RTE's Anne Cassin and Bryan Dobson at the launch of this year's GOAL Mile events.

Three GOAL Mile events planned in region

There are three GOAL Mile events in the area this Christmas.

The GOAL Mile will see over 25k people running or walking a mile, in 150 locations in villages, towns, and cities across Ireland this Christmas to raise funds for some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

This year, GOAL Miles will be taking place in the following locations, Castledaly GAA Grounds (N37 VY64) on St Stephen’s Day between noon and 2pm; Padraig Pearses GAA Club, Ballydangan, Roscommon, Christmas Day, 10am-12pm and Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Grounds (N91 PX22) on Christmas Day between 10.30am and 12.30pm

Anne Cassin, RTE Nationwide presenter, said, “The GOAL Mile is a beloved Christmas tradition for thousands of families across Ireland, including my own. Our family of five runs the Tallaght GOAL Mile every year and after that we jump into the Forty Foot and then head home for turkey.

"Last year, GOAL reached 14.6 million people with their humanitarian programmes which centre on providing healthcare, nutrition, livelihood support, and safe water and sanitation facilities to some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities. So, I hope lots of other families will go the extra mile this Christmas and sign up for their local GOAL Mile in aid of GOAL’s life-saving work around the world.”

Also launching the GOAL Mile 2023 campaign, Eamon Sharkey, Director, Fundraising and Communications, GOAL said: “During 2023, we have witnessed a deadly mix of crises because of conflict and natural disaster across the world and GOAL has responded to all these crises, helping communities affected move from crisis to resilience. We are now asking people across Ireland to register for their local GOAL Mile and make whatever contribution they can so that we can continue this life-saving work”.

GOAL Miles are run all over the Island (NI and ROI) across Christmas and Stephen’s Day, with over 150 locations confirmed. To register and take part in a GOAL Mile near you this Christmas, please visit https://www.goalmile.org