Community Games in Castlebar facing closure
THE Community Games tradition in Castlebar, which spans nearly 50 years, faces coming to a close.
An appeal has gone out for volunteers to come forward and form a committee to ensure it survives.
Castlebar Community Games is a voluntary sporting and cultural organisation that caters for children from Under 6 up to Under 16 years.
Community Games have been in existence for close on 50 years in Co. Mayo and in that time Castlebar Community Games has provided opportunities and support to hundreds of competitors and their parents in good and bad times in a safe environment.
In nearly five decades Castlebar Community Games has seen great participation by individuals and teams in athletics, swimming, cycling, gymnastics, art, model making, quiz, rounders, soccer, Gaelic football, etc.
Over the past number of years the running of Castlebar Community Games has been organised by only two active officers. Volunteers have played their part when called upon but they now need to reorganise and put a working committee in place.
A spokesperson said the present situation is no longer possible due to rules and regulations, and they are appealing to the general public and members of the sporting bodies associated with Community Games to step forward and form a committee, and put people in place for 2022 so that Community Games can continue as a sporting and cultural organisation.
The spokesperson said there is a real possibility that Community Games will cease in the county town unless a working committee can be formed for the planned year ahead.
They stated: “We have been struggling for the past number of years and the time has arrived to add new people and keep the games alive for all the children who compete each year in the numerous events which community games offer.”
A public meeting will take place on Thursday, February 24, at 7.30 p.m. in the Ivy Tower Hotel, Castlebar.
The appeal is: Let's keep the games alive and keep Castlebar on the sporting and cultural map into the future. Community Games are active in over 575 communities in Ireland so let's keep Castlebar on that list for 2022 and for the years ahead.