Castlebar Urban Adventure Initiative
Mayo Sports Partnership in collaboration with GMIT Outdoor Education Department, Mayo Adventure Experience, Mayo County Council and local stakeholders formally launched the Castlebar Urban Adventure Initiative on Saturday 28th September 2019.
Funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund through Sport Ireland the aim of the Castlebar Urban Adventure Initiative is to increase the amount of people of all ages undertaking physical activity through adventure sports in the outdoors. It has a particular focus to develop opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds or who may have a disability to engage in outdoor adventure sports in an urban setting.
Castlebar Urban Adventure Hub objectives
1. PROVIDING THE PATHWAY
A home where a range of local sports clubs can work together to create a welcome and safe place for people of all backgrounds and ages can come together to take part in adventure sport and physical activity
2. WELL TRAINED PEOPLE
Every sport needs quality instructors, coaches and teachers, that’s why the Castlebar Adventure Hub has committed to the training and development of skilled people to make adventure sports happen. To date the Hub has successful trained 12 teachers to deliver the Irish Orienteering Association (IOA) schools program. This number is steadily growing. In turn this has created the pathway for where the first Castlebar Schools Orienteering League.
3. STRONG ORGANISATIONS
Better organised and connected clubs which create genuine community engagement and leadership opportunities will create a positive social environment that engages all members of the community. An integrated approach from local partners will guarantee that all involved will become self-sustaining sports clubs and organisations
4. QUALITY FACILITIES
All sports need a venue for participation, with this in mind the Hub aims to improve access for local people and sport clubs to facilities at affordable prices and integration with local facility planning and programming. To date the hub has invested in 14 indoor kayaks which are housed in the Leisure Complex at Lough Lannagh and planning has been proposed for a permanent orienteering course around Lough Lannagh.
By providing a pathway for well-trained people to create new whilst building existing clubs in to strong organisations through which quality facilities can provide the arena of where the mission will become sustainable and the vision a reality.
Lough Lannagh has become a fantastic hub for sport not only in the town but the region as a whole. The Castlebar Urban Adventure Initiative will give added value to what’s already going on and build further opportunities in the area.
Initiatives to Date Include:
Purchased a suite of 15 Kayaks and buoyancy equipment from Mc Hale Marine which will be utilised at the new Lough Lannagh pool for beginner lessons before they go out on the lake.
A NEW water polo club has been established
Work has begun on a permanent orienteering course at Lough Lannagh
Primary Schools Orienteering League has commenced
Come & Try adventure activities for people with a disability
A Lough Lannagh Adventure Sports Network has been established
For further information contact Castlebar Urban Adventure Initiative co-ordinator Jarlath Mc Hale at 087 1616363 or email: castlebarurbanadventurehub@gmail.com