Community Games awards for Clare ­Champion sports editor and photographer

The Clare Champion’s coverage of Community Games activities was recognised once again at the organisation’s annual general meeting, which took place at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone last weekend.
Photographer John Kelly added to his recent success at the PPAI photographic awards when he was presented with the best action award for 2009, while Sports Editor Seamus Hayes accepted a special award for the paper’s weekly coverage of Community Games activities.
This was the newspaper’s 12th successive year being honoured for its coverage of Community Games affairs.
There was also an award for county secretary Mary Phelan, who is currently also filling the role of PRO for the Clare organisation.
Among the many guests attending the conference were Fr Brown, president, Roscommon Community Games, the hosts of this year’s annual meeting; Frank Dawson, county manager, Roscommon County Council; Tony Ward, chairman, Roscommon County Council and Mayor of Roscommon; Marie Ahern, Irish Sports Council; Maria Lordan Dunphy and Miriam Stack, HSE, sponsors of the national organisation.
More than 300 members from all counties were in attendance to witness the election of the new board of directors and to air their views on all the motions and recommendations put before them over the three-day event.
Among the decisions made were the introduction of a javelin competition for boys’ U-16 and discus competition for girls’ U-16, while there is also to be a handwriting competition for U-10 boys and girls.
Speaking at the AGM, Miceal Curley, president, HSE Community Games, paid tribute to the Irish Sports Council “for their continued financial support and professional guidance.
“A volunteering policy is in the process of being drafted which we hope will appeal to and entice new people to become involved, particularly at area level. This will be one of our key priorities in the coming year”. 
The HSE Community Games is an independent voluntary organisation operating in nearly 700 local communities throughout Ireland. 
The board of directors for 2010 is:president, Miceal Curley, Sligo; deputy president, Mike Bourke, Cork; general vice-president, Carmel Grealy, Galway; company secretary, Maureen Quinlan, Dublin; general treasurer, Michael O’Grady, Galway; activities director, Conal Duffy, Galway; PR and marketing director, Margaret Bolton, Sligo; security director, Clifford Kelly, Cavan; youth director, Kevin Doyle, Offaly; directors, John Drake, Down; Peggy Connolly, Monaghan; Tony Lee, Galway; Seamus Lawlor, Wicklow; Margaret Culloty, Kerry; Margaret Carroll, Laois; Pauline Martin O’Rourke, Tipperary and Gerry Davenport, Donegal; children’s officer, Mary Leydon, Sligo.