This year in the Regional Sports Centre in Waterford four teams from Ireland, Ulster, Wales and Scotland with 320 athletes and officials will celebrate 30 years of the Celtic Games. The top young athletes will represent their four countries and compete in 41 Track events and 26 Field events. Over the years the Celtic has been the first stepping stone for many of our young athletes to International Competition. Athletes like Susan Smith, Michelle Walsh, Brid Hallissey, Jacqui Stokes, Olive Burke, Patricia and Brid Naughton, Ciara Sheehy and our current World Champions Hurdler Derval O’Rourke all competed in the Celtic Games. Celtic games records are held by Susan Smith (1988 – Hurdles), Michelle Walsh (1978 - 100m), Emily Maher (1998 – 200m), Caroline O’Shea (1976 – 400m), Carol Meagan (1980 – 800m), Grainne O’Mahony (1996 – Long Jump), Rachel Akers (2002 - Hammer), Aoife MacNeill (2000 – 100m), Carol Meehan ( 1978 – 800m), Sharon Monaghan (2000 – 1500m), Colin Costello (2003 – 1500m), Gordon Kennedy (1998 – 400m), James Nolan (800m - 1994), Chris Crowley (2004 – L.J.), Sean Breathnach (1996 - Shot), Conor McPhillips (1996 – 1500m), Robert Butler (1998 – Discus) and Conor Murphy (2004 – 1500m). We still hold the record for the women’s u/17 4 x 100m relay team set in 2004 and the girl’s u/15 4 x 100m set in 2000. Mary McKenna of Celtic/D.C.H. was a member of the first Celtic team and she is actively involved in coaching in Dublin. Brid Hallissey Golden is very actively involved with Ferrybank A.C. Jacque Stokes is also actively involved in coaching. When the Celtic Games was founded it was strictly a girls competition and catered for u/13, u/15 and u/17. In recent years it was decided to provide competition for the boys and the age groups were changed to u/15 and u/17. In 2005 the age groups were changed again to u/16 and u/18 with a full program. The Celtic Games has always been a friendly and enjoyable competition and many lasting friendships have been made over the past years and hopefully new friendships will be made on the 12th August in Waterford City. We look forward to an excellent day of sport on the R.S.C’s new tartan track on Saturday 12th August. We welcome our overseas visitors, all the parents and local supporters to the R.S.C. on 12th August.