St stephens day goal mile in castledaly

AS part of the many GOAL Mile runs taking place this year is one in Castledaly, Westmeath.

This year’s event in Castledaly starts at the GAA Club grounds in Castledaly at midday on St Stephen’s Day. Other Goal Mile events taking place in Westmeath this Christmas are at Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Grounds at 12.30pm and Multyfarnham Local Park at midday.

Westmeath GOAL Mile organisers have been busy making calls, sending emails and issuing general reminders to people throughout the county over the past week, urging them to get out and run, jog or walk the popular annual event this Christmas, and raise as much money as possible for GOAL’s programmes for the poor.

Organiser Brian Fagan said, “The GOAL Mile is a big part of Christmas for the Mullingar community. We have families who have been coming to Mile in the square since its inception. We have quite a few families with three generations who are still coming to the Mullingar GOAL Mile including one little girl who started it when she was four or five and all these years later is still coming along Christmas Morning.”

Fagan has volunteered with GOAL in over 14 countries in some of the toughest crises in the past two decades including the Tsunami in Sri Lanka in 2004 and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

“The GOAL Mile is a family event that reminds all involved of the true spirit of Christmas; to give to those who need it.” Fagan added.

The Mullingar Mile has been running for 14 years. Gerry Daly, Mullingar Ironman, will start the Mullingar GOAL Mile this year. More than 140 GOAL Miles will take place throughout Ireland this year, with an excess of 30,000 people taking part.   

Some of Ireland’s current and former sporting stars, such as Alan Brogan, and Richie Power, along with GOAL patron Rachel Allen, have teamed up this year to boost participation and introduce the event to an even wider audience.

For further information, and a full list of all GOAL Miles, visit the GOAL website at www.goalglobal.org