FIFTY-EIGHT sport facilities and projects across Clare will receive funding of almost €1.5m under the Sport Capital Programme.
A total of 20 GAA and camogie clubs have been allocated funding, including Kilmurry Ibrickane GAA (€85,000), Smith O’Brien’s GAA (€79,000), Clarecastle GAA (€73,000), Sixmilebridge GAA (€71,000), Kilmaley GAA (€64,000), Clondegad GAA (€59,500), Clonlara GAA (€54,000), Éire Óg (€53,000), Inagh-Kilnamona GAA (€50,000), Ballyea GAA (€46,000), Bodyke GAA (€33,500), Newmarket-on-Fergus GAA (€31,500), Clooney-Quin GAA (€26,500), Ruan GAA (€21,500) and Killenana GAA (€21,000). The Clarecastle funding is towards the provision of female dressing rooms.
Other significant funding includes €85,000 for Kilmurry-Ibrickane Community Centre Committee Ltd; €42,500 for Bridge United AFC; €26,500 for Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board; €26,000 for Ennistymon Parish Project Community Centre Ltd and €21,500 for Lough Derg FC.
While a number of camogie clubs received funding, it was significantly less than what most GAA clubs were granted. Scariff-Ogonnelloe (€2,600), Kilmaley (€2,000), Corofin (€1,200) and Sixmilebridge (€850) were amongst the camogie clubs to receive funding. Kilrush RFC received €20,000 towards their pitch development.
“Sport and activity is not just essential for our physical health but its benefits to our mental well-being is also well documented. Group sports and activities allow people to come together and provide a social outlet for communities,” Minister Pat Breen said.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.