Benny recognised for his work with Community Games

Togher man Benny Devlin was honoured recently at a lunch in Athlone to celebrate the work of volunteers in the Community Games organisation.

The Community Games in Ireland is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, having been founded in 1967. Initially the activities of the organisation were confined to the Dublin area, but it was not long before other parts of the country came on board.

Devlin was involved in introducing the Community Games to Co Louth — he still recalls the meeting in Castlebellingham at which the organisation was launched in the Wee County.

Ever since then he has remained heavily involved at various levels — including that of his own local area, which encompasses Togher, Clogherhead and Termonfeckin. He is currently President of Louth Community Games and has held many positions on the committee over the years.

Along with his wife Eithne, Devlin has been particularly noted for his support of Variety in the Community Games. Indeed the Togher area variety group, in which their own children played leading roles, enjoyed some success at national level at various times.

Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, the renowned Gaelic games commentator, was the special guest of honour at the lunch in Athlone, at which Devlin was presented with a beautiful medal and a voucher from Aldi — the new sponsor of the Community Games — in recognition of his many loyal years of service.

Others in attendance included his wife Eithne, Gerry Davenport, the National Community Games President, and fellow stalwarts on the Louth Community Games committee, Deirdre McTeggart and John Roche.