CLARE is receiving over €8.2 million under phase 2 of the Community Sport Facilities Fund.
Some €7.3 million is going to sporting organisations in communities around Clare, while another €940,000 is going to regional projects.
The Clare District Soccer League has got over €410,000 for the upgrading of Frank Healy Park. Clare GAA is getting €478,668 for the All Weather Pitch at its Centre of Excellence.
In Clarecastle the GAA club is to get €200,000 for the provision of floodlighting on its main pitch, while Clarecastle Sports Complex is to get €50,000.
Over €195,000 is being provided for an astro turf development at Ennis Community College, while Feakle GAA is to get over €191,000 for the first phase of its clubhouse development.
These are only some of the largest winners, with dozens of projects across Clare getting allocations.
Over €230 million was allocated across the country and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin said ““Sport is vital to our sense of togetherness and community, from local clubs to professional and high-performance teams and athletes. Each and every one of these grants represents a project that will create a new or improved opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in sport to the best of their ability. Clubs will be better able to serve their communities with the help of this fund. For example 194 clubs are getting funding to install solar panels, 317 clubs are getting funding for LED floodlights and 966 projects will include improvements to pitches.
“These vital improvements and new facilities will add to the equipment allocations announced earlier this year to ensure that more people than ever have access to the sports they love in their local areas.”
Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne said it is a very large investment. “Over a quarter of a billion euro is being invested in sports clubs and facilities under the Community Sport Facilities Fund. This level of sports funding is unprecedented and will prove transformative for sports clubs and facilities in communities across Ireland. As a Government, we are committed to providing everyone, of every age and ability, with the opportunity to participate in sport and this record allocation for sport demonstrates that commitment.
“The inspiring performance of Team Ireland at the Olympics and Paralympics recently in Paris demonstrated the positive power of sport and we understand that any sporting journey begins within the community. The record funding being announced today under the Community Sport Facilities Fund underlines this Government’s continued commitment to seeing Irish sport thrive into the future.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.