Twenty six Laois clubs and organisations have been awarded funding totalling over €670,000 in this year’s Sports Capital Grants.
The announcement was made this morning by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin.
In total, 994 projects across the country have shared a total pot of €37 million with 37 different sports benefitting.
Laois and Offaly ETB are the biggest winners in Laois having been awarded €75,000 for a multi sport artificial playing surface. That is a project that is being developed at Portlaoise College between the school and Clonad GAA club.
A variety of sports groups around the county have been successful with their applications with the GAA featuring strongly as always.
The Heath GAA club have come in for over €63,000 for “development of gym, new playing surface and walking track” while Killeshin GAA club have received just under €60,000 for the development of their new clubhouse.
Indeed the Killeshin area has done well on this occasion with the local soccer club in line for funding of almost €25,000.
Other areas to do well include Camross – whose GAA club will receive over €54,000, Camross NS €35,000 and Killenure NS just short of €7,000.
The Rathdowney-Errill area has also done well with the Rathdowney GAA club set to get almost €18,000 and Errill in line for almost €50,000. The two clubs remain separate for administration purposes though are fully combined for hurling and are both further developing their facilities.
Portlaoise GAA club (€46,674) and the Kildare and Leighlin Diocese (€45,598) are also among the bigger recipients. The Kildare and Leighlin Diocese funding is for an all weather pitch for the new St Patrick’s boys primary school in Portarlington.
These grants, which are generally given out on an annual basis, are for sports clubs and organistions who are developing facilities for their members.
This follows on from an “equipment only” grants announcement from the same body in May of this year which saw €10million given to various groups around the country – of which 12 Laois groups came in for over €150,000.
€75,000 – Laois and Offaly ETB
Artificial playing surface development
€63,051 – The Heath GAA
Development of gym, new playing surface and walking track
€59,898 – Killeshin GFC
Killeshin GFC Clubhouse
€54,090 Camross GAA Club
Camross GAA Club Phase 3 to complete development
€48,948 Erill GAA
Erill GAA Club Ball-Wall Enclosure & fencing
€46,674 – Portlaoise GAA
Supply and installation of floodlights
€45,598 – Kildare and Leighlin Diocesan Trust
St Patricks BNS Astroturf Pitch
€35,000 – Board of Management Camross National School
Artificial Playing Surface.Gaelic Games
€34,481 – Kilcotton GAA
Kilcotton GAA Club Sports Hall Development
€32,165 – Portarlington Community Centre
Replacement of main sports hall roof
€30,122 – Shanahoe GAA
Astroturf playing facility, lighting and ball wall
€24,487 – Killeshin AFC
Construction of dormer Clubhouse/dressing rooms
€21,189 – O’Dempseys GFC
O’Dempseys multi-purpose fitness room
€20,076 – Abbeyleix GAA
Abbeyleix Community Walking Track
€19,265 – Arles-Kilcruise GAA
Erect spectator fence + walk track around pitch
€17,655 – Rathdowney GAA
Secure spectator fencing of playing pitches
€14,677 – Ballyroan Abbey GAA
1km Walking track, spectator fencing, new showers
€12,973 – Lions AFC
Replacement of all weather pitch surface and goals
€9,881 – Portarlington Golf Club
Provision of new shower facility in changing rooms
€7,673 – Portarlington Rugby Club
Indoor training facility and equipment
€6,009 – St Brigid’s Camogie
St Brigid’s Camogie and St Fergal’s College
€6,821 – Board of Management Killanure National School
School Playing Pitch Development
€3,803 – Laois Cricket Club
New ground and equipment for Laois CC
€2,751 – Borris in Ossory GAA
Playing Feild Improvements
€2,606 – Portarlington GAA Club
Dressing Room and hall works. Ground works and equipment
€2,193 – Clonaslee Community Development Association Ltd
Upgrade of Sporting Facilities. Multi-sport
You can check out the full list from the entire country here.
This article has been amended in reference to €75,000 grant to the LOETB. The article initially incorrectly stated that this funding was for Dunamase College and Laois Hockey Club.
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