Midleton teams win at national bowls finals

Two of Cork’s Active Retirement teams were among winners to clean up at the Active Retirement Ireland National Bowls Competition.

This year’s event marked 12 years of the annual competition, and saw 42 Active Retirement teams compete at the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney last week.

Among the winners were two Cork-based teams, including the Cork Active Retirement bowls team, the Magpies, who are from Midleton, who scored first place, and the Owenacurra bowling team, also from the Midleton area, who followed closely in second place.

On Thursday, Magpies’ team members Breda Treacy, Denis Mulcahy, Denis Heffernan and Liam Hickey were presented with the large bowls cup by Active Retirement Ireland National President, Mai Quaid.

Speaking at the awards presentation, Active Retirement Ireland CEO, Maureen Kavanagh said: “Congratulations to the Magpies bowls team for their brilliant achievement at this year’s National Bowls Competition, taking home the large bowls cup for the second year in a row.

“This competition is testament to the drive and determination of older people to enjoy an active and social lifestyle and age well.

“The 168 bowlers who have competed this week, our volunteer officials and all Active Retirement Ireland members are the epitome of positive ageing and should be fully supported in their commitment to getting out there and living their best lives.

“We are grateful to our event host the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney for being an ally to older people and recognising the valuable contribution that they make, and for their generous support in making this event possible each year.”

There are a total of 515 local Active Retirement Associations (ARAs) in local communities across Ireland, which are groups of older people who come together to organise social events and activities to reduce isolation and loneliness.

ARAs are supported by the national body Active Retirement Ireland, which has an overall membership figure of 21,000 people.

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