A TEAM representing Carlow won the Go for Life Games held in the DCU recently. The team was one of 24 from around the country participating in a day of fun sporting activities.
Carlow All Ireland winners at the Age Action Go for Life Games: (front row, left to right) Paddy Norris, Chris McFarlan, Noel Kehoe and Paul Maher, (back row, left to right) Pat Deering TD, Jimmy Hutton, Brendan Hearty, Michael Duke, Victor Carolan, Michael Nicholson, John McFarlan and Martha Jane Duggan (Co Carlow Sports Parthership) Photo: Karl McDonough
Now in its sixth year, the Go for Life Games is one of the biggest social sports events for older people in Ireland and this year’s event brought together 300 older players from all over Ireland to compete, to stay healthy and to have fun.
Go for Life is the national physical activity programme for older people, run by Age & Opportunity and funded by Sport Ireland. The Go for Life programme and the Games event demonstrates that sports are for everyone, not matter what age you are.
“This is my third year taking part in the Games and now we are in the winners’ enclosure!” said Carlow team mamber Michael Nicholson. “We really, really enjoyed it this year, there was something different about it, the energy and the buzz was better than ever. It’s wonderful to meet all our age group, and to have fun and a bit of craic. It’s a really great day.”
With 24 teams from 21 counties competing, Carlow faced some stiff competition on the day.
The games themselves are devised specifically for Go for Life. ‘Lobbers’ is a target game adapted from petanque and boules; ‘Scidils’ is a two-sided adaptation of ten-pin bowling but using two skittles; ‘Flisk’ is adapted from boccia and horseshoe pitching.
These games can be played and practiced by everyone, no matter what level of sporting ability.
All of the teams, made up from active retirement groups, social clubs, men’s sheds, sports clubs and other community groups, have been supported by their Local Sports Partnerships.
To find out more about Go for Life, contact Age & Opportunity on (01) 805 7738 or visit ageandopportunity.ie.
