Athenry Community Playground

11/09/2026

In light of how many teenagers are in the playground regularly, could we ask you to complete this survey and highlight the big need for a dedicated teen space in Athenry?

🏃‍♀️⚽🚴 Don't Miss Your Chance to Influence the Future of Sport in Galway!

We're developing a new Local Sports Plan, and your input is vital. Tell us what matters most for sport and physical activity in your community.

📅 Survey closes Sunday at 12am
📝 Takes just a few minutes to complete 👉 https://www.galwayactive.ie/event/111/local-sports-plan-consultation

Every response helps us create better opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get active.

10/09/2026

*PLAYGROUND RULES*

We have installed our playground rules at two entrances. Please have a read during your next visit. Like the majority of playgrounds, our playground is for children under 12 only. The equipment is suited to this age group only for safety and insurance reasons.

🚨We would please ask for teenagers and adults to not climb on the equipment, especially the castle as a chain has already broke on it and will be repaired in the morning. Reckless and dangerous behaviour by unsupervised children and teens has been reported to us. It is very worrying and disheartening that our new amenity would be abused like this.

Bikes and scooters are not permitted in the playground as they are a trip hazard and must be left in the park. We have asked for a bike rack to be installed in the Park but this will take some time.

We understand that the teenagers need someplace to play and hangout in Athenry. We do need help from the community in developing something for them. However, the playground is for the younger children who must be supervised by an adult at all times.

We are really thrilled with how well used the playground has become and how many children and families are enjoying it! Thank you to those who respect it and play safely.

05/09/2026

Love to see more inclusive movement opportunities in the community!

🚨 Frame Running Come & Try Event 🚨

Want to experience the freedom of movement that Frame Running can bring?

Join and .ireland for a fun, friendly taster session where you can try Frame Running, meet others, and find out about our regular sessions.

✅ No experience needed
✅ For adults and children over the age of 6 with physical disabilities
✅ Supportive coaching provided

📅 Sunday 27th September | 📍 Athenry Athletics Club | ⏰ 2:30-4:30pm
📝Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/come-and-try-frame-running-athenry-tickets-1999666620692?aff=oddtdtcreator

Come along, give it a go, and you might just find your new favourite activity!

IWA-Sport Sport Ireland HSE Ireland Active Disability Ireland

02/09/2026

This is an opportunity to voice local concerns about issues relating to safety in the Athenry community.

Come and have your say on Community Safety

We invite parents, residents, community groups, voluntary organisations, and other stakeholders to attend and contribute to the discussion on how we can continue to make our communities safer and more connected.

A Public Q&A Session will provide attendees with an opportunity to raise issues and discuss community safety concerns.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity to learn about ongoing community safety initiatives across County Galway and to hear from guest speakers on a range of important topics affecting our communities.

Attendees will be provided with an update on the Galway County LCSP Work Programme from Marie Nicholson, LCSP Coordinator.
A presentation on Drug Related Intimidation by Maria Powers, Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force, and Detective Inspector Brendan Carroll.

A presentation from Emmet Major of Planet Youth on Community Safety and Our Young People, including insights from Planet Youth survey data.

To register your interest in attending click on the link Register to attend LCSP Public Meeting - Tuesday 8th September – Fill out form

or email [email protected]

29/08/2026

Thanks to everyone who helped us clean up the gravel in the playground this morning in the rain! It’s so tidy again.

There are a number of items of clothes left behind in the playground, which are all wet. If you own any of them, please collect in the Playgound at the picnic bench. If they’re still there by Wednesday then they’ll be washed and donated.

Please bin your litter and keep the few bits of gravel left in the mud kitchen. We love how popular it is and are thinking of ways to make it tidier.

The wheelchair accessible carousel is out of action until we can get it repaired. It is taped off and we ask that children are kept off it for their own safety.

As we are a voluntary group (not paid by the Council) we are asking that people who use the playground space mind it. If you’d like to help us with our next clean up, let us know, we’d be glad of the help 🙏🏻
Ní neart go cur le chéile.

21/08/2026

🤔Did you know?🤔

The chains on each seat of the 5 Way Group Swing are installed for necessary safety reasons.

The chain minimises the risk of children jumping off toward the middle, hitting each other.

