Offaly Schools Excel at Indoor Diversity Games and Para Athletic Festival

At the recent Indoor Diversity Games and Para Athletic Festival in Athlone, schools from Offaly were to the fore in both individual and team categories.  Six of the 10 team categories contested were won by Offaly schools. 

The Indoor Diversity Games, which is organised by Offaly Sports Partnership with support from Athletics Ireland, sees schools from several counties participate annually.  The Games were originally designed to support more young people and children of an ethnic background to become involved in the sport.  To date, at least 5 young people who participated in the Games have gone on to represent Ireland in international underage competitions.

This year the Games were expanded to include events for young people and children with impairments to participate in Para Athletics. Offaly Olympian James Nolan who is head of Para Athletics at Paralympic Ireland said he was delighted to be associated with the event and commended Offaly Sports Partnership for expanding the programme and making it more inclusive for all.

Two days of indoor athletics were held; the first for primary schools, and the second for post primaries.  Minister Pippa Hackett opened the Games on the first day, with Councillor Robert McDermott, Chairperson of the Offaly Sports Partnership.  Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Councillor Eddie Fitzpatrick, was in attendance on the second day.  Sport Ireland, Athletics Ireland, and Paralympics Ireland had representation at the Games on both days.

The Offaly schools that participated in the Primary School events were

• Mercy Primary School Birr,
• Scoil Eoin Phoil Tullamore,
• Scoil Mhuire Tullamore
• St Brendan’s Boys School Birr,
• St Marys Edenderry,
• St Patrick’s Edenderry,
• St Rynagh’s National School Banagher
• Tullamore Educate Together, and
• Coolderry Central National School  

The Offaly Post Primary schools were: -

• Ard Schoil Chiaráin Naofa Clara,
• Sacred Heart Tullamore,
• St Brendan’s Community School Birr,
• St Mary’s Secondary School Edenderry, and 
• Tullamore College

In the team competitions for primary schools, the overall winners were:

• 3rd/4th Class Girls – Scoil Mhuire Tullamore;
• 3rd/4th Boys – Tullamore Educate Together;
• 5th/6th Class Girls – Presentation Primary School Portarlington;
• 5th/6th Class Boys – Merlin Woods National School Galway. 

In the team competitions for post primary schools, Tullamore College had great success claiming victory in four of six categories contested.

• Junior Girls – Tullamore College;
• Junior Boys – Moyne Community School Longford;
• Intermediate Girls – Tullamore College;
• Intermediate Boys – Tullamore College;
• Senior Girls – Tullamore College;
• Senior Boys – Summerhill College Sligo. 

Check out our social media channels for images and video from each of the days

ENDS

For information on the Diversity Games and Para-athletics, as well as other inclusive athletic events supported by Offaly Sports Partnership, contact Eamonn Henry on 086 794 8054 or email