A GLIMPSE of Ireland’s future was on display at the final day of the HSE Community Games yesterday. It is only now that the huge migration to Ireland, which was a feature of the last decade, has begun to filter through to the country’s greatest gathering of sporting youth.
For many the athletics are the highlight of the entire games and the names appearing in yesterday finals at the Athlone Institute of Technology reflected the multicultural country that Ireland is becoming.
In the under-10 boys’ 100 metres Toriq Adegoke, representing Carlow and born in Ireland of Nigerian parents, edged out Nigerian-born Emmanuel Odeniyi, representing Kildare, to finish 1st and 2nd respectively. Chibikem Okoye from Clare was fourth. Omasan Ayavoro from Kildare lost out on a gold medal in the final stride to Ellen Lynch from Limerick in the under-8 girls’ 60 metres and Sultan Akinwale won silver in the under-8 boys’ 60 metres, finishing just behind Wicklow’s Alan Miley.
There was no miracle for Miracle Duru representing Waterford who was beaten in the under-12 boys’ 100 metres in a storming finish by Wexford’s Ryan Murray.
Though the HSE Community Games has employed an integration development officer, the children of immigrants themselves hardly need any encouragement. It is often the parents that have to be persuaded, according to the game’s chief executive Fiachra Ó Mathuna.
“Community games networks grow up over generations and we’re trying to expand into new communities. Ireland needs more of that. There are areas built up in the last couple of years where we are weak, where there are new communities. It is starting to happen, but there is a lot more potential. We are only beginning to tap it,” he said.
In an athletics meeting with many close finishes, there were stand-out performances from Sligo’s Zac Irwin who won the under-14 boys’ 100 metres impressively though he is only 13.
There was a rare gold medal for Leitrim in the girls’ under-12 600 metres when Dearbhaile Beirne from Mohill led from start to finish. “She’s a warrior,” said her proud mother May.
Though the athletics reflected changed times, some things never change in hurling where Kilkenny players are used to winning from the earliest age.
Aghaviller, representing the county, were level with Toomevara from Tipperary in the under-11 boys’ final 0-3 to 0-3 at half-time.
Toomevara grabbed a goal early in the second half, but it proved to be their last score as Kilkenny won by a comfortable seven points, 2-7 to 1-3.
It was a busy weekend for two Mayo rounders players Oisín Ralph and Kate Heneghan.
Both took part in their respective competitions on Saturday, got on a bus to go to the All-Ireland fleadh in Cavan, won gold medals there and returned in the early hours of Sunday morning to take part in the finals.