is great. We have burgers, which are very kindly sponsored by Buckley’s SuperValu, Mullingar.
“We have bouncy castles from ABC, something for everybody – a huge thanks to everybody who turned up on the day.
“The weather was a factor in today’s turnout, and yeah, no point being here without people coming from the community, and everybody came out, which is great to see. A huge thanks.
“It also wouldn’t happen without all the volunteers, so we have any number of volunteers who helped arrange the street League, arrange the food, barbecue, opening the bar, the music, everything.
“We can’t name names, but many, many people came together to make this work, and then obviously, the community coming out today, that makes it all worthwhile. It’s what it’s all about.”