40 years of community action

The recently concluded 40th season of Clare Community Games was most successful, offering a choice of over 35 sporting and cultural activities to participants from 38 areas across the county.
The county athletic finals in Lees Road in June is a special day for up to 1,500 athletes,  with their sights set  on representing their community and county at the national finals.
Community Games has three national final weekends in Athlone because of the vast range of events available to children.
Many of those who have represented Clare at the national finals have gone on to represent their country in a variety of disciplines
National Community Games has undertaken a rationalisation process, which will result in some new events being introduced to allow children to sample activities, rather than just providing more competitions for children already in clubs. Plans are also in motion to provide a registration number for all competitors, which in time will result in waving goodbye to chasing for birth certificates by county and area secretaries
The 2012 season has already commenced with indoor soccer competitions for boys and girls, which saw record entries of 40 teams from areas around the county.
The Clare executive’s plea for 2012 is for more adults and youths to lend a hand and help with the organising of the games at area and/or county level
To mark the 40th anniversary of Clare Community Games, Clare County Council accorded the organisation a civic reception
Over 300 children represented their communities and county at the national finals, bringing home 216 gold, silver, bronze and fourth place medals
In total 75 competitors were recognised for outstanding achievement at the 35th  Clare All-Star awards ceremony
Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry won the provincial award for the most involved Community Games Area in Munster.
The youth section continues to play a pivotal role in the organisation and running of the numerous events at area and county level and also assist at the national finals in Athlone.
Community Games is now an all-year round organisation providing children between six and 16 with a wide range of  activities. All details are available on  www.clarecommunitygames.ie.

Important dates
Tuesday, January 10: county meeting at West county hotel, Ennis, 9pm.
Saturday, January 21: indoor soccer u-15 girls at Corofin.
Friday, February 24, to Sunday, February 26: national AGM at Strand Hotel, Limerick.
Saturday, February 25: Munster meeting at Strand hotel, Limerick.
Saturday, March 31: Munster finals at UL.