National Play Day event in Athlone hailed a success

National Play Day was celebrated in Athlone Regional Sports Centre on Friday, July 7 and was an overwhelming success.

This second annual event was hosted as an open event for all young people across Westmeath.

Over 350 people in attendance which included youths from youth projects in Athlone, Mullingar and other rural areas of Westmeath. Ukrainian and internationl children were also supported to attend from their accommodations centres across the county.

The event provided both structured and unstructured play. It hosted nature camps, magic shows and facepainting as well as different sports tasters such as soccer skills, karate, orienteering, pickleball and table tennis.

An area was available to the youngest of the guests who had giant jenga, pot luck and walking frames to play with. A picnic was provided for the attendees and a small toy given to all children present.

This year's Play Day was supported by Westmeath County Council, Westmeath Community Development, Westmeath Sports Partnership, Westmeath Public Participation Network, Athlone Family Resource Centre and Athlone Regional Sports Centre.

Westmeath County Council would like to thank all the agencies supported the event.