Curry’s ‘Keep Your Distance Kicking Challenge’ a big hit
THE influence of sporting clubs is significant in all communities, but they become especially important at times of difficulty.
This is particularly applicable to the current situation the country finds itself in, and Curry GAA club is doing its bit to make sure its youngsters are out getting fresh air, practicing their football skills and most importantly, becoming aware of social distancing.
In an effort to spread the message of social distancing, the south Sligo club has created the ‘Keep Your Distance Kicking Challenge’.
The competition requires participants to record a clip of them kicking the ball into a bin 15 steps away; once complete, they say ‘keep your distance’ and nominate the next person to take on the challenge.
It has gained huge traction online with hundreds of people taking part, with some engaging in the challenge from as far away as America and Australia.
“It’s going great,” club chairperson Barry Gallagher explained to The Sligo Champion.
“It was really with the schools closing and the school and the club came together to think of something and put it up.
“It gets the kids outside in the fresh air, and also getting out the message of social distancing.
“I’ve two kids and it gives them a chance to get out. With the schools closed, kids would have been meeting their friends every day but now they might miss their friends.
“So this gives them a chance to do a video and nominate their friends to do it as well.”
Entries have flooded in since the competition was launched on March 15th.
The winners, Tadgh Kennedy and Mary Kate Henry were drawn over the weekend and won a new Curry GAA jersey. The club said it picked one winner at random from the adult entries and one from the underage player entries.
Barry continued: “The great thing is I might see someone else do it, so I’ll go out and do it myself. It gets the kids out and then they nominate someone, so that’s how it carries on.
“It has spread – we’ve had entries from Mayo, London, America and all over.
“We’re thinking of trying to come up with something different for the next few weeks, maybe a colouring competition or something, just to give the kids and parents something to enjoy doing.”
As communities all across the county rally against the spread of the coronavirus, Barry says Curry is fortunate to have such a spirit.
“We’ve a great community in Curry/Moylough,” he says. “There are great communities all over. We come together at tough times and we’re lucky to have such a great community. It’s very important.”
As well as the Curry competition, other clubs have engaged in similar initiatives as well as providing supports to local people at this time.
On the county front, all the Sligo GAA coaches have distributed skills challenges to club coaches around the county, so players of all ages and abilities can continue to practice their skills in a safe and healthy way.