Spa are due to receive over €96,000 in this year’s Sports Capital Grants towards the new dressing rooms and gym equipment. We are one of the clubs and organisations included in this year’s record total of €150m allocated to the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.
The following article is from KillarneyToday.com - originally link here
Funding for skate park and GAA clubs score bigtime
Posted on February 11, 2022 by John O'Mahony
A total of 83 sports clubs and organisations in Kerry will share €5.5 million in funding
Several sports clubs and organisations in the greater Killarney area are among the 83 beneficiaries to share €5.5 million in funding following confirmation of the latest round of Sports Capital and Equipment Programme approved by the government.
Funding is provided to assist voluntary and community organisations, national governing bodies of sport, local authorities and education and training boards and schools to develop high quality, accessible, safe and sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation.
Kerry County Council has received €133,188 to proceed with the development of a skate park in the grounds of Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre while the sports centre itself has been allocated a grant of €121,483 to assist with maintenance and operational costs.
Killarney Legion GAA Club will receive €50,258 for field maintenance and optimisation, Dr Crokes GAA Club has received €28,806 to upgrade facilities, Spa GAA is to get €96,345 to build dressing rooms and purchase gym equipment and Fossa GAA has been allocated €78,377 for dressing rooms, floodlights and a renewable energy purposes.
Other GAA clubs to do well include Currow which will get €88,652 for floodlighting and drainage, Firies has been allocated €81,809 for field developments, Gneeveguilla has been given €44,840 for pitch development and Kilcummin is to receive €49,739 for pitch lighting, a surfaced walkway and a new scoreboard.
Listry GAA will get €46,050 for sports equipment, Scartaglin will receive €70,897 for the development of a natural playing pitch, Beaufort has been approved for €134,145 for an all-weather surface, Milltown/Castlemaine will get a cheque for €150,000 for a field development plan, Keel is to get €51869 for lighting, fencing, gym gear and a field mower, and Sneem GAA gets €108,025 for dressing rooms, lighting and gym equipment.
Other clubs in Killarney to receive funding include:
Killarney Rugby Football Club: €123,594 for a clubhouse and changing rooms
Muckross Rowing Club, Killarney: €97,715 for participation and equipment for green coaching
Killarney Athletic AFC: €45,172 for a soccer training pitch for girls
Killarney Celtic FC: €28,566 for sports equipment and lighting
Mastergeeha FC: €88,390 for a synthetic training pitch, floodiights and fencing
Castlemaine United FC: €24,218 for a storage shed, gym equipment and ball stop nets
Barraduff Community Field Organisation: €36,649 for a walking track upgrade, LED lighting, fencing and dugouts
Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore: €52,878 for the replacement of a wooden gym floor
Other projects that benefitted include St Brendan’s Trust – operated by the Diocese of Kerry – which has received funding for a number of schools-related projects including the development of an astro-turf pitch and accessible walking track (€148,982); a multi-purpose all-weather pitch and training track (€150,000); a sports activity hall (€98,811), a multi-use games area (€21,790) and security fencing, disabled access and ball stop nets (€27,141).
Announcing the grants, Education Minister and Kerry TD, Noma Foley, said it will provide vital funding for the development of local sports clubs and organisations across Kerry. “Throughout the past two years in our nation sportsmen and women, both on a local and national stage, lifted the spirit of the country when we need it the most.
“Whether that was our Olympians, rugby stars, or the heroic on field performances of our county and club teams, the return from government investment in sport has never been tangible,” she said.
Minister Foley added: “On a local level this funding will also benefit participants of all levels and abilities ensuring that the health benefits associated with sports participation can be enjoyed by everyone in their local community.”
Her Fianna Fail colleague, Cllr Niall Kelleher, has welcomed the projects included in the Killarney Municipal District Council area and he said it is no more than the clubs and organisations deserve for the great work the put in on a voluntary basis.
Deputy Brendan Griffin, meanwhile, said he knows the Kerry clubs and organisations receiving this funding today will make great use of it to the benefit of local communities.
“It is so important to encourage people to play sport, not only is it good for their physical health but it benefits their mental health too. Supporting sports teams, clubs and organisations is also tantamount to supporting community engagement and helps to foster strong community spirit,” he stated.
Clr Michael Cahill said there are state-of-the-art sports-halls, walkways and playing fields in parishes throughout Ireland that have been funded through the Sports Capital Grant over many years and it has proven to be a fabulously successful scheme in providing funding for initiatives locally.
“I will take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers in local organisations who put in the hard work to progress these initiatives on behalf of their local areas,” he said.