Ben Ryan Photography – Joe Conolly Bench – 18/6/17
Mayor Cllr. Guss O’ Connell unveils Memorial Bench dedicated to the Memory of Joe Connolly founder of the National Community Games
On Sunday the 18th of June, Mayor Guss O’Connell in the presence of members of the Connolly Family and the President of the National Community Games, Gerard Davenport, unveiled a memorial plaque dedicated to Joe Connolly, National Community Games founder. The event took place in Tymon Park and marked the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the National Community Games.
Born in 1922, Joe Connolly first developed the idea of an organisation to provide healthy pursuits for children in his native Walkinstown in 1967. The initial games were held a year later and 3,000 children from 24 areas of Dublin participated in preliminary competitions with the finals being held at the John F Kennedy stadium in Santry.
Today, the Aldi Community Games caters to 160,000 children and approximately 20,000 volunteers in about 575 areas throughout 28 counties. There is now also a culture and arts section so children get an opportunity to experience an even wider range of activities.
Speaking at the unveiling, Mayor O’Connell said; “South Dublin County Council values the great contribution that Sports and Recreation brings to our communities and I am delighted to have been asked by Cllr. O’ Connor and Cllr. Duff to host an event to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Community Games. As one of my last events as Mayor, I have been given the opportunity to honour Joe Connolly with a memorial bench here in Tymon Park which is the home of so much sporting activity in the local area”