Massive weekend in store in Sligo as Aldi Community Games 49th AGM takes place
THE most prestigious event in the Community Games Calendar is certainly the National Conference. From Friday 2nd March to Sunday 4th March, delegates and observers from all thirty two counties will come together at the Radisson Hotel, Sligo for what promises to be the event of the year. With elections, motions, recommendations and workshops on the agenda, it promises to be a very busy and intense weekend.
The event gets off to a flying start with the elections and motions on Friday night, followed by refreshments and music to allow all the delegates relax after an intense meeting. On Saturday morning there will be a series of workshops followed by lunch and ecumenical service courtesy of Fr. Michael Donnelly and Rev Arfon Williams. On Saturday night all delegates, observers, area members of Sligo and guests of Sligo Community Games will attend a special banquet, which will also be attended by local and National Government representatives.
Sligo has had many representatives on the National Board of Directors down through the years and are still represented on many of the Sub committees. One member who is standing for election to the National Board of Directors is Tanya Kelly, from Riverstown. Tanya was a member of the PR Committee for many years and for the past few years has been a member of the Activities Committee. She is now standing for election as Activities Director and all of Sligo are wishing her the very best of luck. Tanya, who lives and works in Dublin, is the daughter of Sligo County Secretary Ann Kelly and has been a trojan worker within the organisation for so many years.
Like Ann, Tanya sees no job as being too big or impossible and has certainly shone in her role within the PR and Activity Committees. It would be special to have Tanya elected on to the National Board in her native County.
Sligo last hosted this event in 2002 and since then the organisation has gone through various different stages. Back then the National Finals were held in Mosney Co. Meath and it was the dream of every child to get to Mosney, not just to compete but to have a fun filled weekend. The finals were then changed to Athlone IT after it transpired that facilities in Mosney had deteriorated and were no longer in a state whereby it was possible to organise the finals there. Last year was the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the organisation and it was decided to host the national Finals in Abbottstown in Dublin. While the facilities there were of a very high standard, accommodation for officials and competitors was a problem.
This year the National Finals are moving to a new home in University of Limerick. This will be a new venture and exciting times ahead for the vast number of children who are fortunate enough to reach the National Finals. Margaret Bolton, Treasurer said: “Sligo Community Games have been lucky in that we have been sponsored by The Sligo Champion, firstly by Niall Townsend and the Townsend family and this sponsorship is continued into the present by INM Regionals West and its Managing Director John Feerick. We are extremely grateful for this and also for the many associative sponsors we have, namely Sligo Southern Hotel, Michael O’Hehir and John Kent.We appreciate the support and coverage we get from the media. “We cannot emphasise enough the importance of local coverage and to each we are extremely grateful. It is an absolute pleasure to host the National Community Games Conference for 2018. We are delighted that the National Community Games Committee looked favourably on our submission. We commenced preparation away back in May last year and since then we have been making sure that all will be in order for the event. We have a fantastic committee in Sligo who are all willing to assist in whatever way they possibly can.
“This is a major event for Sligo and we will welcome delegates and visitors from all Counties. We will ensure that Sligo is put on the map and that every person will leave on Sunday with an absolute positive view of the County. We are so appreciative of the help we have got from our main Sponsor The Sligo Champion. We have also received sponsorship from many businesses in Sligo town and county and for this we are extremely grateful. The management and staff of the Radisson Hotel have been exceptional in their dealings both with the local and national committee. I want to mention in a special way Berni Chambers and her team who have led us in all the preparations. We look forward to a brilliant weekend and hopefully that everyone will have a very enjoyable and fruitful time in Sligo,” Margaret added.
John Byrne, CEO of Community Games Ireland said: “As we look forward to our weekend under the shadow of Benbulben, we salute all these dedicated volunteers and thank them for their enormous contribution not just to our organisation but to Ireland itself,” John added.