Eamon Coghlan, Jamie Heaslip, Stephanie Roche and Barry Andrews launched the Goal Miles.

Nine Goal Miles in Meath

GOAL Miles will take place at nine venues across County Meath this year, providing people young and old with their annual opportunity to stretch their legs and help raise money and awareness for some of GOAL’s work in the developing world.

Now in its 34th year, the annual fundraising event regularly attracts tens of thousands of participants. People run, jog or walk a Mile for GOAL in villages, towns and cities the length and breadth of Ireland.

Meath Miles will be held at Baconstown GAA Pitch, Enfield on Christmas Day from Midday-1pm; at Claremont Athletic Club Stadium, Navan on Christmas Day from 10-11.30am; at Gael Colmcille GAA Grounds, Grangegodden, Athboy Road, Kells on Christmas Day from 11am-Midday; at Kilbride GAA Club, St Stephen’s Day at 11am; at St Colmcille GAA Grounds, Bettystown on Christmas Day at 11am; at Kiltale GAA Club on Christmas Day from 11am-Midday; and at St Patrick's GAA Grounds, Stamullen on St Stephen’s Day at 11am.

GOAL CEO, Barry Andrews, says the GOAL Mile is now an integral part of Christmas for thousands of families.

“Thanks to the magnificent support of the Irish public and the Irish sporting fraternity, the GOAL Mile has gone from strength to strength every year since its inception in 1982. To such an extent, it is now an integral part of Christmas for thousands of families across the country,' he said.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone who helps make the Mile such a popular event, most particularly local organisers without whom it would be impossible to stage on such a scale. As always, the monies raised by the GOAL Mile will go to support our programmes in the developing world. A Christmas gift, as it were, from the Irish people to those less well-off than ourselves.”

GOAL is hoping this year’s Miles will help highlight the plight of people displaced from Syria, South Sudan and other conflict regions of the world.