Galway Advertiser 1975/1975_07_10/GA_10071975_E1_009.pdf 

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Mrs. Cunningham, Chairman:

Co.

T h e i m p o r t a n t p a r t of C o m m u n i t y G a m e s is n o t t h e w i n n i n g of m e d a l s , b u t t h e friendly c o m p e t i t i o n b e t w e e n areas, that has b e e n so evident all over t h e c o u n t y since t h e G a m e s started in Galway a few short years ago. I have travelled all over t h e county and witnessed nothing b u t friendliness a n d h o s p i t a l ity from h a r d - w o r k i n g -- a n d in a n u m b e r of cases only a handful--of committee m e m bers. T h i s year in t h e c o u n t y w e involved 44 areas, a n d w h e n y o u think of t h e n u m b e r of children w h o c o m p e t e d in t h e i r local sports or trials for their t e a m , t h e n u m b e r of children involved is stagger ing--2,000 qualifying for t h e athletic finals, 198 t e a m s a n d over 200 in s w i m m i n g . A feature of this year's G a m e s was t h e n u m b e r of areas t h a t h e l d their o w n local s p o r t s , particularly in parishes for t h e very first t i m e or after a lapse of a n u m b e r of years. A n o t h e r feature of this year's G a m e s was t h e n u m b e r of areas t h a t p r o d u c e d t e a m s in a p a r t i c u lar sport t h a t t h e area was n o t n o t e d for. All of this will surely benefit t h e various sports a n d give t h e children the opportunity to experi m e n t a n d find t h e sport t o w h i c h t h e y are m o s t suited. T h e r e is t h e n a g r e a t e r liklihood of t h e m c o n t i n u i n g in sport. I w o u l d like t o t h a n k t h e P r o m o t i o n Association of t h e G a l w a y S h o p p i n g C e n t r e for n o t alone s p o n s o r i n g the G a l w a y G a m e s b u t also for involving themselves w i t h u s n o t alone t h i s year b u t also last year.

Willie Walsh, Chairman:

National

If t h e C o m m u n i t y G a m e s m e a n s involvement -- t h e n G a l w a y certainly can feel p r o u d . N o w h e r e in I r e l a n d has C o m m u n i t y G a m e s in volved sich a diversified n u m ber of people. People like o u r Mayor, the Promotion Assoc iation of t h e G a l w a y S h o p p i n g C e n t r e w h o are t h e sponsors, t h e A r m y , G a r d a i , U . C . G . , t h e clergy, n u n s , b r o t h e r s , schools a n d teachers c o u n t y sports associations, referees a n d above all -- parents and children. I feel t h a t Community G a m e s -- a s also t h e o t h e r longer established sports b o d i e s -- h a s a very i m p o r t a n t p a r t to p l a y in o c c u p y i n g t h e leisuretime of o u r youth. N o w w i t h a s h o r t e r working week it can also h e l p to o c c u p y t h e lesiuretime of a d u l t s . W i t h t h e involvement of p a r e n t s a n d their children together in their c o m m u n i t y , this should h e l p t o b r i d g e any generation g a p t h a t may exist, a n d at t h e s a m e t i m e give b o t h t h e p a r e n t s a n d t h e children a greater awareness of their c o m m u n i t y a n d their social a n d civic obligations.

A n y boy or girl interested in the C o m m u n i t y G a m e s seeking a p e n pal with similar interests s h o u l d c o n t a c t J o h n Kelly, N a t i o n a l P . R . O . , of " S i l v e r s t r e a m , " Shournagh Drive, Blarney, Co. C o r k . P h o n e 021-85382.

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