League of Ireland club Bohemian FC has been allocated almost €25m under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) grant scheme.
The club has been allocated almost €25m from the pot of €173m, with 35 individual projects overall set to benefit.
They are not the only League of Ireland club to benefit, with Sligo Rovers and Wexford FC also among the recipients.
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For Bohemians, it is a major boost to their Dalymount Park redevelopment plans. Speaking to RTÉ, Daniel Lambert, the club’s Chief Operating Officer, said the allocation was “massive”.
“It’s the biggest news we’ve had in decades I’d say. You know, the re-development of Dalymount Park is so critical to us, to the future of the club and to the local area here, but we’re seeing the development of the league – the growth and crowds – and we’ve been at a ceiling for a number of years now.
“Lots of people haven’t been able to come to Dalymount Park, every week. Every game is sold out. But more than that, I suppose for people to come and see football is one thing, but we’ve a huge grassroots section, so many teams, young boys’ and girls’ disability football, inclusion football and those kids haven’t been able to come to Dalymount.
“So, it’s so critical on so many levels, financially it’s also key for us.”
Sligo Rovers’ plans to redevelop their ground The Showgrounds also got a shot in the arm, with €16.4m allocated to the project.
The development will increase the seated capacity to 6,129 and entails major modernisation of stadium facilities.
Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins said: “This is a momentous day for everyone in Sligo.”
He also paid tribute to the late Tommie Gorman for his work in the Bit O’ Red’s application.
David Courell, FAI CEO, said: “We welcome this announcement from government today and congratulate DCC/Bohemian FC, Sligo Rovers, Wexford and SDCC/Shamrock Rovers on their successful submissions. The total award to football this year represents significant progress from all parties as we look to deliver our shared vision of progressing the game at all levels across the country.”
Dalymount redevlopment ‘first priority’ – Byrne
Minister for Sport Thomas Byrne has said that the redevelopment of Dalymount Park through the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund was the FAI and Dublin City Council’s “first priority.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Mr Byrne said that he’s “delighted” that the investment of €25m into Bohemian Football Club’s home ground will support the community club.
“It’s a major national facility, aside from being the home ground for Bohemians, in hosting international games” he said.
“It’s very derelict at the moment, it’s sad to see, so I’m delighted that this investment can happen.”
He said that Dublin City Council will oversee the delivery of the project, with “significant” support from the Government.
He added that the Government is keen to see football do well, and that it has been overlooked in previous decades of Government funding.
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Mr Byrne said that the funding is not just a stadium or football fund and will be distributed to a variety of sporting projects that are deliverable in the short term.
“We are confident that more funding will become available as projects get done, and in addition, there’s a ‘use it or lose it’ clause in these grants announced today,”
“If projects or councils or associations don’t use this money in the agreed time period with the department, they will lose it.”
He added that grants of this nature have led to issues before regarding how quickly they are used.
Mr Byrne said: “Everybody who didn’t succeed in terms of an allocation today will have received a letter saying that all valid applications are on the reserve list so that they should be able to receive funding as it becomes available, and the Department will be in further communication with them.”
He said that a club’s position in a priority list can change depending on whether they receive planning permission.
Regarding investment into other sports, particularly athletics, Mr Byrne said that quite a few multi-sport facilities around the country have been granted funding.
He denied the announcement of funding as an attempt to buy votes, adding that projects of this nature “take time to deliver.”
“We certainly wanted to do it while we’re still in Government, because it’s a very important priority for us to do this, it would have been a promise unfulfilled if we didn’t announce this.”
GAA-based projects
GAA-based projects received almost €50m of LSSIF grants.
Some €19m has been allocated to the new Cavan Regional Sports Campus, though the project will benefit a number of sports and not just GAA.
Dublin’s Centre of Excellence facility, planned for Spawell in the south of the county, will be boosted with a €7m grant, while Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney will receive €6m.
Grants of €5.6m and €3.2m have been allocated to the Roscommon and Clare centres of excellence respectively.
Multisport facilities have also been included.
The Cavan Regional Sports Campus received €19m, with €7m going to the Mayo Sports Campus.
Recipients of the grants will be keen to put them to use as a new “use it or lose it” clause has been introduced.
This means if there has been no drawdown of any part of a grant within two to three years (timelines may vary from project to project), or before a new LSSIF round is announced, the grant will be withdrawn.
This is the second phase of investment from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund which has now allocated €297m since 2020.
Making the announcement at Dalymount Park in Dublin, Minister Martin said: “I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the personnel and supporting organizations and indeed local authorities who worked with us through this funding process, which is all about creating better facilities, not just for our elite athletes.
“We need them for our elite athletes to make sure they can get where they need to go, but also for all people of all ages. This is about participation in sport, so that everyone can participate and stay involved in sport.”
The funding will also benefit pitches and facilities for GAA, soccer, athletics and other sports clubs across the country.
Additional reporting Colman O’Sullivan