Community Games National Area, Volunteer and Media Awards 2016

Ballymahon Forgney take home the Overall Trophy!

On Saturday 26th November, over 350 Community Games volunteers from all over Ireland attended the National Area, Volunteer and Media Awards in the Salthill Hotel in Galway.   MC for the night was Tony O'Donoghue and distinguished guests included former Olympian Olive Loughnane, Minister Sean Canney, Deputy Mayor of Galway Pearce Flannery, County Galway GAA Chairman Noel Treacy, Former DTTAS Secretary Donagh Morgan, Councillor Peter Keane, Philp Gillen of the HSE, Brighid Carson of INM Group and Aidan Doyle of Kia Ireland.  

The Awards Ceremony is now in its 24th year and is one of Community Games most celebrated and prestigious events with over 100 prizes being awarded on the night. Adult and Youth Volunteers are the cornerstone on which Community Games is built and these Awards reflect the tremendous work being carried out at grassroots level across all four Provinces.

Media winners were nominated and judged in a variety of categories such as best ‘Social Media’, ‘Best Regional Newspaper’, ‘Best Area PRO’ and the Irish Independent sponsored ‘Best Published Article and Best Published Picture’. The marketing of Community Games at regional level is as important as the marketing at National level and something we encourage among all of our volunteers. 
 
The night was particularly special for Jimmy O'Regan in Limerick who won a brand new Kia cee'd GT Line sponsored by the Official Car Partner Kia Ireland.  The raffle was held ahead of the Golden Jubilee with tickets being sold Nationwide from last August.  Each Area that sold tickets retained 70% of the proceeds to assist in their drive to raise development funds for their own areas. Runner up prizes for The Golden Jubilee Raffle were Hotel Vouchers from 12 Irish Hotels. The Golden Jubilee raffle proved to be so successful that a separate draw was held for the many areas who sold over 4 books of tickets with Steelstown in Derry winning €500.

​Olive Loughnane, a former Community Games participant, Olympian and 2009 World Champion in athletics said: "When I was picked to go to Mosney in 1992 it felt like I had qualified for the Olympics! I was a late developer and being chosen to be on the team was an amazing confidence boost for me. I made some wonderful friends and great memories. I remember trying my best and not being too concerned whether I won or lost once I knew I had tried my best. That has been my philosophy ever since and I consistently always strive to do my best, win, lose or draw! I would like to thank all the volunteers in Community Games who promote sport, friendship and friendly competition on a daily basis and say well done to all the winners on their awards tonight."

Gerry Davenport, President of Community Games said: 
"I would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers in Community Games who give so much of themselves and expect so very little in return, and to our funders and the HSE may I take this opportunity to also say thank you for your continued support. "
 
Joe Fox, General Vice President said: 
"The Area Awards reward all of those who work at grassroots level. It is a joy to see so many selfless people here tonight being presented with prizes!"

Bernie Brennan, PR and Communications Director said: 
“Community Games has always moved with the times. There is a tremendous amount of exceptional work being done at a local level, especially in terms of Social Media engagement and we are delighted to see the trend of engaging facebook and website pages being developed and maintained by our busy and enterprising volunteers. Well done to all the winners."

There was much cheering as Ballymahon Forgney were crowned overall Area Winners on the night for the second year running! Ballymahon Forgney were also awarded the Steps to Health 2016 Gold quality standard - one of only three areas across the country to be honoured in this way. 

One of the highlights of the night was when MC Tony O'Donoghue led the way as Community Games took part in the Mannequin Challenge. Take a look: 

As Community Games gears up for its 2017 Jubilee celebrations one thing is for sure – the possibilities are endless. ​
​Please see below for a full list of the winners on the night. ​

Adult Winners
Noreen Hynes, Askea, Co. Carlow
Fionnuala McGahern, Co. Cavan
Anne Arthur O Brien, Co. Clare
Breda Norris O Sullivan, Co. Cork
Joanne Toland Doherty, Co. Derry 
Mary O Donnell, Co. Donegal 
Brian McManus, Co. Dublin
Tony Lee, Co. Galway 
Sean Daly, Co. Kerry 
Rita Timmons, Co. Kildare
Liz Gowing, Co. 
Siobhan Whelan, Co. 
Trish Aherne, Co.  
Michelle Mulvey, Co.  
Trudi McGuinness, Co. Louth
Hugh Lynn, Co.  
Vinny Donnelly, Co. 
Father Peader Corrigan, Co.  
John Malone, Co.  
Joe Henry, Co. 
Margaret Cavanagh, Co. Sligo
Deirdre Ryan, Co.  Tipperary
Geraldine Barry, Co. Waterford
Jason Moran, Co. Wexford
Fiona Kelly ShannonCo. Wicklow

