Wicklow Chairman ‘delighted’ with cash donation

GAA clubs in Wicklow will benefit to the tune of just over €2,500 early next week when JP McManus’ donation of €100,000 to the Garden County is shared out by the County Board.

The Limerick businessman who announced a generous €3.2m offering to the 32 county boards with the instruction that each are to divide the money evenly among the clubs in the counties.

Wicklow GAA Chairman Martin Fitzgerald said that he is ‘delighted’ with the news and that it is a wonderful development for clubs who might be struggling in the county.

‘I’m delighted,’ said the Annacurra man, ‘a lot of clubs are struggling in this county and this wil be a big help to those clubs. I think it was a very generous move and it shows that JP McManus didn’t forget his roots through this windfall for the smaller counties. He has looked after everybody,’ he added.

McManus’ donation will be worth just over €2,500 for each club in the county and although the Limerick native is taking some slack on social media since the announcement, Martin Fitzgerald said that the Limerick GAA sponsor is a ‘great man’.

‘I wouldn’t be slating him anyway. This isa great boost for clubs, fair play to him.

‘He’s a great man and deserves huge respect for the move,’ he said.

The €3.2m gesture has been made on the back of Limerick’s All-Ireland Hurling Championship win this year.

McManus has been a main sponsor of Limerick GAA for years and is heavily involved in sport, including horse racing and the upcoming JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor in July 2020.

Staying with finances, entry to this weekend’s double headers in Joule Park Aughrim on Saturday and Sunday afternoons will be €15 for adults and €10 for students and OAPs.