Three Kilkenny clubs get €50,000 New Year windfall: Minister Phelan
THREE Kilkenny clubs who missed out on the last round of Sports Capital Grant funding are about to get a new year windfall.
Kells, Muckalee and Thomastown are all being granted funding under last year’s Sports Capital Grant programme following the submission of further information requested under the programme, local Minister and TD John Paul Phelan confirmed today.
The clubs and communities to benefit are Kells Sports Centre, which will receive €25,900 towards renovations, St Martin’s GAA Facility Improvement Project (€16,700) and Thomastown and District Riding Club, which have been given €7,900 in funding for jumps, dressage arenas and a defibrillator.
Funding applications for the coming year are now closed and the successful clubs will be announced over the coming months.
Minister Phelan said today: “Over €40 million will be available under the Sports Capital Grants programme for the coming year. Over €1.42 million was shared among a host of organisations across Kilkenny over the past year. It is hoped that, given the quality of applications typically received from clubs in the region, this might even increase further over the next term.
“I want to see even more Kilkenny clubs and organisations benefit as much as possible from this funding. Last year we saw a whole host of clubs involved in GAA, soccer, boxing, cycling, basketball, golf, canoeing and boating, handball, swimming, triathlons and more all benefiting.”
The Sports Capital Programme was re-instated by the last Fine Gael government in 2012, after it had been cut by Fianna Fáil in the wake of the economic crash.
“It is crucial we invest in sport and the health of our population, particularly with obesity is on the rise. Investing in sport is good for the health of the nation, both literally and economically,” Minister Phelan added.
