Almost €800,000 in sport grant aid for Wexford clubs
A TOTAL of 23 sports clubs and organisations across the Wexford district will receive €731,000 in Sports Capital Grants, with grants ranging in value from €1,000 up to €85,000.
The Sports Capital Programme was reinstated in 2012, having been cut in 2008 as a result of the recession. Since 2012, grants have been allocated in 2012, 2014 and 2015. In total, 64 Co. Wexford clubs received €1,888,031 this year.
The grants are the government’s primary means of providing funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Since 1998, more than 10,000 projects have received approximately €911m. The facilities that have been funded range from sports equipment for the smallest clubs to national centres of sporting excellence.
Curracloe United Trust Co. Ltd. received the biggest allocation in the Wexford district and club, a total of €85,000. Chairman Alan Monahan said they were delighted to receive the good news, remarking that the money would go towards the planned astroturf pitch at their grounds.
‘We have over 100 families tied to the club through the underage section, as well as adult teams. It is a totally community and family-based club. I’m involved for 30 years and everyone who is involved has been here for the long run.’
He said the club had been holding various fundraisers in recent years and was now halfway to its required target. Their aim, he said, was to raise money and complete their development without putting the club in debt.
The club development will include a three-quarter size astroturf pitch, floodlit and fenced. He added that the club was consistently sending players forward to county and national development squads and had seen former player Kevin O’Connor taking to the field for Preston North End, along with a number of players who had been picked up by League of Ireland teams.
‘Our numbers are super, we are constantly seeing players going on to bigger and better things and we want that to continue.’
In Wexford town, Wexford Wanderers RFC received €43,000, money that they hope will contribute to the development of a future indoor training arena.
Club Chairman Declan Rossiter said they were delighted to receive the funding, saying that it would further enhance the facilities at the club’s ground in Park Lane.
‘Our numbers are constantly growing – at adult and underage level – and we always welcome new members. Our long-term aim is to construct the indoor arena.’
A sum of €71,000 was granted to Rathangan-based soccer club Fastnet Rovers, who plan to build a clubhouse and facilities.
Delighted Chairperson Colin Browne said a lot of work had gone into this project over a number of years and it was, he remarked, a whole community project.
‘We had help with the drawing and planning process, and the application from all of the community including other local clubs like the GAA. It’s a rigorous process. We applied before but were unsuccessful so we’re very happy to get over the line this time.’
The club, he said, had been one of the smaller clubs in the county until recent years when the number of underage teams grew from two up to 10. The club has adult men and women’s teams and last year introduced two underage girls’ teams.
‘In the last few years, we got planning for the clubhouse and an astroturf pitch so this funding is a timely boost for us that will hopefully help us to grow out numbers.’
The club, he pointed out, was debt free at the moment and they hoped that with this grant and some fundraising that they would be able to complete their clubhouse and look towards developing their astroturf pitch then.