*Marie Roche.
ENNIS’ Marie Roche has been honoured as one of the Community Games National volunteer award winners.
Dedication, legacy and renewal were celebrated at the awards which took place at the Lord Bagenal Inn Hotel in Leighlinbridge, Carlow, it was the first time the awards were held after a near four-year absence.
Marie’s many years of volunteering saw her chosen as the well-deserved Clare winner. She was nominated with the support of her club Ennis St John’s and Clare Community Games. Colleagues and her husband John, himself a former footballer with Avenue Utd were among those to join them for the celebations.
A spokesperson for Clare Community Games said of Marie that was “kind, dedicated and the epitomy of what community games is all about”.
Contributions of outstanding volunteers like Marie were celebrated on the evening. The awards ceremony celebrated the tireless dedication of over 20 county awardees from all corners of Ireland, recognising their exceptional commitment to the Community Games movement.
A very Special Recognition Award was presented to the 1970’s Development Committee, consisting of Kathleen O’Sullivan, Josephine Glennon, John McGetrick, Sr. Gabrielle, Maura McMorland, and Maurice Coffey, who were instrumental in turning Joe Connolly’s visionary dream into a reality, spreading Community Games into communities nationwide.
Gerry McGuinness, President of Community Games, said, “It was great after an enforced break during Covid-19 to get back to the Volunteer Awards and say thank you to those who work hard for the organization week in and week out. We have fantastic volunteers providing activities for 160,000 children across the country, and while we can only reward a few every year, it is important that we take the time to acknowledge their contribution”.
