Local events a chance to work off festive feasting ...
With three Goal Mile events taking place in Westmeath and one in Roscommon, there’s no excuse not to fit in some exercise over the festive period this year.
Padraig Pearses GAA, based in south Roscommon, hosts a Goal Mile at its club grounds in Woodmount on Christmas Day from 11.30am to 1.30pm, with Castledaly also staging such an event on St Stephen’s Day at 12.00.
In addition to the Castledaly Goal Mile, the other Westmeath events are in Mullingar Shamrocks GAA grounds in Springfield on Christmas Day, 10.30am-12.30pm, and at Gaine Park, Multyfarnham, also on Christmas Day at 1.00.
Garrycastle GAA club hosts the Derek Daly Memorial 5k run on St Stephen’s Day (registration in Garrycastle GAA clubhouse at 11am). Also, a 6k Fun Run/Walk takes place in Kilbeggan on the same date (December 26) at 12pm.
However, Athlone Swimming Club’s Santa Splash event which was due to take place at Lough Ree Yacht Club on St Stephen’s Day has been postponed.
The decision was taken in the interest of health and safety due to rising water levels.
The event - which was organised to raise funds for chosen charity Athlone Midlands Samaritans and for the swimming club - is now expected to go ahead some time in February. A busy swimming schedule means it’s unlikely to take place in January.
Meanwhile, the annual Goal Mile fundraiser is now in its 34th year. It regularly attracts tens of thousands of participants, and more than 130 miles will be held across the country over the coming days.
Goal CEO, Barry Andrews, said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone who helps make the Goal Mile such a popular event, particularly the organisers without whom it would be impossible to stage on such a scale.”
“As always, funds raised by the Goal Mile will go to support our programmes in the developing world – a Christmas gift, as it were, from the Irish people to those less well-off than us,” he added.
Goal is hoping this year’s Miles will help highlight the plight of people displaced from Syria, South Sudan and other conflict regions of the world.
To learn more about Goal’s work, or to donate, visit goalglobal.org
Festive Exercise Options
Christmas Day
*Padraig Pearses GAA Club, Creagh, Ballinasloe, Time: 11:30am - 1.30pm. GOAL Organiser: Ollie Moore Phone: 086 8595186.
*Tyrrellspass Community Games, 1-mile Christmas Morning Walk, 11am, St Stephen’s Church.
*Goal Mile, Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Club, 10.30am-12.30pm.
*Goal Mile, Tullamore Harriers Running Ground, 10am to noon.
*Goal Mile, Gaine Park, Multyfarnham, noon.
St Stephen’s Day
*Derek Daly Memorial Run 5k - registration in Garrycastle GAA clubhouse at 11am, race starts at 12.00.
*Goal Mile, Castledaly GAA, 12.00 to 2pm. Organiser: Dermot Walshe (086 8583140). Donations collected on the day.
*Kilbeggan - 6k Fun Run/Walk. Market Square Kilbeggan, 12.00. AAI Approved permit, chip time. Prize money. All proceeds to Children’s Medical & Research Foundation, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin. Organiser: Dermot Smith. Registration on race day or alternatively online at https://register.primoevents.com/ps/event/StStephensDayFunRun2015