Almost €5M in funding for sports clubs in Cavan

Almost €5M in funding has been allocated to sports clubs across County Cavan to support a range of projects; while close to €4.1M has been granted to clubs in neighbouring County Monaghan.

Nationwide, 1,996 grants have been announced by the Minister for Sport, Thomas Byrne (FF), to a total value of €230m for new and improved sports facilities and equipment throughout the country under the Community Sport Facilities Fund, formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.

The biggest beneficiary is the Cavan County Board of the GAA, which is set to receive €440,183 for the redevelopment of its 3G artificial playing surface.

Cavan County Council has been awarded €346,742 for resurfacing of the Cavan Astro Park at Tullacmongan; while Shercock Sports & Recreational Facilities Ltd has been awarded €37,961 for sports equipment, a mower and storage shed €53,511.

Looking at the grants awarded to clubs, Arva GAA Club is set to receive €170,259 towards phase three of their new facility opening and further development.

Bailieboro Celtic AFC has been allocated €170,611 to upgrade existing facilities.

Bailieborough Leisure Centre is to receive €93,774 towards the addition of a new ‘Primavera Pool Sport’ swimpool.

Bailieborough Shamrocks GAA has been awarded €151,407 for community facilities upgrade.

Ballyhaise GAA Club will get €200,000 towards building gender neutral dressing rooms.

Ballyjamesduff AFC Juvenile Soccer Club has been allocated €139,476 towards the development of an additional playing pitch.

Ballymachugh GFC will get €67,033 for drainage installation and a playing surface upgrade.

Belturbet GAA Club will benefit from €160,000 for a gym upgrade and toilets.

Blacklion Golf Club will get a sum of €134,244 to improve its sustainability and increase participation.

Castlerahan GAA Club has been awarded €182,717 towards phase one of a development at Fay Park.

Cavan and Monaghan ETB has been allocated €39,730 towards the redevelopment of an existing school pitch.

Cavan County Council has been awarded €64,696 to upgrade the Cavan Regional Health & Leisure Centre.

Cootehill Celtic GAA has been awarded €195,175.

Corlough GAA Club will receive €21,428 towards equipment for its community gym.

Crosserlough GFC will benefit from €55,334 to upgrade toilets and showers.

Cuchulainns Gaelic Football Club has been awarded €200,000 for phase one of a new clubhouse.

Cavan Gaels are to receive €51,873 to increase participation.

Denn GFC will benefit from €63,717 for a new ball stop, ball wall and robotic mower

Drung GFC has been awarded €62,558 towards a new extension to an existing training pitch.

Kill Shamrocks GAA will grant €58,137 towards their grant application.

Killeshandra Leaguers GFC has been allocated €100,000 for phase two of its clubroom development.

Kingscourt Harps AFC Ltd will benefit from €174,411 to upgrade its existing artificial pitch.

Laragh Sports Partnership will get €10,644 towards a CCTV and access control system

Laragh United GAA has been awarded €126,241 to upgrade its main playing pitch surface.

The Leisure & Sports Complex (Ballinagh) Trust Ltd has been allocated €59,300 towards a handball court, hurling and camogie wall.

Loch Gowna GAA has got a further €76,582 towards a biodiversity bank, sports terrace and disability access.

Maghera Mac Finns GFC has been awarded €178,564 for an artificial playing surface development.

Mullahoran GFC will get €178,564 towards a lighting update, pitch upgrade, mower, storage etc

Redhills GAC has been allocated €178,195 to upgrade its facilities.

Shercock Gaelic Football Club will get €35,754 for disability access fencing, a mower and CCTV.

St Felim's Diocesan Trust has been awarded €191,022 for an artificial pitch at St Mary's NS, Arva.

Templeport Saint Aidans GAA Club will get €44,467 for disability access and facilities extension.

UCL Harps FC has been boosted by a €55,824 grant to build a clubhouse

Virginia Golf Club will get €30,155 for a playing surface development.

Virginia Rugby Club has been awarded €123,589 for facilities there.

A further €20,447 has been allocated to three organisations for equipment only.

They are Ballyconnell Community Centre, €3,928; Castlerahan Community Development Ltd, €10,706; and Drumlane GFC, €5,813.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Niamh Smyth, has welcomed the allocations - totalling over nine million euro for the two counties.

Combined with May’s allocation of €26M for sports equipment, the grants bring the total investment in community sport and recreation in 2024 nationwide to an unprecedented €256 million, the largest-ever investment in sports facilities nationwide.

“This €250 million investment represents a 250% increase in funding compared with the previous 2020 round of funding, clearly demonstrating the priority Fianna Fáil places on encouraging and facilitating sporting participation and excellence," said Deputy Smyth.

“There is also a tremendous sense of community that comes from engagement with sports and their associated organisations. Ensuring that we have the right equipment in place and that adequate facilities are provided is key to supporting people of all abilities to get, and to stay, involved," she added.

Deputy Brendan Smith (FF) also welcomed the allocations and wished the various clubs the best of luck with their projects.

“I am delighted to have worked along with clubs across different sporting disciplines in progressing their applications. Great credit is due to the volunteers in every parish who work week in week out to ensure that people of all age groups can have access to good recreational and sporting facilities," said Deputy Smith.

Minister Heather Humphreys was equally delighted with the allocations for Cavan and Monaghan.

“This investment will assist our clubs in delivering a range of really worthwhile projects that will benefit people of all ages," she said.

Minister Humphreys also commended the clubs for securing the funding.

“These are clubs that are run by volunteers who give up so much of their spare time.

“I want to sincerely congratulation each and every one of the successful clubs and I look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition.”