Gaelic Games accounted for a whopping €96,901,302 of the €230,260,393 in Government funding, with the 787 successful grants once again highlighting the special place which the GAA holds in Irish sport.
Handball (€1,338,256), Camogie (€1,017,542) and Ladies Gaelic Football (€158,149), all listed separately to the GAA but under the overall umbrella, also benefited in the largest distribution of Government funds to clubs and facilities.
Among the biggest GAA recipients are Offaly camogie (€494,584), Clare GAA (€478,668), Cavan GAA (€440,183), St Tiernach’s GAA grounds in Monaghan (€340,259) and Wicklow GAA (€292,909).
Multi-sport facilities benefited to the tune of €44.5million while soccer (League of Ireland and grassroots level) received just over €41million with golf getting €11.4million and rugby close on €10million.
The exploits of Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy have seen rowing’s popularity soar but just €1.5million of funding has been secured across 17 applications – with the bulk of that figure going to the Cork-based Rowing Ireland (€524,289) and essential work to the National Rowing Centre (NRC) Gym for Olympic Athletes (€245,204).
Kellie Harrington put Irish boxing in lights once again when claiming her second Olympic gold medal during the summer but boxing receives just (€830,914) while gymnastics, fresh from Rhys McClenaghan taking a famous gold in the pommel horse in Paris, receives just €49,293.
Below is a breakdown of the biggest grant allocations across the 26 counties.
Carlow
€365,504 – Tullow & South Leinster Tennis & Sports Club – Phase 4 of MasterPlan Development
Cavan
€440,183 – Coiste Bhreifne Uí Raghaillaigh (Cavan G.A.A.) – Redevelopment of 3G Artificial Playing surface
Clare
€478,668 – Clare GAA – Clare GAA Centre of Excellence All-Weather Pitch
Cork
€524,289 – ROWING IRELAND [Irish Amateur Rowing Union CLG]
Donegal
€500,000 – Sean MacCumhaills – Sustainable and Accessible MacCumhaill Park
€500,000 – Finn Valley ac Ltd – Finn Valley A.C. Campus Development
Dublin
€831,275 – The Football Association of Ireland
Galway
€500,000 – Galway City Council – Castle Park Synthetic Pitch
€500,000 – Galway City Council – Leisureland Improvement Works
Kerry
€500,000 – Derreen Sports CLG – Public Sports Centre
Kildare
€500,000 – KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL – Sallins Amenity Lands
Kilkenny
€500,000 – Edmund Rice Schools Trust Limited – 2023 – CBS Kilkenny fullsize all-weather
Laois
€487,055 – Laois and Offaly ETB – Portlaoise College – Tartan/Synthetic Track – Portlaoise College
Leitrim
€414,830 – Shannonside Regional recreational Campus – Shannonside Recreational Campus Astro Turf Pitch
Limerick
€500,000 – LIMERICK CITY & COUNTY COUNCIL – Grove Island Leisure Centre Improvement Works
Longford
€436,663 – Longford RFC – Gym/fitness centre, changing rooms and toilets
Louth
€482,146 – Louth and Meath Education and Training Board – Bush PP Athletics Track Refurb & 2 lane Extension
Mayo
€406,497 – Mayo League Community Stadium Club CLG – 2023 – Upgrade of Facility at Milebush Stadium Castlebar
Meath
€442,502 – CSG Sports Club CLG – Refurbishment of Sports Hall
Monaghan
€340,259 – Coiste Chontae Mhuineachain – 2023 – Extension to Centre of Excellence
€340,259 – St Tiarnach’s GAA Clones – St Tiarnachs Park Floodlights
Offaly
€494,584 – Offaly Camogie Grounds Company Limited by Guarantee (Offaly Camogie Grounds Development)
Roscommon
€387,003 – Lisnamult Residents Association Ltd – 8 Lane All Weather IAAF Standard Athletics Track
Sligo
€496,018 – Ballymote Community Parks Sports – Ballymote Regional Athletics Track with pitch
Tipperary
€475,188 – Tipperary Education and Training Board – Multi Sports Field at Nenagh College with Nenagh HC
Waterford
€485,619 – St. Angela’s school – Ursuline School Waterford Artificial Pitch
Westmeath
€500,000 – Westmeath County Council – Athlone RSC Swimming Pool Facility Improvements
Wexford
€373,841 – Ferrycarrig Football Club Limited – Wexford FC Equipment and Regional Grant
Wicklow
€292,909 – Wicklow County Board G.A.A. – Upgrade GAA facilities at Aughrim