The Sligo School Indoor Rowing Staying Local Virtual Blitz is open to all secondary schools in County Sligo. The format of the event has changed from a team event to an individual event for this year due to Covid restrictions. There are categories for every year group from 1^st to 6^th years with a special categories for school teachers and staff to engage in the event. The challenge is to see how many meters you can row in a 5minute time cap. Competitive rowers who have experience rowing can enter the 2000meters for time category, a challenging test of fitness.

The timed rows will be overseen on a selected date between the 10^th and 18^th December onsite in the school by an SSRP Rowing Official who will verify all distances complete, where they will be compiled on a database with results posted on 19^th December. Rowers are available for schools to use for this event. Full details of the event can be found on Eventbrite HERE 

Bike Week usually takes place every year over a week in June but as with many events this year it was cancelled due to Covid-19. However in August, it was announced the week would be rescheduled to take place in September 2020 with strict Covid-19 protocols and all public health guidelines followed.

Bike Week, a national celebration and promotion of all that is great about bikes and cycling, was held over an extended week from the 19^th to 27^th September, with bike-themed events organised by local authorities, community groups and cycling groups throughout Ireland. Locally the week was co-ordinated by Sligo County Council and Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership with support from many local cycling clubs and community organisations.

The rescheduled time of year in autumn with its shorter evenings and Covid-19 restriction required a rethink of previous year’s events, but an exciting schedule was planned for Sligo, from the Dawn Bike to Breakfast to Sunset Cycles, there was something for all ages and abilities.

During Bike Week there was an opportunity to promote two fantastic new cycling prospects in Sligo. The first being the newly opened Coillte National Coolaney Mountain Bike Park in Coolaney. There was a lot of activity happening there with an introduction to Mountain Biking sessions for women, men, kids and teens and a full day Introduction to Mountain Biking hosted by Northwest Mountain Bike Club. These days were extremely popular and were fully booked out in no time. Coolaney MTB Park is a network of purpose-built single-track trails and forest roads that are designed for use by mountain bikes on waymarked circular routes between 3km and 22km in length. This is the first phase of an extensive trail system being built in the Ox Mountains near Coolaney and is very exciting for Sligo. Find out more information about the trails at https://www.coillte.ie/site/coolaney-mtb/

The second new cycling prospect for the county is the EuroVelo Route 1 –Atlantic Coast Route. Sligo County Council has recently developed a signed on road cycling route throughout the county as part of EuroVelo Route 1 –Atlantic Coast Route, so keep an eye out for the white signs with blue bikes. This was achieved as part of an EU Atlantic Area Project called AtlanticOnBike. The AtlanticOnBike project aims at achieving positive economic outcomes thanks to a transnational cycle tourism strategy based on the natural and cultural assets of the EuroVelo1, one of the sixteen long distance European cycle routes. This project expects to contribute to a low carbon tourism development. Its rationale is to stimulate, to structure, to promote and to take part in the development of a cycle touristic offer along EuroVelo 1. AtlanticOnBike should generate positive impacts on the local economy by increasing visits, boosting local economy and creating new activities and new jobs in the tourism sector. It will provide a new touristic offer accessible for a large range of the population but also an attractive leisure destination for locals. Get out there and enjoy!

One of the highlight events from last year ‘Bike Orienteering’ was back for 2020. This popular family friendly fun event which was held in Cleveragh Park closed the weeklong celebration of cycling this year. The safety of the bike trails at Cleveragh allows all levels of cyclists to take part; with a wide range of bikes on display from balance bikes, trikes, hand cycles and even top class mountain bikes. This event really highlighted how inclusive cycling can be as children and adults of all abilities and ages took part throughout the day. The orienteering course designed included staggered starts to prevent overlap of groups and was set up by Northwest Adventure Tours and proved to be very popular with all the participants. Even the local Garda Cycling unit, who called over to support the event got involved; some participants even got competitive on how fast they could complete the long orienteering course, with a record of 16 minutes on the day.

Another great day was organised by Sligo Cycling Campaign, a Bike NCT at Strandhill Peoples Market celebrating the School Cycling Bus by children and parents of Scoil Asicus Naofa, Strandhill.

Experienced road cyclists had an opportunity to compete for the Mooney Trophy in a Time Trail organised by Eire Óg Cycling Club on Sunday 27^th, with Shane O Connell from Blarney Cycling Club taking it home in a time of 24 mins 58secs.

Bike Week showcased the vast opportunities Sligo has for cycling throughout the county with events held in Mullaghmore, Ballinafad, Enniscrone, Doorly Park, Ballygawley and Streedagh to name a few. Bike Week showed people can get out on their bikes any time of the day with Bike to Breakfast, Lunch time cycles and Sunset cycles, and highlighted the strong cycling community that exists with events hosted by local cycling clubs and community groups throughout the week. So if you haven’t already done so, it’s time to dust off your bike and get out and explore the endless possibilities Sligo has to offer!

All photos from the week can be view on our Facebook Photo Album Here

People of Sligo challenged to take part in BeActive Day 2020

Sligo is challenged to be active on Sunday, 28^th June as part of the Sport Ireland National BeActive Day.

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership (SSRP) is one of 29 Local Sports Partnerships in the country who are coming together to celebrate a day of physical activity and sport and want you to join in and be active.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, SSRP has been working hard to ensure the people of Sligo remain physically active.

