Longford Tennis Club receives Texaco Support for Sport initiative county award

Situated on the outskirts of Longford Town, the tennis club caters for players of all ages. Following a major renovation of the facilities in 2010, the club now offers a state-of-the-art, all-weather, floodlit facility with five tennis courts.

Now in its third year, the Texaco Support for Sport initiative – organised by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand – sees a fund of €130,000 set aside annually for allocation in equal amounts of €5,000 to successful applicants chosen on a county-by-county basis.  Previous Longford winners were Aughnacliffe’s UCL Harps FC (2021) and Longford Rugby Football Club (2022).

Congratulating the winners, James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited referred to what he called ‘the important contribution’ that sports clubs make within their communities and throughout Irish society as a whole. “Our initiative provides vital funding to clubs that have an important place in, and seek to enhance their contribution to, their local communities.  

"Since its inception, we’ve distributed almost €400,000 to a wide variety of sports clubs throughout the country which has greatly helped them to continue to play an essential and positive role in their communities, something of which we are very proud,” Mr. Twohig added.

 Overseeing the judging process was Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, former Irish rugby international and broadcaster, Donncha O’Callaghan. Commenting, he said, “As adjudicator, the most uplifting aspect of the Texaco Support for Sport initiative is that it gives clubs rare access to funds which are not linked to popularity, membership size or success.”

Describing the club as ‘a very deserving recipient’, he went on to add: “Longford Tennis Club is a fantastic club that keeps its membership fee low in order to make tennis accessible to as many people as possible. Its success in this initiative  shows how keen its committee and members are to ensure that it remains an important part of community life”.

Entries for the 2024 Texaco Support for Sport initiative will open in the Autumn.

Members of Longford Tennis Club pictured being presented with their €5,000 prize as winners of the 2023 Longford County award in this year’s Texaco Support for Sport initiative.

 The award was presented to the club ‘to help increase its membership and to encourage more people in the community to participate in competitions’.

Pictured are Longford Tennis Club Chairperson, Catherine Kane (centre left); committee member, Claire Mulcahy (centre right), and fellow club members, at Camlin Service Station, Longford along with Texaco Dealer, Joseph Raleigh (third right) and Valero Area Sales Manager, Sinéad Fox (third left).