A Christmas Family Tradition - Find Your Local GOAL Mile This Christmas

The GOAL Mile enters its 35th year in 2016 and over a quarter of a million people have taken to the streets, GAA fields and athletics tracks of Ireland in support of the charity since the Mile's inception in 1982.

For some, it's an annual tradition. For others, it will be a new and exciting feature of Christmas Day to go along with the presents, the turkey and falling asleep in front of the fire. The 2016 GOAL Mile will see people of all ages walk, run, wheel, skip and bounce one mile in aid of GOAL and the charity's projects in 50 different countries around the world.

To highlight just a few of its projects, the charity supports mothers and newborn babies in refugee camps in Ethopia, provides aid in assisting the elderly affected by the conflict in Ukraine and sets up disaster-reduction programmes that have helped over 73,000 people in Honduras.

Its annual Christmas Day Mile provides the chance to run up a bit of an appetite for the Christmas dinner while sharing in a feeling of community and goodwill around this special time of the year.

The GOAL Mile has been run not just in Ireland, but all around the world - from the sunny beaches of Melbourne to the Golan Heights in Syria, where Irish overseas troops took part.

In August 1985, the legendary Belfield track played host to a 'race' that has long since entered Irish running lore: the 'GOAL' Mile Relay featuring Eamonn Coghlan, Marcus O'Sullivan, Frank O'Mara and Ray Flynn, who set the world record in the 4 x 1 mile relay in a time of 15:49:08 - a record which still stands.

And while most of us can only dream of being able to mile like these men could in their heyday, a mile is perhaps the perfect distance for a Christmas Day run. Short enough to be accomplished by all abilities, long enough to allow the hardcores to work up a good sweat, it is over in a flash, allowing the eating and drinking to begin/re-commence as soon as possible.

All around the country, from the seaside village of Downings in County Donegal down to Irishtown Stadium in Dublin and on to Cork IT, there will be people of all ages pulling on their running shoes (perhaps blowing the cobwebs off them in the process) and getting high off those sweet endorphins in aid of a great cause.

Why not be part of it?

Here are all the venues and times for the 2016 GOAL Miles across the country, held on Christmas Day (with a couple of exceptions):

Full list of 2016 GOAL Miles

Antrim: St Colmgalls Primary School, CHRISTMAS DAY, 9:45am-10:30am

Antrim: Cherryvale Playing Fields, Ravenhill Road, Belfast, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10AM-11AM

Carlow: Palatine GFC, STEPHENS DAY, 11AM

Carlow: St Laurence O'Toole Athletic Club, Askea (beside Askea Church), CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM

Cavan: Shercock Athletic track, 19/12/2016, 7pm

Cavan: Fay GAA Park, Ballyjamesduff, STEPHENS DAY, 13.30-15.30

Clare: The Fairgreen, Ennis (St Joseph's Hospital side entrance), CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM-1PM

Cork: Cork IT, Oldtown, Bishopstown, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30AM-12:30PM

Cork: Doneraile Park, Doneraile, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-Midday

Cork: St Catherine's GAA, Ballynoe, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30am-Midday

Cork: Dunmanyway, Christmas Day, TBC

Derry: Derry, Sainsburys Car Park, STEPHENS DAY, Midday

Donegal: Mountcharles Pier, Shoreline, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday-2pm

Donegal: Narin Beach, Donegal, STEPHENS DAY, 12pm

Donegal: Downings GAA Grounds, STEPHENS DAY, Midday

Down: Burren GAA Grounds, Warrenpoint, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-1pm

Dublin:  Tallaght Athletic Club, Greenhills Road, CHRISTMAS DAY, 9.30am-Midday

Dublin:  St Anne's Park, Raheny (St Paul's entrance), CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am

Dublin:  Shanganagh Park, Shankill, CHRISTMAS DAY, 9:30am

Dublin:  Kilbogget Park, Killiney/Ballybrack, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-Midday

Dublin:  Irishtown Stadium, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-Midday

Dublin:  Eamonn Ceannt Park, Sundrive Road, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30AM-Midday

Dublin:  Porterstown Park, STEPHENS DAY, 11am-1pm

Dublin:  Morton Stadium, Santry, CHRISTMAS EVE, 10:30am-Midday

Dublin:  Malahide Castle, Back Road, Car Park, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am

Dublin:  Popes Cross, Phoenix Park, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30am-Midday

Dublin:  Corkagh Park Car Park, Clondalkin (meet at main car park), STEPHENS DAY, Midday

Dublin:  Lucan Harriers AC, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-Midday

Dublin:  Skerries Rugby Club, NEW YEARS DAY, 12:30pm-2pm

Dublin:  Wildgeese GAA Club, Oldtown, STEPHENS DAY, Midday

Dublin: Terenure College, STEPHENS DAY, 11am-12:30pm

Dublin: Suttonians RFC, Sutton, 17th December, 10am-Midday

Dublin: Round Tower GAA Club, STEPHENS DAY, 10.30am

Galway: The Dangan Running Track, NUIG Campus, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10AM-1PM

Galway: St Jarleth's College, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-12:30pm

