Aldi Community Games in association with the HSE, Health Promotion & Improvement, along with special guest Dublin GAA star James McCarthy, hosted an event on Saturday January 19th. in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, to recognise the 39 Aldi Community Games Areas who took part in the 2018 ‘Steps to Health’ initiative.
 
‘Steps to Health’ is a quality standard administered by Aldi Community Games in conjunction with the HSE, Health Promotion & Improvement.   It is a community-led health promotion initiative where Aldi Community Games Areas promote healthy active lifestyles in their Communities under the following categories:
 
Nutrition, Mental Health, Sun Safety, Physical Activity, Substance Misuse, Health Promotion Strategy, Youth Empowerment, Health and Safety, Equality and Inclusion and Child Protection.
 
Speaking at the event James McCarthy, 6 times All-Ireland winner, Dublin GAA footballer said “It’s uplifting to see so many Community Games Areas take part in this health promotion initiative.  Community Games is unique in all it has to offer young people in terms of sport and cultural activities and is an ideal antidote to the pressures of technology and social media that young people have nowadays. I’m delighted to support this very worthwhile event”
 
Fergal Fox of the HSE commented, “The Steps to Health initiative recognises the vital role all Community Games volunteers play in encouraging young people to make positive lifestyle choices in all aspects of their lives. The initiative offers an incentive to all areas to adopt a more holistic approach to health promotion by rewarding those areas who promote different aspects of healthier living such as healthy eating, physical activity and mental health among others.”
 
Lisamarie McCooey of Carrickmacross-Corduff Community Games (Steps to Health Gold winner) said, “Our area are delighted we took part in Steps to Health again this year and were surprised to see just how achievable it was as we were already doing so many of the steps.  Steps to Health really made us focus our attention on what is really important for both the children and the volunteers in our organisation, such as physical activity, mental health and equality & inclusion.  It was amazing to see how small simple steps created such big smiles for the children.  It helped place a stronger emphasis on all Community Games has to offer, and took the focus away from the competitive elements.  It's a very worthwhile event to get involved in and we would definitely recommend it to all areas.  We're looking forward now to 2019 to continue with this programme and see what other small changes we can make to further enhance Community Games in our area.”
 
How to engage in ‘Steps to Health’
 
To take part the Area must register on the Community Games website using the online portal. The Area must then submit their entry with supporting information on how they promoted the various elements of ‘Steps to Health’ across the year. Entries are judged by the HSE and Aldi Community Games.
Successful Areas will achieve a Gold, Silver or Bronze standard in ‘Steps to Health’.
 
Once an Area achieves any of the above standards they receive the following -

The Area can display their Steps to Health Standard logo on all promotional activity.

• Each standard contributes significantly towards the points allocated to Areas for the National Area Awards. 
• Each standard gives free Aldi Community Games Area Affiliation for the following year
• Each standard has a monetary incentive associated with it

List of Awardees
Askea - Carlow
Athenry - Galway
Aughrim/Annacurra - Wicklow
Ballaghaderreen - Roscommon
Ballon/Rathoe - Carlow
Ballymahon/Forgney - Longford
Ballynacally/Lissycasey - Clare
Ballyshannon - Donegal
Baltinglass - Wicklow
Boardsmill - Meath
Bohola - Mayo
Bruree/Rockhill - Limerick
Cappagh - Limerick
Carrickmacross/Corduff - Monaghan
Castlebridge/Crossabeg - Wexford
Clonbroney - Longford
Clonea/Rathgormack - Waterford
Cranford - Donegal
Doora Barefield - Clare
Drumcliffe - Sligo
Duagh/Lyre Community Games - Kerry
Duleek - Meath
Dunshaughlin/Culmullen - Meath
Erne Valley – Cavan
Ferbane - Offaly
Lisdoonvarna, Doolin, Kilfenora and Killshanee - Clare
Long Tower  - Derry
Longwood - Meath
Lusk - Dublin
Murroe/Boher - Limerick
Portlaw/Ballyduff - Waterford
Quin/Clooney - Clare
Ratoath/Rathbeggan - Meath
Riverstown - Sligo
Rosses Point - Sligo
Shinrone/Coolderry - Offaly
St Marys - Sligo
St Senans - Limerick
Tulla - Carlow

Community Games Steps to Health Awards Luncheon, The Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone Saturday Jan 19th 2019
 
Aldi Community Games with special guest Dublin GAA star James McCarthy, will host an event on Saturday January 19th at 1.30 p.m. in the shamrock Lodge Hotel, to recognise the 39 Aldi Community Games Areas who took part in the 2018 Aldi Community Games ‘Steps to Health’ HSE initiative.

