Sports funding for Tipperary welcomed

A number of local representatives have welcomed an allocation of €404,641 for sports clubs across Tipperary. The funding has been announced by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media to provide equipment and is part of the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP)

“This funding is designed to help sporting clubs and organisations to provide the facilities necessary to achieve their objectives in increasing participation in sport,” said Deputy Michael Lowry.

“Involvement in sport brings major benefits, both physically and mentally, to our daily lives. This funding package will assist sports clubs and National Governing Bodies of Sport purchase the sports equipment required to hopefully develop,” he said.

Priority was given to projects that will increase participation, that are located in areas with higher levels of socio-economic disadvantage and to organisations that did not receive significant funding under the programme previously. In terms of how applications were scored, an even greater emphasis was placed on encouraging increased women’s participation in sport.

The Tipp sports organisations to benefit include:

Ballina Ladies Football Club - €3,500; Killea GAA Club - €27,528; Knigh United - €4,144; Silvermines FC - €4,129; St Cronan's Association - €30,000; Upperchurch Drombane and District Development Association - €26,196.

Deputy Jackie Cahill and Senator Garret Ahearn have also welcomed the announcement, as did Tipperary Co Councillor John Carroll, who described the funding as a vital stimulus to many clubs and organisations in a very challenging environment.