€1.6m Sports Capital boost for 22 Longford groups

Sports Capital funding of €1.6m for 22 Longford organisations has been warmly welcomed today. The biggest allocation is for Longford  Athletics Club with €300,000 for their indoor campus in Longford town.

Longford/Westmeath TD Joe Flaherty welcomed the news stating that: "sport is crucial for all communities".

"There was a record number of applications for these grants and I was pleased that all bar three from Co Longford received funding with all getting a minimum of 90% of what was requested and many achieving 100% on the strength of really strong applications," he said.

"It has been a tough two years for many sports clubs but the pandemic really demonstrated the importance of sport for our collective wellbeing. The grants today will significantly improve sports facilities locally."

Senator Micheál Carrigy has offered his congratulations to the sporting organisations throughout the county that have received funding.

"It has been a very tough couple of years for clubs and I know how much work has been done by committee members and volunteers to try and raise much-needed funds so absolutely delighted for these organisations," he said.

"Longford received a total of €1,550,098 out of €144 million allocated to almost 1,900 applications.  €6million will be kept in reserve for successful appeals lodged by unsuccessful applicants.

"As Fine Gael spokesperson on Sport in Seanad Éireann I have been continually working directly with the Sports Capital Unit within the Department and the Minister Chambers office in relation to applications received from Longford organisations and to ensure that those applications were given careful consideration.

"In June 2021 I raised the serious issue with Minister Chamber that Longford has received only €20.99 per capita in 2017, 2018 and 2019 when the country average is €32.88 and I asked him to ensure that when decisions were being made on the allocation of the Sports Capital Fund 2020, he needed to ensure that this imbalance is addressed, and Longford would get its fair share."

The list of Longford grants is as follows:

• Ardagh Moydow GAA: €31,691 
• Abbeylara: €53,500
• Ballymahon AFC: €50,000       
• Clonguish GAA: €77,000      
• Colmcille GAA: €68,200             
• Longford Town FC: €46,048    
• Dromard GAA: €140,000
• Edgeworthstown Development Association: €47,000               
• Killoe GAA: €51,468             
• Fr Manning Gaels: €8345
• Grattan Og: €100,000
• Legan GAA: €55,000
• Longford AC: €300,000
• Rathcline GAA: €87,116
• Sean Connolly’s GAA: €50,000
• Mullinalaghta GAA: €53,712
• St Brigid’s GAA: €150,000
• UCL Harps Soccer: €91,309
• Ballymore GAA: €20,623
• Longford Tennis Club: €40,000
• Ethnic Minority Hub: €1044
• Longford Co Council: €119,351

Longford Westmeath Minister Peter Burke has highlighted that this is part of record investment of €150 million which will benefit 1,900 clubs and schools nationwide.

"This is fantastic news of record investment into our local sports clubs," he said.

"This is further Government investment into rural and regional Ireland and an acknowledgement of the millions of hours invested by volunteers across our county every year to keep our clubs going.  I am delighted to have assisted many of the clubs with their applications.

"Our local clubs, be they GAA, soccer, athletics, handball, swimming or a whole host of other types of sport, are the bedrock of local communities, of schools and the fibre of our localities.  We see volunteers week in week out give hours of their time coaching, assisting, bringing lifts, making food, involved in budgeting, governance and sitting on committees, all for the benefit of their club and community.  I hope this investment goes some way to acknowledge their work and assists with drives for better facilities and more members.

"Sport is crucial, for both adults and children, and we have seen this more than ever during Covid 19. There was a record number of applications for these grants and the government responded with the most significant level of individual awards ever. It has been a tough two years for many sports clubs.  The grants we are announcing today will significantly improve sports facilities in every club listed. There is a huge variety of different sports covered and his year for the first time, the scoring system placed an even greater emphasis on female participation.

"A wide range of sports and a wide geographical spread of sports are included in the allocation of over €1 million, including €100,000 for Grattan Og, €50,000 for Ballymahon AFC, €150,000 for St Brigid’s GAA Club, €40,000 for Longford Tennis Club, €53,500 for Abbeylara GAA and many many more.

"Three large scale projects shared regional funding of over €465,000. including €300,000 for Longford Athletics Club to upgrade and develop Indoor Athletics Centre of Excellence

"I know this money will be well invested and will serve these clubs for future generations and for underage and senior teams for years to come.  The funding stream was open to all clubs to apply for and unsuccessful applicants will be given the opportunity to appeal the Department’s decision in the coming days so I would urge all clubs who are unhappy to contact my office on this matter."