Galway: Athenry, 14th Jan 2017, 11am

Galway: Texaco Garage, An Spideal, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday

Kerry: Faungorth Activity Centre, Kenmare, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10AM-Midday

Kerry: CastleIsland Athletic Track, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30am-12:30pm

Kerry: The Dragon's Den, Intermediate School, Killorglin, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30AM-12:30PM

Kerry: Deenagh Lodge, Killarney, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-12:30pm

Kerry: South Kerry Sports Centre, Cahersiveen, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-11am

Kildare: Naas GAA Club, Sallins Road, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-Midday

Kildare: Manzors Car Park, Clane, STEPHENS DAY, 10am-1pm

Kildare: St. Conleth's Community College, Station Road, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-1pm

Kildare: Carton House Golf Courtyard, Maynooth, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday

Kildare: Kingslane, Kilteel, STEPHENS DAY, 10:30am-Midday

Kildare: Le Cheile Athletic Club, Leixlip, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10-Midday

Kildare: Johnstown Bridge GAA Grounds, Enfield, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-12.30pm

Kildare: Tadgh Downey Park (Cappagh GAA and Camogie Clubs), CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday - 12:30pm

Kildare: Bishopland, Ballymore Eustace, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10.30 - 11.30

Kildare: St Catherine Park, Leixlip, STEPHENS DAY, 11am-Midday

Kilkenny: Market Street, Thomastown, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday

Laois: Oakvale Woods, Strand Valley (near Windy Gap), CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-Midday

Laois: Portarlington GAA Grounds, Canal Road, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-11:30am

Leitrim: Boornacoola GAA Ground, NEW YEARS DAY, 2PM

Limerick: Crecora GAA Pitch, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday

Limerick: University of Limerick Athletics Track, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM-1PM

Limerick: Ballybrown Community Resource Centre, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday

Limerick: Limerick Prison, CHRISTMAS DAY, TBC

Longford: Connolly Barracks, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday

Longford: Church Hall/Grounds, Strokestown, STEPHENS DAY, 2pm

Louth: St Feichins GAA Grounds, Beaulieu, Termonfeckin, STEPHENS DAY, 11am-Midday

Louth: Dunleer AC Track, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-Midday

Louth: Bush Athletic Track, Home of Glenmore AC, STEPHENS DAY, 11am-Midday

Louth: Dundalk DKIT, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-11am

Mayo: Belleek Woods, Ballina, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM-12.30PM

Mayo: Lough Lannaghs Car Park, Castlebar, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11:30am

Meath: Athboy (outside Darnley Lodge Hotel), CHRISTMAS DAY, 10.15am

Meath: St Patricks GAA Grounds, Stamullen, STEPHENS DAY, 11am

Meath: Gael Colmcille GAA Grounds, Grangegodden, Athboy Road, Kells, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-Midday

Meath: Claremont Athletic Club Stadium, Navan, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10-11.30am

Meath: Kiltale GAA Club, Kiltale, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-Midday

Meath: Baconstown GAA Pitch, Enfield, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday-1pm

Monaghan: Beech Hill College,  Monaghan Town, STEPHENS DAY, Midday

Monaghan: Carrick Aces Running Track, STEPHENS DAY, 11am

Monaghan: Latton GAA Club, STEPHENS DAY, 11am

Offaly: Tullamore Harriers Running Ground, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am- Midday

Offaly: Emmet Square, Birr, CHRISTMAS DAY, 1pm-1:30pm

Offaly: Dunnes Stores Car Park, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-1pm

Roscommon: Padraig Pearses GAA Club, Creagh, Ballinasloe, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11:30AM-1:30PM

Sligo: Athletics Track in Sligo IT, 27th December, Midday-1pm

Sligo: The Golf Club, Rosses Point, STEPHENS DAY, 3pm-3:30pm

Tipperary: Townhall Fethard (Tolsil), CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday

Tipperary: Moyglass Sports and Leisure Centre, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am

Tipperary: Borrisokane AC, Christmas Morning, 10am

Tipperary: Tipperary Town Hills, Christmas Day, 11am - Midday

Tipperary: Ormonde Castle, Carrick-on- Suir (Carrick Runners GOAL Mile), CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM

Waterford: The Square, Portlaw, STEPHENS DAY, 11am

Westmeath: Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Grounds, Christmas Day, 10:30am-12:30pm

Westmeath: Castledaly GAA Grounds, Westmeath, STEPHENS DAY, Midday-2pm

Westmeath: Multyfarnham, Local Park, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday

Wexford: Duncannon Beach, NEW YEARS DAY, 12.30pm

Wexford: The Quay Front, Wexford Town, STEPHENS DAY, 11am

Wicklow: Blessington Community College, CHRISTMAS DAY, 12.15-1pm

Wicklow: Ashford GAA Grounds, centre of Ashford Village, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10AM-11AM

Wicklow: Murphy's Hotel Tinahely, Co Wicklow, NEW YEARS DAY, Midday

Wicklow: Askanagap (outside Aughrim), Stephens Day, 10am-Midday

For more information or to pick up a sponsorship card, please contact the local organiser, ring GOAL on 01-2809779, or visit the GOAL website.