‘Steps to Health’ is a quality standard administered by Aldi Community Games in conjunction with the HSE, Health Promotion & Improvement.   It is a community-led health promotion initiative where Aldi Community Games Areas  promote healthy active lifestyles in their Communities under the following categories:
Nutrition, Mental Health, Sun Safety, Physical Activity, Substance Misuse, Health Promotion Strategy, Youth Empowerment, Health and Safety, Equality and Inclusion and Child Protection.

Format of the day

• Lunch at 2pm
• Aldi Community Games President Gerry Davenport will welcome everyone.
• A representative from the HSE will address all Awardees and Community Games Volunteers.
• Q&A on the importance of healthy active lives, wellbeing, healthy diet etc. with Dublin All Ireland Winning Footballer James McCarthy.
• Areas who received a standard will be presented with their Certificate by the HSE, Aldi Community Games and James McCarthy.

How to engage in ‘Steps to Health’
To take part the Area must register on here using the online portal. The Area must then submit their entry with supporting information on how they promoted the various elements of ‘Steps to Health’ across the year. Entries are judged by the HSE and Aldi Community Games.

Successful Areas will achieve a Gold, Silver or Bronze standard in ‘Steps to Health’.
Once an Area achieves any of the above standards they receive the following -

• The Area can display their Steps to Health Standard logo on all promotional activity.
• Each standard contributes significantly towards the points allocated to Areas for the National Area Awards. 
• Each standard gives free Aldi Community Games Area Affiliation for the following year
• Each standard has a monetary incentive associated with it

Visit the Community Games Steps to Health webpage for more information

A super night for our Volunteers was celebrated in the Cavan Crystal Hotel at our annual National Area, Volunteer and Media Awards on 2nd December 2018.
 
The 4 Provincial Winners were:
 
Leinster - Ballymahon Forgney Community Games
Munster - Doora Barefield Community Games
Ulster - Carrickmacross Community Games
Connaught - Ballahaderreen Community Games
 
Overall winners on the night were Ballaghaderreen Community Games in Co. Roscommon.
 
Each of the 4 Provincial Winners were also recipients of a Steps to Health Standard and this contributed to their overall score.
 
Youth Nominees
Carlow                                  Caoimhe O'Neill
Cavan                                   Amanda Brady
Clare                                     Mark Nestor
Cork                                      Anna Kellegher
Donegal                               Roisin McGongle
Kerry                                    Ciara Hudson
Laois                                     Eddie Allen
Leitrim                                  Peter Winters
Limerick                               Eleanor O'Brien
Longford                              Ollie Duffy
Mayo                                     Meabh O'Shea
Meath                                   Niall Durkan
Offaly                                    David Gavin
Roscommon                         Omar Jaffar
Tipperary                              Denise Cullagh
Waterford                              Danni Cunningham
Wexford                                Kate Byrne
 
Adult Nominees
Carlow                                  Eddie Corcoran
Cavan                                   Dympna Sheils
Clare                                     Brendan Cusack
Derry                                     Monica Jarvis
Donegal                                Manus O'Donnell
Dublin                                   Margaret Bourke
Galway                                  Kevin Larkin
Kerry                                     Owen Stack
Kildare                                  Tom Cross
Laois                                       Mary Dwyer
Leitrim                                   Joe Giblin
Limerick                                Larry Roche
Longford                               Mark Leonard
Louth                                     Deirdre McTeggart
Mayo                                     Liz Chambers
Meath                                   Mary T Durkan
Monaghan                          Leo Marron
Offaly                                    Carmel Doyle
Roscommon                       Darren Traynor
Sligo                                        John Walsh
Tipperary                              Jim Ryan
Waterford                              Therese Connolly
Wexford                                 Mary McDonald
Wicklow                                Maura Reid
 
Small Area Nominees
Clare                                     Feakle
Donegal                               Clonmanny
Dublin                                   Phibsboro
Kerry                                     Valentia Island
Kildare                                  Confey
Laois                                      Killeshin
Leitrim                                  Lough Allen
Limerick                               Bruree/Rockhill
Longford                              Dromard
Meath                                    Longwood
Roscommon                       Aughrim/Kilmore
Tipperary                             Mullinahone
Wexford                               Kilanerin
 
Large Area Nominees
Carlow                                 Askea
Cavan                                  Erne Valley
Clare                                    Doora/Barefield
Derry                                    Longtower
Donegal                               Ballyshannon
Dublin                                  Lucan
Galway                                 Athenry
Kerry                                     Duagh/Lyre
Kildare                                St Brigids Newbridge
Laois                                     Stradbally
Leitrim                                 Carick-on-Shannon
Limerick                              Caherdavin
Longford                             Ballymahon/Fornegy
Louth                                    Drogheda South
Mayo                                     Breaffy
Meath                                  Ratoath/Rathbeggan
Monaghan                         Carrickmacross
Offaly                                    Ferbane
Roscommon                      Ballaghadereen
Sligo                                       Rosses Point
Tipperary                            St Flannans Bournea
Waterford                           KCK
Wexford                               Castlebridge / Crossabeg
Wicklow                               Aughrim/Annacurra
 
Well done to all our Media Award Winners as well and to Ballaghaderreen Community Games who won a Special Achievement Award for their work with children in the Direct Provision Centre and for being shortlisted for an EU Be Inclusive in Sport Award in Brussels in November.