As part of a national network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships (LSP) SSRP has adapted by using online resources, printed booklets and other innovative means, to ensure that everyone in their community has the opportunity to share in the enjoyment as well as the mental and physical health benefits of sport and physical activity.

International guidelines recommend children are active for at least 60 minutes a day and adults for 30 minutes a day, National BeActive Day is a fun and inclusive way of getting in your daily physical activity.

Launching the event, Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy encouraged as many people as possible to take part, “The last few months have been very difficult for people but it has been highly encouraging to see people look after their own health and well-being through taking part in regular sport and physical activity. Research has shown that unprecedented numbers of people are out walking and cycling, which is great to see. As we begin to come out of the restrictions, I think it is more important than ever that we continue to exercise and be physically active every day. I am really looking forward to National BeActive Day and challenge you all to get active, pick a new activity or sport and enjoy it”.

Deirdre Lavin, SSRP Co-ordinator commented, “National BeActive Day is an opportunity to get everyone in the household up and active. You can do it just for fun or add a competitive element by keeping scores or splitting in to teams. No matter what you do, we encourage you to be active and have some fun, and let’s make Sligo the most active county this weekend!.”

The Local Sports Partnerships have developed a printable list of games and activities to give you some inspiration, all of which are fully adaptive for people of all abilities and skill levels. With suggestions to make the games harder or easier, there is a game for everyone. Simply print out the games or display them on your phone and be active.  Or why not get creative and create your own games, activities or challenges?

SSRP are running a competition for the most creative National BeActive Day activity in the county so make sure to share a photo or video on social media and tag in @SportIreland and  @sligosportandrecreation and the hashtag #NationalBeActiveDay to be in with a chance of winning a the €100 one4all voucher!

If you are not on social media, you can email a photo or video of your activity to deborah@sligosportandrecreation.ie to be in with a chance of winning this prize! The winner will be announced on Tuesday 30th June.

For more information contact:

Deborah Sherlock at deborah@sligosportandrecreation.ie or ring 0719161511

Online Resources:

Download an Activity sheet CLICK HERE

Download a Game Ideas CLICK HERE 

Download the BeActive Day Cert HERE 

View the Active Sligo from Home Guide HERE

Register to Download your Free Booklet HERE

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership has developed a Let’s Play Sligo 21 Day Physical Activity Home Challenge for children to take part in over the next 3 weeks. This links in with the national initiative ‘Lets Play Ireland’ and is supported locally by Sligo County Council, Healthily Ireland and the HSE.

The aim of  this Challenge is to get children physically active for the recommended 60 minutes everyday in a fun way. All of the games and activities are designed so children can play by themselves or you can get the whole family to join in. There is little or no equipment needed and no need to be near a screen, as all the activities instructions are described in the booklet.

So Let’s Get Active at Home and don’t forget to share a photo of your challenge cards with us through social media.

Instagram @sligosportandrecreation / Facebook @SligoSportandRecreationPartnership / Twitter @SSRPSligo

Below is a short video created to acknowledge the importance of volunteers in sport..

Volunteers are at the heart of enabling SSRP to have ‘More People, More Active, More Often’. THANK YOU to all the volunteers across County Sligo.
Click Below to watch a short video celebrating volunteers

(Compiled during International Volunteering Day, 5th December 2019.)

Once again Sport Ireland and Local Sports Partnerships around the country have teamed up with RTE’s Operation Transformation programme to encourage people to follow a healthy lifestyle in 2020. This popular TV programme encourages and inspires communities across the country to get active and adopt healthy eating habits. Why not get your New Year’s Resolutions off to a great start and adopt your own ‘Physical Activity Transformation’ by joining Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership and local community organisations on Saturday 18^th January 2020 for the Operation Transformation National Walks at three locations across County Sligo. SSRP will facilitate a walk on the Sligo Town Sli na Slainte route along Doorly Park starting at JFK Parade. South Sligo AC will host a walk in Tubbercurry starting from the Square, while St .Molaise Gaels will lead out on a walk from the carpark in Grange. The distance of the various walks will range from 3km to 5km. All walks will commence at 11am with assembly and warm up from 10.45am onwards. For health and safety reasons we would please ask people not to bring dogs along to the walks.

Sports Co-ordinator Deirdre Lavin is encouraging everybody to get involved in the walks stating; “People of all ages and fitness levels are welcome on the day and in particular it would be great to see families getting involved. The events are ideal for beginners to come out and give exercise a go”.

Download News Active our latest Newsletter covering some of the programmes, activities and events that have been happening in Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership over the second half of 2019…

The Sligo based GymABLE programme co ordinated by SSRP and Dynamo Gym Club with support from Gymnastics Ireland has been recognised nationally as a model of good practice when it comes to providing Gymnastics opportunities for people with disabilities. The programme targeted children with a range of disabilities from St Cecilias School and was highlighted at the National GymABLE Club Forum hosted by Gymnastics Ireland in December 2019. The forum targeted club managers, coaches and members who have an interest in developing Gymnastics programmes which are inclusive of people with disabilities. The local GymABLE programme addresses one of the key actions outlined in the National Sports Policy around inequalities which exist in terms of sports participation opportunities for children with disabilities in comparison to their non-disabled peers. The collaborative approach adopted involving SSRP, DyNamo Gym Club and Gymnastics Ireland  and St Cecilias School ensures the programme is of a high quality and accessible for all.

Watch this short video for an insight into the programme

Download application form HERE 

Book online by following this link HERE