Youth Winners
Francis Whelan - Hacketstown, Co. Carlow
Cian Madden - Erne Valley, Co. Cavan
Lauren McConway - Quin/Clooney, Co. Clare
Jodie Cusack - Awbeg, Co. Cork
Aleesha Herron - Fanad, Co. Donegal
Patrick Sullivan - Gort, Co. Galway 
Cassandra Myers - Keel/Kiltalagh, Co. Kerry
Cliodhna O Connor - Kilcullen, Co. Laois
Kyle  McNabola - Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim
Noelle Curtin - Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick
Conor English - Lanesboro, Co. Longford
Tara McGuinness & Ardee & Reaghstown, Co. Louth
James Durkan -  Boardsmill, Co.  Meath
Darren Marrtin - Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
Rebecca Healy - Ferbane, Co. Offaly
Craig Traynor - Elphin, Co. Roscommon
Eimear Harte - St. Michaels, Co. Sligo
Calumn Cooke - Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
Courtney Power - Clonea/Rathgormack, Co. Waterford
Dylan Kehoe - Glynn/Barntown, Co. Wexford

Small Area Winners
Kilkishen/O'Callaghans Mills Oatfield, Co. Clare
Awbeg, Co. Cork
Ramelton, Co. Donegal 
Abbeydorney/Kilflynn, Co. Kerry
Maynooth East, Co. Kildare
Killeshin, Co. Laois
Lough Allen, Co. Leitrim
Broadford Dromcollogher, Co.  Limerick
Newtowncashel, Co. Longford
Foxford, Co. Mayo
Clonard/Killyon, Co. Meath
Tyholland, Co. Monaghan
 FBD, Co. Roscommon
Gurteen, Co. Sligo
Templederry, Co. Tipperary
Clonea/Rathgormack, Co. Waterford
Glynn/Barntown, Co. ​Wexford

​Large Area Winners
Askea, Co. Carlow
Erne Valley, Co. Cavan
Quin Clooney, Co. Clare
Beara, Co. Cork
Long Tower, Co. Derry
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Iona, Co. Dublin
Athenry, Co. Galway
Kenmare, Co. Kerry
St Brigid's Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Emo Rath, Co. Laois
Manorhamilton, Co.  Leitrim
Ballybrown/Clarina, Co. Limerick
Ballymahon/Forgney, Co. Longford
Ardee and Reaghstown, Co. Louth
Breaffy, Co. Mayo
Slane, Co. Meath
Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
Ferbane, Co. Offaly
Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon  
St. Mary's, Co. Sligo
Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Tramore, Co. Waterford
Piercestown - Murrinstown, Co. Wexford
Aughrim/Annacurra, Co. Wicklow

Provincial Winners
Munster - Quin Clooney
Leinster - Ballymahon/Forgney
Connaught - St Mary's
Ulster - Letterkenny

Overall Winner
Ballymahon/Forgney 

Media Award Winners
Runner Up Regional Paper: Seamus Hayes, Clare Champion
Runner Up PRO: Mary Phelan
Runner Up Regional Paper: Peter Campbell, Donegal Democrat
Runner Up PRO: Michael Crossan
Overall Regional Paper: John Foley, Carlow Nationalist
Overall PRO:Noreen Hynes
Social Media: Ronan Gately, Dublin Community Games Facebook Page
Facebook Photo: Nicola Lalor, Offaly Community Games
Best Website:Rob Stephen, Clare Community Games
Radio:John Mulligan, Galway Bay FM
Irish Independent Sponsored Best Published Article: Michael Crossan, Donegal
Irish Independent Sponsored Best Published Photo: Alf Harvey, Laois 

JUBILEE RAFFLE DRAW
​Car: Jimmy O Regan. Co. Limerick.
Salthill Hotel: Veronica Walsh. Co. Limerick
Shamrock Lodge Hotel:.Loughglynn C.G. c/o Margaret Flanagan. Co. Roscommon
City Hotel Derry: Rebecca Lloyd. Co. Kerry
Mulligar Park Hotel: Karen Starr. Co. Tipperary
Strand Hotel Limerick: Shauna Ora Tierney. Co. Galway
Raheen Woods Hotel Galway: Killian Cullagh. Co. Tipperary
CastleTroy Park Hotel: Mary Moroney. Co. Tipperary
Corralea Court Hotel: Kilteely C.G. c/o Noreen O' Dea. Co. Limerick
Station House Donegal Hotel: Anne Taaffe. Co. Sligo
Kilmurry Lodge Hotel Limerick: Sean Doyle. Co. Leitrim
Woodlands Hotel Limerick: Athenry C.G. c/o John Kelly. Co. Galway
McGettigans Hotel Limerick: Danny Patton. Co. Donegal