Galway Brings the Curtain Down on a July to Remember

Some July’s stay with you forever.

The ones where the sun seemed reluctant to set, where every evening felt endless, and where the only real disappointment was hearing someone call, “Time to come home.”

July felt like one of those months again.

Across Ireland, Go Games for Rounders brought children onto sun-drenched pitches to enjoy the kind of evenings many of us remember from our own childhoods. The grass was dry beneath their feet, knees were scuffed instead of muddy, and the only race that mattered was squeezing in one last game before the light finally faded.

On Saturday, 25th July, Clontuskert Community Pitches, near Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, brought the curtain down on another remarkable month for the Go Games for Rounders movement. It was a fitting finale to a July that saw children from Cavan to Limerick, Wexford to Roscommon, and Carlow to Galway discovering the simple joy of spending a summer evening outdoors with friends, a bat and a ball.

Cavan Starts the Adventure

July’s journey began on 4th July in Mullahoran GAA, where six clubs gathered for Cavan’s third Go Games for Rounders blitz of the year.

For some children, it was another chance to wear their club colours. For others, it was their very first swing of a bat. By the end of the evening, nobody was talking about who had won or lost. They were talking about the catch they made, the friend they met and when the next blitz would be.

When Shadows Became Giants

On 8th July, clubs across Carlow took full advantage of one of those perfect summer evenings to launch their 2026 Go Games programme.

As the sun drifted lower, the children’s shadows stretched across the pitches like giants. There was always one more catch to make, one more race to first base and one more game to squeeze in before the daylight finally gave way to dusk.

For anyone watching from the sidelines, it was impossible not to be transported back to those long summer evenings when time seemed to stand still, when your bike was abandoned somewhere nearby, and home was simply wherever your friends happened to be playing.

The Summer Spread Across the Country

The following weekend, the story continued to unfold across Ireland.

In Limerick, Granagh Ballingarry GAA welcomed the county into the Go Games for Rounders family as it hosted its first-ever blitz. For every child who picked up a bat for the first time, another chapter in the county’s Rounders story began.

At the very same time, children were gathering in Wexford and Roscommon, proving that this wasn’t just happening in one corner of the country—it was happening everywhere.

Different counties. Different clubs. The very same excitement.

Across Ireland, the soundtrack was remarkably similar. The crack of a bat meeting a ball. Cheers as a runner reached first base. Volunteers offering encouragement after every catch, every miss and every brave attempt. Parents watching from the sidelines, knowing these were the kinds of evenings childhood should be made of.

With no need for anyone to check the score, another summer memory had already been made.

Galway Draws the Curtain

Then came the finale.

On Saturday, 25th July, all roads led to Clontuskert Community Pitches, where children from across Galway gathered for another wonderful Go Games for Rounders blitz.

The July sun still hung high as children filled the pitches with energy, laughter and endless enthusiasm. Parents chatted along the sidelines, coaches quietly celebrated every small success and volunteers kept everything moving with the calm confidence that only comes from doing it for the love of the game.

As the final balls were hit and the equipment packed away, another chapter in the Go Games story came to an end.

Building Memories, Not Just Players

Reflecting on another memorable month, National Children’s Officer Craig Davis said:

“When we started Go Games, we wanted children to fall in love with Rounders. Looking across pitches all over Ireland this July, that’s exactly what we saw. Children staying out until the evening light began to fade, laughing with friends, learning new skills and making memories they’ll carry with them long after the summer is over. None of this happens without our incredible volunteers, coaches and parents. They aren’t just organising blitzes—they’re giving today’s children the kind of childhood summers many of us were lucky enough to have. If we can keep doing that, then the future of Rounders is in very safe hands.”

July may be over, but the story of Go Games for Rounders is only just beginning. Across Ireland, more counties, more clubs and more volunteers are helping children discover a game that has been part of our heritage since 1884.

Years from now, they may not remember every catch they made or every run they scored, but they’ll remember how those long summer evenings made them feel. And that’s exactly what Go Games is all about.