Following its huge success last year, the second Westport Get Out There Adventure Festival will take place next month, it has been announced, offering families and individuals, novices and adrenaline junkies alike the opportunity to sample and savour a range of outdoor and adventure sports for free and in a safe environment.

For the weekend of 23rd-25th September, Westport will be transformed into an outdoor and adventure sport heaven with everyone encouraged to “get out there” and partake in a wonderful variety of sporting activities. Zorbing (rolling downhill in an orb made of transparent plastic), orienteering, skateboarding, swimming, stand up paddle boarding and the opportunity to participate in the first-ever Great Western Greenway 10k Run/Walk are amongst the many sporting opportunities that may be experienced over the festival weekend. Westport Get Out There Adventure Festival is supported by Westport Town Council, Mayo Sports Partnership, Westport Leisure Park, Failte Ireland, Westport House, Westport Athletic Club and Westport Cycling Club.

Westport Get Out There Adventure Festival will kick off the morning of Friday 23rd September with a schools initiative at Westport Leisure Park entitled Mayo Splash and Dash. Primary school pupils from fourth through to sixth class throughout the county will be invited to submit teams of four to participate in a fun, relay event incorporating swimming and running. The event will commence with a 200m swim in Westport Leisure Park, followed by a 2km run and obstacle course with prizes awarded for the top school teams. All participating pupils will receive a medal and t-shirt. Co-ordinated by Dermot Langan of Westport Leisure Park, entry and details are available by calling 098 29160 or by sending an emailing to info@westportleisure.com

The following morning will see the Get Out’n’Board Skateboarding Competition take place from 11am-1pm in Westport Skate Park where skaters from 8-16 years will compete for several prizes across a range of age groups.

On the same day, families and individuals alike will be guaranteed fun and new experiences by participating in Come and Try Adventure, which takes place at Westport House from 11am to 4pm. Organised by local companies Adventure Islands and Adventure West, Come and Try Adventure –as the name implies - invites people to try their hand at a range of adventure activities. They include: zorbing; orienteering through woodlands & the latest craze of stand up paddle boards. Teams of five people or groups of ten may also try their hand in the sport of Combat Games which guarantee no pain and no splatters – just pure adrenaline! Enquiries to Adventure Islands (098 26709) or Adventure West (087 9049774)


An exciting new addition to the Westport Get Out There Adventure Festival and an anchor event in this year's programme is the inaugural Great Western Greenway 10k Run/Walk. This initiative will take place on Saturday 24th September and is a wonderful opportunity to utilise the recently-expanded, award-winning Greenway and showcase the beauty of Mayo. Open to recreational runners and walkers as well as committed athletes, participants will be transported to the start of the Greenway from Westport Leisure Park, which will serve as both the registration and finish point for the event. Those interested in participating in the Great Western Greenway 10k Run/Walk may register online at www.westportadventurefestival.ie and www.mayosports.ie. Further information is available from Anne Ronayne, Mayo Sports Partnership (094-9047025).

The Get Out There Adventure Festival will culminate on Sunday 25th September in a family fun initiative on the Mall from 1pm-5pm - the Westport Festival of Sport Fun Day in association with Westport United. Following its huge success last year, this year's event – coordinated by Mayo Sports Partnership – will offer a host of activities: a family sports challenge incorporating 12 different sports; various water sports; traditional games; a bouncy castle & fun inflatables; walking challenges, street orienteering and a 5K Fun Run / Walk. This year's Sport Fun Day will also include a special Westport United activity zone to celebrate the club's centenary year.

The Westport Get Out There Festival, according to organisers, will reinforce the town's growing reputation as an adventure and outdoor activity destination. “More and more people are embracing outdoor and adventure sports. The experience and authenticity of these sporting activities resonates with people, irrespective of age and background. The great thing about the Westport Get Out There Festival is that it affords everyone – families, individuals, novices and more the experienced – a safe and free opportunity to partake in outdoor and adventure sports and the festival programme is community based, embracing school children, parents and experienced athletes alike. We encourage everyone to come along and ‘Get Out There’ next month”, said Martin Keating, Senior Executive Officer, Westport Town Council.

“Research from Failte Ireland shows that activity tourism in Ireland was worth €1.1billion in 2009. €404 million of this came from the domestic market. Increasing Westport's reputation as a centre for outdoor and adventure sports is great for tourism and the local economy. The Great Western Greenway 10k event is a great addition to the festival this year and will showcase an amenity that is unique to Mayo”, added Brian Quinn, Client Services Manager, Failte Ireland (West).

For further information, visit www.westportadventurefestival.ie 

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