Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the allocation of over €4.6 million in Sports Capital Grant funding to 69 clubs in Clare.
Minister for Sport Jack Chambers has today confirmed that his department will issues grants totalling €150m to clubs nationally under the latest round of funding of this programme.
“I’m delighted to see this huge investment in sports facilities throughout Co. Clare,” said Deputy Crowe.
“I have spent a number of months criss-crossing the county meeting sports clubs, community groups and a broad spectrum of people who enjoy using these fantastic facilities and I’ve worn a path to Minister Chambers’ office to try to secure funding for them.
“I love sports myself and played with my local GAA club in Meelick and also played rugby growing up.
“In more recent years, I’ve been involved in coaching hurling, football and rugby teams when I was teaching in Parteen NS and I’m proud to say that my children are now playing with a number of our local teams.
“Time spent involved in sports is golden time for young people and it’s only right that we invest in the facilities that improve participation.
“This year, Minister Chambers placed particular emphasis on clubs that prioritised female participation and also reached out to others in the community.
“I’ve been hugely impressed by the way in which some of our county’s sports clubs have teamed up with the likes of disability groups and active retirement groups.
“Many of our county’s sports fields are these days not just used for training sessions and matches but also by local people walking and jogging to keep fit.
“In this sense, sports clubs have become much more inclusive and really are the backbone of the community.
“Our collective experience of Covid over the past two years has really made us appreciate community and community organisations all the more.
“I hope over the next 12 months, a new round of applications for Sports Capital Funding can be announced and I will again help Clare sports groups to achieve a maximum allocation within this.”