We understand the chains may introduce a challenge for some children getting on and off the swing, so we do recommend parents/guardians assisting & supervising the child in their care when using the swing for the first few times to ensure they are capable of getting on and off the swing safely.

We hope the kids are enjoying their group swing and it's encouraging lots of interaction and fun! 💚

See link below for more info on the swing & safety

https://www.kompan.com/en/ie/p/nro903

21/08/2026

We are often asked why the County Council don’t take over the playground and this piece of journalism explains how poorly funded Galway CoCo are in comparison to the rest of the State. Galway CoCo insure the playground and the community warden inspects it regularly. However, we, as a community remain responsible for repairs, maintenance and buying new equipment in the future. We also carry out frequent inspections by ROSPA trained volunteers.

The Advertiser’s Bill Breathnach breaks down the figures behind Galway County Council’s funding and examines why the county continues to face financial pressure https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/152164/the-numbers-behind-galways-funding-crisis

17/08/2026

Lovely piece in The Tuam Herald on the opening of the playground!

Athenry Community Playground has reopened after renovation worth €176,000, funded through more than a year of volunteer fundraising and grants from the government.

Athenry Community Playground

15/08/2026

Continuing on with our gratitude to our playground contributors!

The fantastic Niamh Lyons designed and curated these gorgeous Tote bags for the Big Day Out 2026, and organised their sponsorship through

- Athenry Truck Centre
- DRA Community Preschool & Afterschool
- McSharry’s Pharmacy
- Tesco Athenry
- Good4U
- Glenilen

We thank them all for their kind support and generous donations of these tote bags and contents.

The proceeds of these bags will go towards the ongoing maintenance of our playground.

Thank you all again! 🤩

13/08/2026

What a day we had at the Big Day Out 2026!!!
We raised a whopping
**€11,624**
which will go straight in to replacing our older equipment!

A sincere thanks to our committee officers;
Erin Maglione - Chairperson
Shauna Coll - Secretary
Michelle McMahon - Treasurer
Annmarie Hyland - Inclusion and Diversity Officer

Committee members: Caroline Needham, Tanya McGarry, Jodie Day, Aisling McDevitt, Paddy Devally, Emma Rooney, Remona Hurst, Robin Grindrod, Avril Caulfield, Grainne McHugh

Galway Rural Development - Leader
Galway County Council - Cillian Keane, Peter Feeney, Sean Broderick
Athenry Community Council
Creative Ireland

C&F Tooling
A&T Printing
Athenry Tidy Towns
19th Galway Athenry Scout Group
Blood Bike West
Ultraflex Dance Academy
Mark Healy from West Crazy Golf
Circus 250
Music with Miss Dolly
Crooked Coffee
Americano Ice-cream
Town cafe Athenry
Lán Kitchen
An Garda Síochána Galway
Welding & Safety Supplies Ireland
Mens Shed Athenry
Athenry Truck Centre
Athenry Camogie Club
Drumadore
Athenry Library
Tribes Press
Rebecca Kiveney - Bees Book Nook
Author Samuel Nolan
Sarah Passman Illustrations
Isabelle Ruane

Darragh Cox Videographer for compiling this amazing video!

All of our makers!

Everyone who donated raffle prizes!

All of our musicians!

Ticket table volunteers:Saundra, Aine, Sandra, Fiona, Niamh, Rebecca, Isobelle.

Face painters: Maire, Tanya, Anna, Aoibheann, Talia, Annmarie.

Seamie & Michaél Quinn from SIP for the music stage.

Community volunteers Aislinn Coll, Daniel Gill, Logan Gill, Isabelle Gill, James Cotter, Charlie Porter, Jason Coll, Conor Cannon, John Coll, Pete Elwood, Aidan Kelly, TJ Breen, Josh Maglione, Darragh Needham, Conor Day & Stef O’Dwyer for helping to set up and tear down, lend tents and words of support!

Yoga Instructors: Marie, Jodie and Julia

Raffle Volunteers: Emma & Sinead, Katie & Chloe

We are also extremely grateful to KOMPAN for installing our new playground and for getting it finished just in time for the Big Day Out!!

And a massive thanks to you all for coming on the day & supporting the Playground!

We are still overwhelmed from all the support but we are so happy to see so much play in the Park!

Thank you everyone!

To donate or keep up to date with our next plans, please see
www.AthenryPlayground.ie