Urgent appeal to save Community Games in Drum/Clonown area

Drum/Clonown Community Games is on the verge of being abandoned due to lack of interest being shown by parents. That's the stark message from a Roscommon Community Games official. 

And a general meeting has been arranged for this Thursday night, February 20 at 8.30pm in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone, with a view to electing a committee to keep Community Games in the area alive for 2020. 

"Please take note, all parents and club coaches, if this meeting is not successful there will be no further meetings called and that will be the end of Drum/Clonown Community Games," insists Bernie Ryan, Development Officer with Roscommon Community Games.

Ms Ryan said existing Drum/Clonown Chairperson Liam Johnson and Secretary Sheila Ward have been "carrying most of the workload" for many years. She pointed out that Liam stayed on the committee even after his own children were no longer eligible for the Games, but he has now stepped down from the organisation. "A special word of thanks goes to him from the Roscommon county executive committee for his many long years of dedication at both area, county and national level," she said. 

"The time has come for new blood to come on board. What we are looking for are new parents and parents of children that have participated in the games previously to seriously consider stepping up to the mark and getting involved in forming a committee to assist the current secretary Sheila Ward with some of the events," Ms Ryan stated. 

Local representatives from sports such as Gaelic football, soccer, swimming, gymnastics and athletics are urged to get involved. If help is not forthcoming, Ms Ryan warns that "there will be no Community Games in the largest area within the county".

"With many hundreds of children within the area, it will be a poor reflection on the adults if the games are abandoned as one person cannot carry such a big organisation in a widely populated area on their own. Why should the children miss out on competing in events to meet their talents and skills? Every child is unique and has his or her own talents and can only pursue them with the help of adults. As a parent will you feel guilty if your children misses out on participation of these events?" said Bernie.

Ms Ryan also stressed that Community Games has plenty to offer children who would be regarded as "non-sporty", and she pointed to events that come under the cultural section - art, model-making, handwriting, table quiz and table tennis.

The Drum/Clonown area was founded in 1967 and it has been very successful over the years, taking home national medals in a wide variety of sports.

Ms Ryan says that Community Games "is the only organisation in the country that provides over 40 events, both sporting and cultural, for children between the ages of 6 and 16 years of age". 

"The main objective is to provide young people with the means and the opportunity to utilise their leisure time in a healthy and productive way. The organisation is child friendly and the focus is on participation rather than winning. Children take part in friendly rivalry, in a fun and healthy way," she added.