Valentia youngsters get ready for a feast of community games action

CHILDREN from Valentia are currently preparing to participate in the upcoming Community Games, the county finals of which will take place at various locations throughout Kerry over the next month or two. This year marks an increase in the number of team events that will be entered from Valentia, in addition to the popular solo events.

The local area competition for music, singing and recitation, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 17, at 7pm in the Ring Lyne, Chapeltown. Children living on the Island will have an opportunity to sing a song, play two tunes and/or recite a poem or story.

Mary Gallagher has very kindly agreed to judge the event and choose the children from under 12 and under 16 who will go to represent Valentia at county level.

The under 12 music group, tutored by Marion Cournane, and the under 12 and under 16 singing group, under the tutelage of Cliodhna Guiney, will also have the opportunity to present their choices of music and modern songs at this local area competition.

The music county finals take place at 11am on Saturday, February 10, in Keel, with the recitation final taking place later that day in Keel at 4.30pm. The singing county final will take place at 12 noon on Sunday, February 11, in Ballybunion.

The upcoming sports fixtures are as follows: The under 15 badminton team will travel to Moyvane to the county final for 10am on Saturday, January 20. The under 10 soccer team head to Milltown/Duagh for 10am on Sunday, February 11, whilst the under 13 team head to Milltown a week later on Sunday, February 18.

The handwriting under 10 and under 12 competitions will take place at 10.30am on February 24 in the Convent, Listowel. The popular art under 8, under 10, under 12, under 14, and under 16 competitions, will also take place at the same venue at 1pm on February 24.

The Valentia Island Community Games Committee wish to thank the Iveragh Badminton Club, Jim Whelan for the soccer coaching, Marion Cournane, the young Cliodhna Guiney for all the help and support they are providing to the children.

A very special thank you is owed to proprietor, Aisling Sheehan, of the Ring Lyne, who has provided the function room, free of charge, for the children to practice with their mentors.

At the AGM on October 11, 2017, Secretary Maeve Cournane and Chairperson Susan Daly stepped down from their respective roles.

The new committee has Gearoid King remaining, who is now at the helm as chairman; Karen O Connell is the new Secretary; Krista O Sullivan is treasurer; and Sorcha Ní Mhurchú has come on board as PRO.

The new committee wish to thank Maeve and Susan for their work and commitment to growing the community games over the last three to four years.

We wish to continue to encourage more and more children to participate in the games and grow the team events.