Midleton team are maestros on the mats taking national honours in Kerry

Members of the Midleton 2 Active Retirement bowls team have taken the top prize at the 2023 Active Retirement Ireland National Indoor Mats Bowling Competition.

Over three days, 63 Active Retirement teams from across the country competed for the 2023 Active Retirement Ireland Cup in indoor mat bowls at the organisation’s 11th annual flagship event at the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney, Co Kerry.

Team members Breda Treacy, Denis Mulcahy, Denis Heffernan, and skip Liam Hickey were presented with the 2023 large bowls cup by Active Retirement Ireland national president Kevin Monaghan and Independent councillor Brendan Cronin, Mayor of Killarney.

The Fossa Swans team from Kerry came in second place.

Speaking at the awards presentation, Active Retirement Ireland CEO Maureen Kavanagh congratulated the Cork team on their “fantastic achievement”.

Ms Kavanagh said events such as this competition are vital for positive ageing.

“The 252 bowlers who have competed for the cup this week, alongside our volunteers who helped deliver the event, confirm the drive and desire of older people to do things for themselves, maintain social connections, and be a part of life,” he said.

“Social events like the National Bowls Competition, where older people can get together, be active, and enjoy a little healthy competition and camaraderie, are vital for positive ageing.

“We are grateful for the generous support of our event host, the Gleneagle, for making this event possible for so many of our members and for their recognition of the contribution that older people make.

“Older people don’t want things done for them; they want to be active in their own lives.”

There are 494 Active Retirement Associations in local communities across Ireland — groups of older people who come together to organise social events and activities to reduce isolation and loneliness — supported by the national body Active Retirement Ireland, the largest membership organisation for older people in the country.