Portumna and Coiste Aclaíocht, Inis Mór, were the two winners in this year's Fit Towns, a new initiative of the Galway Sports Partnership which challenges local clubs and communities to work together to organise sports and activities for their local areas.
Ten communities took part in the challenge with Portumna winning Category 2 (towns and villages under 2000 population ). They headed off challenges from Meelick/Eyrecourt Active Retired Group, Craughwell Athletic Club, Carna & Iorras Aithneach, Moycullen Fit Towns and Oughterard Fit Towns.
Coiste Aclaíocht, Inis Mór, took the Category 3 award (for the offshore islands ), over Coiste Spóirt & Siamsa Inis Meain, Comhair Caomhán Teo, Comhairchuimman Pobal, Inis Oírr, and and Fit Islands Committee, Inishbofin.
Each category winner was presented with a cheque for €5000 and a special commemorative plaque by Irish Sports Council CEO John Treacy at a ceremony in the Harbour Hotel.
Chairperson of Galway Sports Partnership steering group, Declan McDonnell paid tribute to the support the Sports Partnership had received over the years from the Irish Sports Council and in particular towards this initiative. He also paid tribute to the outstanding voluntary effort made by all participants in the competition and to the benefits that their efforts had provided for residents in their localities.
John Treacy pointed to the increasing number who now take part in sport and physical activities, and the increasing awareness of the benefits of participation which was a result of the work of the Sports Partnership network nationwide.