On Saturday 20th October all County Secretaries, Children Officers and Treasurers are asked to attend the Aldi Community Games Training Workshop.  To confirm your attendance please email admin@communitygames.ie 

 The AVM awards will be held in Cavan Crystal Hotel on Saturday 1st December.
 
Hotel Accommodation can be booked by contacting Cavan Crystal Hotel 049 4360600 or email sales@cavancrystalhotel.com
 
Hotel rates are as follows:
Single rate:  Bed & Breakfast - €75.00
Double/Twin – Bed & Breakfast - €120
Please mention Community Games when booking.
 
Kilmore Hotel is the overflow hotel which is 4-minute drive from Cavan Crystal Hotel: 
Single: Bed & Breakfast - €99.00
Double/Twin -  Bed & Breakfast - €140.
 
Appointments can be booked in Cavan Crystal Hotel by contacting the following:
Evita Hair  -       049 4360660
Utopia Beauty - 049 4360675
 
Invitations / Tickets:
Complimentary tickets will be allocated to each County (for the Volunteer’s/Area nominees who confirm their attendance) – they will be allocated as follows; one for the Area winners, one for the Youth Volunteer Recognition Award winner (there will be one extra Youth ticket available for purchase at half price), one for the Adult Volunteer Recognition Award winner and two for County Executive members.
 
Extra tickets will be available for purchase from Community Games, they cost €50 each., this can be done via link on the website, details to follow. Each County nominates a person from their County Executive who will be responsible for confirming the number of Complimentary tickets and for confirming and paying for the number of purchased tickets. All members and nominees wishing to purchase extra tickets will contact this County representative directly. This total number of tickets will be final and each County will be invoiced directly for the amount of tickets they confirm by 5:00pm on the 16th November. Payment to be arranged in advance. No cash or cheques will be accepted on the night. 

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, and the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD, are pleased to announce that the 2018 Sports Capital Programme is now open for applications.

Applications are being sought from sports clubs, voluntary and community groups, national governing bodies of sport and local authorities.  Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs. 

Following a review of the last round of the programme it has been agreed that an even greater emphasis should be placed on applications for facilities in disadvantaged areas. Accordingly, any assistance you can provide in terms of raising awareness of the programme and increasing applications from these areas would be appreciated.

THE CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATION IS 5PM ON FRIDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2018.
​
THE CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS IS 5PM ON FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER 2018.

Click here to apply

What a weekend it was in University of Limerick from 18th to 19th August.  Thousands of kids came to Limerick to run, play and jump!  Medals galore and some sunshine added to the smiles on everyone's faces. 

For the first time ever we live-streamed all our races and had a big screen on campus of 25m2 so that no one missed out.  We also filmed most events and you can visit our Facebook page to relive your favourite moments. 

Paul O'Connell, Ciara Neville, Molly Scott and Michéal Donoghue joined us over the weekend to hand out medals and to support the children. 

We also had great interaction at our 3 sponsor zones - Aldi, HSE and Kia Ireland and we were delighted to see children of all ages eating and drinking healthy and wearing some very colourful Make a START t-shirts! 

​All the results from the weekend are here. 

As usual Sportsfile were our go-to photographers on site as well as our volunteers Anthony Leonard,  Michael Brophy and Joe Sheeran! 

Calling all Sports Clubs!

Athletics Ireland is currently recruiting stewards for the Rock n Roll Half Marathon on Sunday 12th August. They require course marshals to cover from 07:45-12:00 along the Dublin City Centre route.

Grants of €30 per person will be paid to clubs for stewards provided so this can be a great fundraising opportunity for clubs. Clubs and organisations  from all sports are welcome, and all clubs will be well briefed beforehand so no previous experience is required.

Athletics Ireland require over 500 marshals for the event, so will be more than happy to take groups of any size (big or small!) All marshals will also receive a goody bag and tee-shirt. If your club or organisation is interested in helping out please contact Sliabh Wells at any time on 085-7638827 or email sliabhwells@athleticsireland.ie. 

Kind Regards,
Sliabh Wells
Recreational Running Manager
Athletics Ireland

What do Ciara Neville, Patience Jumbo Gula, Gina Akpe Moses and Molly Scott have in common?

Well besides making history and winning silver in the 4 x 100m in the World U20 Championships, they are ALL former Aldi Community Games participants!


Gina and Patience represented Louth Community Games, Ciara was part of Limerick Community Games and Molly represented Carlow Community Games. 

We were delighted to have Paul O'Connell as our guest of honour on 27th May in UL as we launched our May Festival.  Take a look at some of the photos from the event.