'Five decades of good work' may be lost if new committee for local sporting organisation is not found

A public meeting is being held tonight (Tuesday, March 5) as part of an effort to keep the Castlebar Community Games open this year.

The Community Games in Castlebar are currently being held together by three volunteers who have stated they will remain involved in the organisation but new regulations now mean that they cannot continue this practice due to new rules and regulations as agreed in a strategic plan.

They have made a heartfelt appeal to parents, guardians, volunteers and to the cultural and sporting organisations to step forward in order to save the Castlebar Community Games from closure this year.

“Volunteers are needed to form an officership and committee to continue the good work that has seen hundreds of young children compete each year from the Castlebar area,” they said in a statement.

The volunteer organisation, which organises participation in sporting events for hundreds of young sportspeople in the Castlebar competing in a wide variety of sports including athletics, swimming, soccer, gaelic, chess, draughts, art, futsal, rugby, badminton and more.

They also cater for many cultural events such as dancing, singing, music and drama. The current committee have said that all of these activities will be affected if the games are unable to proceed this year.

“Community Games in Castlebar has always produced strong teams of young children and individuals at area, county, provincial and national level down the years. Unless progress is made towards forming a new committee all the good work over five decades will be lost," they added.

They have said that tonight’s meeting will be a last opportunity for volunteers to step forward before any final decision is made about the future of the Community Games. The meeting will discuss what supports exist in order to keep the Community Games alive in Castlebar.

The meeting will be held tonight at 7pm in the Ivy Tower Hotel, Castlebar.