Sports grants spread right across county as Galway gets €10m share of the pot

Over €10.2 million in sports capital grants is to be divvied up by almost 130 clubs and organisations across the county – with Tuam Stadium and Moonbaun Sports and Development Project in Athenry among the biggest beneficiaries.

The funding, announced this week by the Department of Sport, spreads across all sectors of sport including GAA, rugby, soccer, golf and tennis – with the money to go towards everything from maintenance to the building of new running tracks.

Among those to be allocated funds was Galway County Board, which was awarded just under €300,000 for the redevelopment of Tuam Stadium.

Also in receipt of €300,000 is the Moanbaun Sports and Development Project, for the provision of a regional eight-lane running track at the Athenry multi-sport venue.

County Galway Cricket Club received €230,000 for the construction of new changing rooms while Corinthians Rugby Club was awarded the same for an all-weather pitch.

Several clubs and groups were granted between €150,000 and €200,000 and among those were Athenry Golf Club for a facilities upgrade; Ballinasloe and District Tennis Club for three courts and lighting; Caltra GAA for a training pitch and floodlighting; and Colga FC in Clarinbridge for artificial surface development.

In the same funding bracket was Clarinbridge GAA for a clubhouse and outdoor classroom; Colemanstown Utd FC for an all-weather pitch; Glinsk GAA for community development; Gort Community School for its astroturf facility and Killererin GAA for LED pitch lighting.

Milltown, St Brendan’s (Ballygar) and St Mary’s (Athenry) GAA clubs were also granted €150,000 for various works while Monivea Rugby Club was allotted the same amount for new changing rooms.

Two County Council-owned facilities – Tuam and Ballinasloe Leisure Centres – were allocated just under €150,000 for upgrades to their changing rooms.

Portumna RFC’s Portumna Rugby Access and Inclusion Facilities are to be boosted by a €129,000 cash injection, while €140,000 will bolster Galway Bay Sailing Club’s Training and Water Safety Facilities.

A provision of €110,000 was made for Scoil Bhríde Mercy Secondary School in Tuam to deliver the town’s first athletics track while Moyne Villa FC in Headford will have €109,000 to the kitty for its all-weather pitch.

A total of €132,000 has been delivered to renovate Clonberne Community Hall, and a further €120,000 in grant funding is on its way to Craughwell Athletic Club to apply a tartan layer to its 400m track.

Cappataggle Community Association for Recreation attracted €117,000 for its pitch development fund, and for the resurfacing of a walkway.

Plans to develop a gymnasium at St Brendan’s Hurling Club in Loughrea have taken a big step forward with €134,000 in funding, as have pitch works at Bearna na Forbacha Aontaithe where €109,000 has been secured.

The multi-purpose indoor sports complex plan at Corofin GAA will also progress with €128,000 in the coffers.

Other projects to receive over €100,000 were Ballinasloe Golf Club (€102k); Ballinasloe Rugby Club (€100k); Ballinasloe AFC (€100k); Brothers of Charity Services (€102k); and the Educena Foundation (€100k).

Dozens of other groups across city and county were awarded five-figure sums to progress ambitious plans and commenting on the announcement this week, Minister of State Anne Rabbitte said the funding represented a ‘major investment in Galway sport’.

“This will be a major boost to facilities across communities in Galway and is indicative of how important sport is in every community in the county. These clubs and organisations are the backbone of many communities – it is what binds them.

“It is also great to see Galway clubs receive funding for projects deemed to be of ‘regional’ significance. This is indicative of the scale of some of the projects and facilities being developed, including Moanbaun in Athenry – a joint venture between Athenry Association Football Club and Athenry Athletics Clubs – which is receiving €300,000 for the provision of a regional eight-lane running track.

“The Galway County Board has been allocated €297,073 for the redevelopment of Tuam Stadium – which has been long called for – and the Galway Camogie Board have been granted €35,788 for ball-stop netting and the completion of works on dressing rooms,” said Minister Rabbitte.