WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY GAMES

​Community Games was founded in 1967 to provide young people with the means and the opportunity to utilise their leisure time in a healthy and productive manner.

The Organisation is child-centred and the focus is on participation rather than winning. Children compete in friendly rivalry, in a fun and healthy way. 

To qualify for the National Festivals individual competitors must first compete at an area, then at County and sometimes at Provincial level. 7,000 children compete in the National Festivals every year.

Many National Sporting and Cultural heroes have at one stage or another partaken in the Community Games - including:  Sonia O’Sullivan, Susan Smith-Walsh, Karen Shinkins, Mark Carroll, Niall Quinn, Catherina McKiernan, Eamon Coughlan, Denis Irwin, Terry McHugh, Stephen Roche, John Treacy, Roy Keane, Stephen Staunton, Ruby Walsh, Michael Carruth, Adrian O’Connor, Sarah Kelleher, Gary O’Toole, John Donnelly (The Saw Doctors), Maeve McGrath (Fair City), Sinead Jennings (World Rowing Champion), Patricia Breen (World Draughts Champion), Emily Maher (Youth Olympics Champion), Noel Mannion, Sinead Jennings, All-Ireland Hurler Brian Whelehan, Armagh All-Star Kiernan McGeeney along with rugby stars Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, John Hayes, Keith Woods, Paul O'Connell, Tommy Bowe, Donnacha O'Callaghan and Frankie Sheahan, Popstars Westlife and Jedward, Hollywood star Colin Farrell, Niall Breslin (Bressie), Una Hayes (of The Saturdays), Niall Horan of One Direction, Grainne Murphy (Olympic Swimmer), Sarah Lavin (European Hurdles Champion) and Donna and Joseph McCaul of Euro Vision Fame!