IRISH FOOTBALL HAS been given a €1.2 million boost in funding, the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, announced today.
The funding will go towards six projects selected by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) – Mayfield Football Club, Cork; Galway Football Association; Munster Football Association; Clones Town FC; Westport United FC and Kerry District League — each of which will each receive €200,000.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Minister Ring said: “Since coming to office, I have made a special allocation each year to specific sporting disciplines. They have included rugby, boxing, athletics and swimming pools. I am now pleased to be able to allocate €1.2 million in funding for soccer projects which have been identified by the FAI as being ‘deserving of a once off special allocation’ from my Department’.
“These projects have been acknowledged as being ‘strategically crucial to the development of football, not only within their locality but at regional and national level’. The money will be used to update, refurbish and complete facilities and will have a significant impact not only on the players and management who use them but also on the fans who support them.”
The FAI, meanwhile, welcomed the news, with Chief Executive John Delaney commenting:
“Minister Ring’s €1.2m grant is a very welcome and generous boost for Irish football, which will provide facilities for players in communities across the country. The SSE Airtricity League ground developments for Cork City and Galway FC join other projects completed at league grounds in recent years. The grant will also allow us to complete strategically important projects at club and league grounds in Cork, Mayo, Kerry and Monaghan, all of which are due for completion in 2015.”
