It’s a big day out in Athenry this summer, with a full day (and night) of community events to raise funds for Athenry Playground.
Athenry’s Big Day Out, on 19 July from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., is a collaboration between Athenry Community Council and Athenry Community Playground Group, two volunteer groups focused on fostering involvement and creating community spaces in the town.
The community event promises a wonderful day focused on promoting local talent, creativity, and music.
“It’s a great opportunity to get together for a really good cause,” said Galway County Cllr Peter Feeney, who also chairs the Athenry Community Council.
This public event will fill Athenry town park and playground with free access to a makers mart, featuring youth creators and local craftspeople; food trucks, and live music.
In the playground, families can enjoy a fundraiser filled with creative play workshops and activities like dancing, drumming, mural painting, yoga, crafts, sensory play, and more.
“The park and playground have always been a place of social interaction and the Big Day Out will be the ultimate community play day,” said Feeney.
The playground fundraiser will kick off with the grand opening of the Athenry Little Library, a book-sharing initiative gifted to the town by Athenry Community Council.
The unveiling will feature art from local resident Tanya McGarry and storytelling from authors Katherine Scanlon and Georgia-Mai O’Boyle.
Local primary school pupils will also have their artwork on display as part of the playground group’s Design Your Dream Playground art competition.
The competition saw over 400 entries from parish schools, with winning pupils’ design elements being considered in the redesign of Athenry Community Playground.
The fun continues after the Big Day Out with a Big Night In at Dowling’s Bar on North Gate Street. Starting at 8:00 p.m., Dowling’s will host live music from Moonlight Eclipse and Gerry Hanberry, a DJ, barbecue, and a mega raffle to raise funds for Athenry Community Playground.
Since re-forming in October 2024, ACPG has been working to bring attention to the playground, which, after over 20 years of use, has begun to rapidly deteriorate and become unsafe.
The group has raised €50,000 through community activism, donations, and fundraisers. The funds will be used to refurbish the playground and install new equipment
“We are pleased to be moving in the right direction now in terms of having a new, accessible, and modern playground that is fit for purpose,” said committee treasurer Dr Michelle McMahon.
Progress can already be felt thanks to the recent purchase of new sensory play panels, which were funded in part by Galway County Council’s Community Development Scheme Infrastructure Grant.
Galway County Council is also supporting the Big Day Out through their Community Development Scheme Arts Grant.
Most playgrounds in Galway County are owned and managed by local community groups and are only insured by the county council.
The council typically provides no funding or management. Athenry Community Playground is the oldest community-owned playground in the county and the only public play space in Athenry.
