Our New Sports Activation Officer

Gary Kilcar has been announced as the new ‘Sports Activation Officer’ for the town as part of a new Galway Sports Partnership initiative.

He graduated from Athlone Institute of Technology with an honour’s degree in 2008 and emigrated to Australia the following year to work for a digital marketing agency in Sydney. After returning to Ireland,  Gary worked full time in hospitality and a part time role in event management working on various fundraising projects for local clubs and charity organizations. He also has an annual consultation role with the Galway Races. 
 
In 2020 he worked as a volunteer with Special Olympics Ireland and then with Galway Sports Partnership in January 2021. 
 
“I firmly believe everyone should be affiliated with a social group it’s vitally important for both our mental and physical health. I will be helping create brand new groups and seek feedback from the community if there is a desire to reignite once popular groups that disbanded in the last number of years”, states Gary.
 
“After spending a week getting familiarized with Ballinasloe and visiting all the clubs in town, I’m extremely excited to start building up a rapport with everyone in the community and the surrounding parishes. Relocating to Ballinasloe will help me to both fully understand the needs and meet those needs of the community with tangible results”, he explains. 
 
The broad GSP strategy is to increase awareness, participation, and promotion of physical activity in the Ballinasloe locality, to add to the already established activities available, with their particular focus on communities that feel their needs are currently not being met. 
 
The town has a rich history both historically and in a sporting sense and he would like to support the local community to restore this legacy. 
 
€60,000 has been allocated for our  ocal Sports Hub Round one from The Dormant Accounts Fund and this is allocated to Ballinasloe under Sport Ireland.
 
“This is great news, and the hubs will provide information, support and advice on a wide range of sports and physical activities to make it easier for people in areas to get involved and engage in a more active and healthier lifestyle,” welcomed Senator Aisling Dolan .