There has been shock and disappointment following the Government’s Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) grants announcement that no new indoor sports facility has been announced for West Clare, with one county councillor describing it as “another kick in the teeth” for clubs, organisations and youth in the region. Following Monday’s announcement which included €3.2 million in funding to upgrade the Clare GAA Centre of Excellence at Caherlohan, Councillor Ian Lynch (IND) said the omission of two project applications from West Clare was “disappointing” news.
Earlier in the summer, a grant application was submitted by Kilrush for a 1,700m indoor sports centre in the town under the Fund, and it was felt a strong business case was put forward. Kilkee Sub Aqua Club’s application for a scuba diving and snorkelling centre of excellence for in Kilkee was also unsuccessful.
“Not a single penny was allocated to the indoor facility for West Clare. One of the key components of the application was to open up sport in disadvantaged areas; Kilrush has the highest rate of deprivation in the county but yet it would appear our government representatives felt that this was not the project to support…This was more than a sports project. This had potential to bring economic life back in to the town through multi sports competitions. We hear how governments want to revitalise rural towns, and Kilrush has one of the highest statistics around the need for revitalisation but yet we are passed over at every opportunity,” Cllr Lynch said.
The Kilrush based councillor highlighted there is no indoor substantial sports facility between north and west Clare, and believes such a facility would be particularly important to a town like Kilrush which, according to a recent An Pobal report, is the most socially deprived area in the county. He said that the facility would also help youth, a cohort who he feels our county’s general election candidates have forgotten. “Disappointingly, if you look at any of the literature from any of the candidates in the next election, not one has prioritised the need for youth investment in West Clare,” he added.
The Government initiative which launched last April allows local authorities and national governing sports bodies to apply for up to €30m for infrastructural projects. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media said in a letter to the Kilrush team that in light of the unprecedented demand for LSSIF funding, many high-quality projects did not receive grants this time around. It confirmed that a total of over 90 projects submitted applications which amounted to €665m, with only €175m available to the Department.
An Cathaoirleach for West Clare Municipal District, Councillor Rita McInerney echoed Cllr Lynch’s sense of disappointment saying she was “shocked and dismayed” at the denial of funding for the two West Clare projects which she believes would be transformative for the region.
“While I welcome the Caherlohan funding wholeheartedly, particularly in light of being crowned All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions and as it will benefit players from around the Clare, the decision to overlook these two vital projects for Kilrush and Kilkee is deeply disheartening,” said Cllr McInerney. These projects are not just blueprints on paper; they are dreams, hopes, and a step towards a brighter future for our communities. West Clare deserves the same opportunities, and our voices deserve to be heard.”
“This is a powerful reminder of why West Clare needs a dedicated advocate to raise issues like this, to ensure we get the support our communities so clearly deserve. Kilrush and Kilkee are at the heart of West Clare, and they need champions in Dáil Éireann who will fight for their future,” the Clare Fianna Fáil general election candidate said.
She believes the West Clare projects were left behind in the Government’s LSSIF decision-making and criticised the rationale behind the decision, calling it “short-sighted and dismissive of the real needs of West Clare.”
The recent letter to the Kilrush team from the Department noted unsuccessful applications may be placed on a reserve list offering a glimmer of hope the projects could be funded if additional funding becomes available. And Cllr McInerney has said her priority in the coming weeks, irrespective of the general election outcome, will be to push for both projects to be prioritised on the list, and to secure the necessary funding.
“These communities have waited long enough. Kilrush and Kilkee deserve this investment, and I will not stop fighting until it’s realised. These facilities are not just about infrastructure—they’re about pride, opportunity, and a vision for the future of West Clare…The work and effort poured into these applications deserve more than just consideration; they deserve recognition and respect,” McInerney said. She added that if elected, she will ensure projects like these will be at the top of her agenda.
Several Clare general election candidates including Leonora Carey (FG) and Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) have welcomed the allocation to Clare GAA which will transform the existing facility at Caherlohan into a high quality, accessible sporting venue, and enable the integration of GAA, camogie and ladies football activities at the Centre of Excellence.
Sharon Dolan D’Arcy covers West Clare news. After completing a masters in journalism at University of Galway, Sharon worked as a court reporter at the Sligo Weekender. She was also editor of the Athenry News and Views.