The three children in the Kilgallon family, from Kevinsfort, Sligo, will compete in Mosney over the next two weekends and their dad, schoolteacher and former Mayo football star TJ, is also involved as manager of his son's football team.

Hayley (11), Dylan (9) and Evanne (7), who represent Maugheraboy, are all competing in the finals and their mother, RTE's North West correspondent Eileen Magnier, has become the family's unofficial timekeeper and replenisher of energy foods.

"It was all go during the summer, we took a family break this week in Clifden, watched the European athletics, swam and walked, " she said. "Now it is back for lastminute preparations and next weekend we are all off to the finals. It has been an exciting time in the household."

The three children won 21 medals between them in the wide range of competitions on the way to the finals. Trainer TJ, a GAA All-Star from his hey-day with Mayo in the '80s and '90s, is proud of his young football team, who will face Newbridge in Mosney next Saturday.

Meanwhile, Eileen is concentrating on popular energy foods. "Pasta before they run, Dylan likes to get his energy from Jaffa Cakes, and Jelly Beans for energy also feature in requests from the girls, " she said.

The Community Games finals will run over two weekends, starting next Friday and again on 25 August. For each of the next two weekends, 3,000 competitors will descend on Mosney to compete.