Cairn Community Games is an Irish independent voluntary organisation and National Governing Body providing opportunities for children and young people to grow and develop in a positive and healthy way while experiencing a wide range of sporting and cultural activities. The National Festivals are held over several weekends during the year, usually from May onwards. Children first take part in their Area, of which there are over 400, and then progress to county, provincial and ultimately the National Finals.
In January 2024 Cairn Homes was announced as the new title sponsor for Community Games, investing over 3 million euro over 4 years to help grow participation and strengthen community spirit and youth empowerment.
"Community Games can be quite proud of its immense achievements in a wide range of interests and, indeed, positive community developments. Community Games is a truly developing organisation spreading good-will and healthy involvement for the benefit of all." Joseph Connolly, Founder and Honorary Life Patron (1922 - 2008).
Cairn Community Games was set up in 1967 - initially only in Dublin as a way to deal with the problems of the lack of leisure-time activities for young people. In the first games, 3,000 took part at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Santry; the following year it was 5,000 - today, over 160,000 children compete for the chance to make it to the National Festivals. For most of the game's history, the National Finals were held in Mosney, County Meath. However, as the former campsite became unavailable due to being turned into a residential area for asylum seekers, from 2009 onwards the Games were held at the Athlone Institute of Technology in Athlone, County Westmeath and then in the University of LImerick. They are now held in a host of different venues throughout Ireland such as SETU Carlow, Westport Golf Club, Kilkenny Watershed, and Visual Carlow.
The following are some of the sports, games and activities that children can participate in in Community Games.
Individual Events
Young people from all over Ireland aim to qualify for the Cairn Community Games National Festivals each year. These take place over several weekends in various locations throughout Ireland.
For more information on dates and the events you can visit their website.
"We're Singing as One" is the theme song of Community Games written, sung, arranged and produced by Colm O'Loughlin, a former competitor at the Games.
Many famous Irish people have competed in the games over the years and have very fond memories of Community Games.
I always enjoyed the Community Games in Cobh with my school friends and then the trip to Cork for the county finals. The ultimate was heading off on the train to Mosney for the all-Ireland finals, I remember and still have my little accreditation pass, just like what you get in the Olympics for access to all you need and the big book with all the results from years gone by. That's where I set my early targets and goals for future years, by looking up athletes I knew and the times they ran at the Community Games finals each year before me.. Sonia O'Sullivan, May 2013