Let’s make 2021 a year to remember
No trip to Shillelagh this weekend
Community Games PRO
THIS Saturday the children of Co. Wicklow should have been participating in the 2020 Glendalough Hotel Community Games Track and Field Championships.
On what could have been a beautiful day weather-wise, the young athletes would have enjoyed the thrills and spills from a super day in Shillelagh as they impressed the parade judges from under-6 all the way to under-16, giving it their all, competing in heats, semi-finals, sprints, long distance and relays, not forgetting long puck, long jump, throw ball, javelin. But along came Covid-19 and all events were put on hold.
With the national May weekend not taking place, an online ‘Creative Communities’ events which took place from May 15 to May 29 had a huge response to the appeal to all the children and adults in Ireland to get creative and ‘stay in the games’ with nearly 2,000 fantastic entries.
Each winner received a special commemorative medal and everyone who entered a digital certificate. There were lots of prizes handed out by our partners Aldi Ireland and Bus Eireann throughout the competition and lots of encouragement and engagement from Sile Seoige who helped launch the competition.
Overall, this was a huge success with over one million people reached through their Facebook posts. August will showcase activity, with a new online ‘Active Communities’ event with a host of activity-based competitions. Please do keep an eye on our social media channels and our website for updates.
Congratulations to 13-year-old Roisin Vigors from Arklow who captured fourth place under-16 solo singing with her fabulous assured singing of ‘Rise Up’.
The ethos of Community Games: ‘It’s not the winning but the taking part that counts’ is never more evident in these strange times than now as the heroes of our games are children. No amounts of online skill competitions can compare with taking part in your Area, learning new skills, training, playing, with your friends or becoming part of a team,
The late President of Wicklow Community Games, Lily Kavanagh, with David Kelly in Shillelagh in 2012.
then heading off to the county final where the competitive streak comes out - mostly by the parent - competing for the gold medal which is your ticket to some team events at Leinster with the ultimate goal to the national finals in UL Limerick, hoping to come home with a medal of some colour.
My heart goes out to the children who suddenly lost their daily/weekend routine; no school – great, for a while – training, non-competitive sport, meeting up with friends and having to stay home with family. It also saddens me that their best year is lost, especially to the under-16s who have competed since under-6, are in their final year but won’t get that chance to compete.
No amount of pucking, kicking a ball, jumping a hurdle or running around a garden – if you have one - on your own can compare to being part of a sporting/cultural organisation.
I’m sure most parents are pulling their hair out, as am I. As a volunteer, I would love to be heading to glorious Shillelagh or anywhere else for a Community Games event to meet up with smiling faces, proud parents, friendships rekindled.
Phyllis is appealing for people to come together for 2021 and get more Areas to compete in the county finals in Shillelagh.