Curry/ Moylough Community Games.
Curry/ Moylough are lucky to have great committees to keep the baton alive
CURRY Parish began participating in Community Games in the mid seventies. Some of those who were instrumental in that early involvement were the late Kathleen Henry, and the late Padraic Owens N. T. both of Curry, Kevin and Breege Colleran, Michael Kilcoyne Curry, Maureen Gallagher and Michael Fleming from Carrowreagh Cooper. In 1977, Gerry Brennan, Ballincurry represented the county U- 10’ s in athletics at the National Finals in Mosney. In the early eighties, involvement in Community Games was revived under the stewardship of Curry, Gerry Gallagher, Goldfield, Andrea Stenson, Carrowilkeen, Catherine Maye, Moylough, Mary T. Brennan, Drimbane, Siobhan Stenson, Moylough & Angela Gallagher, Cashel. This Committee worked tirelessly, and succeeded in bringing Curry back to the winner’s enclosure.
In 1992, and again in 1994, Tomas Colleary won gold in track and field at county level, and went on to compete at the National Finals on both occasions. Curry had a good year in 1996, when Stephen Kilcoyne and Patrick Colleary won gold at county level in the same event. Both represented the parish at the National Finals in Mosney, with Patrick winning a silver medal, and Stephen literally “pipped at the finishing line” for bronze. 1997 saw our then U- 10 Gaelic Football team entered in the games for the first time under the direction of John Colleran and Brian Brogan, and they achieved gold at county level. In 1998, Grainne Colleary represented the county in Mosney in track and field, and in 2001, Rebecca Colleran represented the county in the long puck event in Mosney. Curry has also had numerous winners of silver and bronze medals at county level in athletics and art down the years. In the late nineties, our youth were introduced to handball by the then P. P., Fr. Martin Jennings. P. J. Durcan was appointed as coach, and the team featured in the 2000 county finals, and subsequently, won a number of county titles.
Community Games Committee members in 2004 to include Rita Brett, Ann Howley, Kevrina Durkin. Marty Stenson, Michael Fleming Elaine Cunnie, Olivia Grady, Frances Cahill, J. P Duffy. Basketball teams were developed as were an indoor soccer team with the help of Sean O’Hara & Rita Brett winning the county final in 2008.
In recent years Community Games has been developed under the watchful eye of Cara Burke and Liz Haran, with 2017 committee members to include: Paul & Patricia Walsh, Denise Gilmartin, Hilary Durcan, Annemarie Spellman, Grainne Mc Loughlin, Joanne Hosey, Ciara Brennan, Shauna Quinn, Niamh Giblin and Paul Henry, with numbers increasing in track & field events, relays, swimming and Art. Curry U12 girl’s football teams were county winners in 2003, 2004, and 2005, this year’s team were unfortunate to lose the semi- final after a fantastic performance in Kent Park by 2 points. U10 mixed football team put in a gallant effort to make it to the county final this year. 2015 saw Adam & Erin Walsh and Brian Byrne represent Curry in Athlone and 2016 again Adam Walsh representing Sligo in 100m and Brian Byrne in the Long Jump.
There are numerous events in Community Games, if there is any volunteer that would like to develop any area or event we would be delighted to facilitate, it is possible, even for a small parish like ours to find something for everybody, and in so doing help to promote the Community Games motto “Mens Sana in Corpore Sano” – “A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body”.