Castlebar Community Games are struggling to remain active as a voluntary sporting and cultural organisation within the county town. The organisation has been in existence for nearly 50 years and in that time frame there has always been an opportunity for the children of the town to compete in the huge range of events which community games offer to all children from under 6 up to under 16 years.
For the past few years the organisation has survived with the goodwill of a few volunteers who have kept it going.
Numerous appeals and meetings have been aired and held without any sign of interest being shown to keep the games alive.
The time has now arrived for new volunteers, adults, parents, teachers, community members and people who benefit from their children's involvement in sport and culture to step forward. There is now a statutory responsibility for organisations to oversee and put in place people to run a club, organisation or society.
Sporting or cultural organisations like community games rely heavily on the time and commitment given by volunteers, without this the opportunities for children and young people to participate and learn new skills would not happen.
A public meeting to keep the games alive will be held on Wednesday 12th February 2025 at 7 : 30 PM in the Ivy Tower Hotel Castlebar. A spokesperson for the organisation stated that they are hopeful that people will step forward to run the games in Castlebar. The organisation runs for 7 months and when the work is spread out equally nobody is burdened with any overload of work. The few volunteers who are there at the moment are remaining on but need more help to save the games from extinction. It's only when the games are gone that parents will ask what happened. The loss of the games will affect swimmers, athletes, soccer, gaelic football, futsal, basketball, quiz, rugby, hurling. rounders, chess, badminton, handball, art, gymnastics, cycling, pitch n putt, debating, draughts, handwriting, model making and a host of cultural events like variety, group music, singing, drama, dance and comedy etc.
We believe that every child has the right to enjoy a pastime with their friends or school mates or on their own in a safe environment on a pitch, track, stage or pool. It's never too late to get involved in community games.
To learn more about community games log onto www.cairncommunitygames.ie You can make contact with Castlebar community games by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit their facebook account. Come out and support your town by attending the Castlebar community games meeting on Wednesday 12th February @ 7 : 30 PM in the Ivy Tower Hotel Castlebar.