Kanturk Cycling Club among the finalists in the 2020 National Lottery Good Causes
Awards
KANTURK Cycling Club is among five Cork organisations unveiled as national finalists in the 2020 National Lottery Good Causes Awards.
The Kanturk club is among the 36 shortlisted finalists across six categories; sport, health & well-being, arts/ culture, heritage, community and youth affairs.
Each category winner will receive €10,000, with the overall ‘ Good Cause of the Year’ scooping an additional €25,000.
Since it was established more than three decades ago the National Lottery has generated more than €5.5 billion though its Good Causes Fund, with each of the 2020 finalists having received funding from the fund since 2014.
In fact, almost 30c in each €1 spent on National Lottery games – more than €620,000 per day – goes back to good causes with €250 million being channelled back into communities across the country last year alone.
While this may all too often go unnoticed by the general public, this funding has often proved vital to the sterling, and all too often essential work, undertaken by communities, clubs and individuals.
In Cork alone thousands of projects have benefited though the Good Causes initiative, among them the Fermoy-based Blackwater Sub Aqua Club, whose chairman Timmy Carey said the funding they received had been ‘crucial’ to its very survival.
In addition to the Kanturk club, which was short-listed in the sports
category, the other Cork nominees are: The Cork Folklore Project & The Cork LGBT Archive (Heritage) and the Graffiti Theatre Company & Cyclone Rep (Arts & Culture).
Details of all the 36 finalists are available to view by following the Good Causes link at www.lottery.ie.
Judging will take place this week, with representatives from each of the short-listed finalists making a short presentation to the judging panel, which will be chaired by Lotto and weather
presenter Nuala Carey.
The award winners will be announced in May at a function in Dublin’s Mansion House (subject to public health measures) where a special Irish Language Award will also be presented. Should the event not be able to go ahead, the awards winners will be unveiled online.
Congratulating the 36 finalists, National Lottery CEO Andrew Algeo said the awards were an opportunity to shine a light on the work done within our communities by extraordinary groups.
“Our aim is to recognise the exceptional contributions of our finalists and show the people of Ireland exactly what their participation and support in the National Lottery is achieving within their communities,” said Mr Algeo.
“We are all aware of how difficult the past year has been and how important sports clubs, organisations and groups are to our well-being. This truly is our chance to show our appreciation for keeping our communities going during such uncertain times.”