A record allocation of €250 million nationally in the latest round of Sports Capital Grant allocations meant that 48 Offaly sporting clubs and organisations are the recipients of good news, with just under €6.2 million to be allocated to the county in total for the year.
€450,000 of this had previously been announced in last May’s equipment grants, but for most clubs, the Autumn Community Sports Facilities Fund announcement is the significant one.
This certainly proved to be the case for GAA clubs such as Ballycumber, St. Rynagh’s HC, Shamrocks, Kinnitty, Daingean, Clara, Belmont, Bracknagh, Clodiagh Gaels and Birr, all of which received between €150,000 and €200,000, the latter being the maximum that could be granted for any local application.
Naomh Mhuire Athletics Club (Daingean), Birr Golf Club, Clara Town FC, Crinkle Sports and Recreation Centre, Moneygall Community Hall, Mucklagh Schoolboys/Schoolgirls Community Soccer Club and Tullamore RFC are others who benefited from grants towards the top end of the scale, while the big winners were those in the regional category, specifically the Offaly Camogie Grounds development who received €494,584 towards their planned new home pitch in Crinkill and the Midlands Schoolboys/Schoolgirls Soccer League, which was allocated €482,146 towards a full-size 3G astro-turf pitch at their planned Centre of Excellent at Woodfield, Clara.
These success stories are a testament to the incredible spirit of volunteerism and the love of sport that exists in Offaly.
We know this is a day when all the politicians like to put their hand up to claim credit, and the truth of the matter is that we do work with our local clubs to try and make sure that they can cover as much of these capital costs as possible. After all, these clubs are tremendous assets to their local communities, and the benefits they provide in terms of the mental and physical health of young and old alike cannot be overstated.
I look at examples like Naomh Mhuire Athletics Club and the Midlands Schoolsboys/Schoolgirls league, just two of the ones where they are looking to provide sporting outlets that simply wouldn’t exist if they didn’t step up and try to do something special.
Any amount of involvement I had in instances like that pales into insignificance when you see the Trojan work and the endless volunteer hours that get put into not just the infrastructure projects of these clubs, but their day to day work in coaching, maintenance and simply keeping the lights on from one week to the next.
You look at what Offaly Camogie are developing, and you can count on one hand the amount of ladies’ intercounty teams that have their own home. Already Offaly LGFA have been trailblazers in that regard with Bretland Park, and now Offaly Camogie are doing the same. As an Offaly woman, and an avid supporter of all sport, but particularly of women’s sport, I have to say I take great pride in the way the Faithful County is leading from the front in this area.
Tribnute must be paid to the commitment that Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has shown to grassroots sport in her provision of a record level of funding this year.
From those clubs that got support for large scale projects, right down to simple but crucial things like the new disability toilets at Derry Rovers or the great sustainability initiatives in Ballycumber GAA, the benefits of this funding will be immediately felt by people all across the county, and for that reason there’s great satisfaction in being able to help in any small way.
The successful Offaly sports clubs and organisations are, as follows;
Equipment only
Athlone cricket club - ground matinance and equipment €6,798
Kilclonfert GAA - Grounds Upgrade & Equipment €18,572
Offaly Search and Recovery - slipway improvement and provide S&R equipment €127,835
Shamrocks Ladies Football Club - Shamrocks GAA Equipment Grant 2023 €44,520
Sliverback Martial Arts & Fitness Ltd - Improve ENERGY efficiency refurbishment €10,283
Spartacus Boxing Club - Replace Boxing Ring and Cardio equipment €17,260
Tullamore Camogie - Tullamore Camogie Gym and Training Equipment €32,827
Capital - Local
Ballinagar GAA - Construct an Astro pitch €130,946
Ballycumber GAA Club - Sustainable Upgrades & Female Change Room €161,953
Ballyfore GAA - Refurbishments and Construction €85,555
BELMONT GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB - Belmont Indoor Community Sports Hall €166,106
Birr Development Company LTD - Maintenance of Gym & Pool Changing Room Floor Area €34,400
Birr GAA Club - Dressing Rooms x 4 with overhead Gymnasium €191,022
Birr Golf Club - Capital Expenditure and Course Development €195,175
Birr Town Soccer Club - Soccer Pitch Facilities Upgrade €66,364
Bracknagh GAA Club - Lighting upgrade and Pedestrian access €159,195
Clara GAA club - Clara GAA Community Facilities Plan Phase 1 & 2. €200,000
CLARA TOWN AFC - Clara Town FC Pitch Development €154,265
Clodiagh Gaels - Refurbishment changing rooms & replacement roof €170,259
Clonmore Harps GAA Club - Clonmore Harps strategic development plan €40,834
Coolderry GAA - Purchase of Security Fencing and Gym Equipment €20,823
Crinkle Sports and Recreation Centre - Dressing Room, Showers, Disabled Toilet / Shower €194,609
Daingean GAA - Daingean GAA Pitch Improvement €189,370
Daingean Naomh Mhuire CLG - Development of Athletic Track on Cut away Bog €161,953
Derry Rovers AFRC - Pitch Floodlights Upgrade / New Disability Toilets €78,995
Doon GAA Offaly - Doon GAA Club, Offaly €73,943
Kilcormac Killoughey Camogie club - Kilcomac Killoughey Camogie equipment application €45,440
Kilcormac/Killoughey GAA - Kilcormac Killoughey GAA - Facilities Upgrade €56,684
Kinnitty GAA Club - Pitch improvement and equipment €200,000
Moneygall Community Hall - Extension to Moneygall Community Gym €178,564
Moneygall Development Association Ltd - Community Walking Track Resurfacing €78,900
Moneygall Football Club Limited - Facilities Development at Moneygall FC €133,923
Mucklagh Schoolboys/girls Community Soccer Club CLG - Development Lighting, Toilets and Ballstops €157,801
Seir Kieran GAA Club - Dressing rooms toilets showers Elect scoreboard €18,043
Shamrocks gaa club - Shamrocks GAA synthetic pitch Development €149,495
Shannonbridge GAA Club - Shannonbridge GAA facilities Development €85,607
Shinrone Development Ltd - Construction of Synthetic Grass Training Area €35,016
St Brigids GAA Offaly - All Weather Pitch Upgrade and New Scoreboard €99,130
St Joseph's Boxing Club - Renovation of Club House & Gym €18,437
St Rynagh's Hurling Club - Provision of LED Floodlights on Playing Pitch 2 €172,854
Tubber GAA - New Equipment & Walking Track Improvements €46,244
Tullamore GAA - Upgrade current floodlights to LED's €135,000
Tullamore Golf Club - Swing Room & Mower grant application €87,697
Tullamore Rugby Football Club - Tullamore Rugby Club Continuous improvements. €148,041
Walsh Island GAA Club - Upgrading works at Walsh Island GAA €102,068
Capital - Regional
Irish Clay Target Shooting Association - 2023 - National Shooting Ground Upgrades €57,224
Midlands SchoolboyGirls League - Full-size 3G Astro-turf pitch €482,146
Offaly Camogie Grounds Company Limited by Guarantee - Offaly Camogie Grounds Development €494,584