KINVARA HOCKEY Club have received a €1.3m allocation under the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
€1.3m has been allocated to Kinvara Hockey Club for the delivery of a hockey/multisport pitch with adjoining 2G multi-use games areas, fencing, floodlighting, and tennis and bocce courts. A spectator area plus an ancillary building which includes a biodiversity and heritage trail will also be provided.
A spokesperson for Kinvara Hockey Club said the funding was “staggering”. It follows the recent allocation of €400,000 in the Community Sports Facilities Fund. “This enormous government support means our community facility can truly become a reality, supporting multiple sports and schools in South Galway and North Clare as well as the hockey community in Connacht”.
Thirty percent match funding must be provided by the Hockey Club as a condition of the grant allocation, the Let’s Build It Initiative has the club on their way to hitting this target.
Also in Galway, €2m has been allocated to St Jarlath’s of Tuam for the development of a full-size 4G pitch with floodlighting, an all-weather synthetic pitch, the redevelopment of the existing grass training pitches into a full-size grass playing pitch, and a sports pavilion.
Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Cllr Albert Dolan (FF) said, “investment in existing and new infrastructure such as this has significant health and social benefits as it ultimately serves to increase participation levels in sports and recreation. This funding allocation will greatly assist the fantastic efforts of Kinara Hockey Club and St Jarlath’s in delivering on their ambition to provide state-of-the-art facilities for their local communities. This news is a massive boost for the people of Kinvara and Tuam”.
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council stated, “The process involved in securing State funding for largescale infrastructure projects can be a daunting one for voluntary sporting organisations. Galway County Council assisted the two clubs in presenting their case for receiving such funding and I am delighted that they have been included in this week’s announcement, thereby enabling them to move forward with the delivery of these worthwhile and positive projects”.
He added, “The Local Authority is delighted to have supported St Jarlath’s and Kinvara Hockey Club in their funding application. These developments have been the subject of years of planning and the collective efforts of local volunteers. This announcement will be very much welcomed by the two communities as it will enable the clubs to not only upgrade and expand their facilities, but also increase active participation in sport”.
