Target Shooting Ireland has been among the early beneficiaries of a new European Shooting Confederation grant programme, which has distributed more than €1.1 million to national federations during its first six months.
The Irish federation has used its allocation to purchase competition-standard equipment and support athletes travelling to international events. While the precise value of Ireland’s grant has not been disclosed, the funding enabled an Irish team to compete at the European Championships in Osijek for the first time in several years.
The support could have a significant impact on the development of target shooting in Ireland, where limited resources and the need to pay upfront costs can prevent athletes and teams from competing internationally.
Target Shooting Ireland General Secretary Siobhan Scarlett said previous funding systems often required smaller federations to spend substantial sums before being reimbursed.
“We don’t have a spare €20,000 lying around,” she said. “The shift in the ESC’s approach shows a true understanding of what member federations are struggling with and what they need.”
The ESC programme provides direct grants alongside discounted access to equipment and technical services from commercial partners. Across Europe, €450,000 has been allocated for equipment, €445,000 for athlete preparation, and €240,000 for shooting range and infrastructure projects.
For Ireland, the immediate benefit has been better equipment and renewed access to major championships. Long-term, the investment could strengthen athlete pathways, improve international performance, and help Target Shooting Ireland build a more sustainable programme around participation and high-performance sport.
Applications across Europe have already exceeded €7.6 million, highlighting the level of demand among national federations and the potential for further Irish projects to receive support.
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Image Credit: GAA/ Sportsfile
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