Clare sports clubs invited to apply for funding under ‘Support for Sport’ initiative

Sports clubs in County Clare and beyond, have been invited to apply for funding under the Texaco ‘Support for Sport’ initiative. 

Leading the adjudication process once again is Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, broadcaster and former Munster and Ireland rugby player, Donncha O’Callaghan.

The scheme, which has been ongoing for the last four years, will see €130,000 being divided and distributed equally to successful applicants in all twenty-six counties in the Republic of Ireland, including Clare.

This means that each successful applicant will receive €5,000.

Multiple Clare clubs have received funding in recent years including Shannon Jets Basketball Club, Ennis Hockey Club, Clare Comets Basketball Club, and Ennis Rugby Football Club.

Launching the 2025 call for applications, James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy Limited – the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand – described the programme as one that “provides a route to vital funding for those clubs and communities that need it most”.

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Open to all sports clubs irrespective of sporting discipline, size, membership, age, cultural appeal or gender (including clubs that may have been unsuccessful in their application previously), the initiative is one that recognises and supports the valuable contribution that sports clubs make to communities and throughout Irish society.

A gross figure of over €500,000 has been distributed to a variety of more than 100 sports clubs across Ireland since the initiative began. 

Clubs that have received funding to date span the spectrum of Irish sporting activity – archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, bowls, boxing, camogie, climbing, cricket, diving, Gaelic football, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, hurling, kayaking, rowing, rugby, soccer, squash and tennis amongst them.

Clubs wishing to apply should first register their interest here by completing an application that should include details of their sporting activity, the importance of the club in their local community, the purpose for which the funding is sought, and the use to which the funds will be put.

A sole requirement is that clubs must be properly constituted and hold a valid GS Exemption Number (Games and Sports Exemption Number) that features on the list that was published by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners on June 30 2024.

The closing date for applications is January 31, 2025 with adjudication taking place thereafter.