The Government has announced €150 million in funding for sporting bodies and clubs to develop capital projects in every corner of the country.
Read about the announcement which was made on Friday
Today we continue a five-part series looking at different aspects of the funding.
Monday: The Six Sports to secure the largest funding
Tuesday: The Rest of the Sports in comparison
Wednesday: A selection of the projects that were awarded the maximum amount at the local level
Thursday: The larger-scale regional projects
Friday: The Appetite for more
The Winning Projects
The maximum grant which could be applied for at the local level was €150,00. That amounts to 0.1 per cent of the total pot to be distributed of €150 million so there was room to be generous with the projects that deserved the most.
In the end, there were 172 projects that were deemed worthy of the maximum, a number that can be transformative once they all draw the money down and complete their projects.
79 of these came from Gaelic Games, 40 in the Multi-Sport category, 23 in football, seven each in Rugby and Tennis, four in golf and ten spread across other sports.
In terms of the geographic spread, Dublin got 36 of the biggest wins, with 21 going to Cork and 19 to Galway.
The number of maximum grants followed a broadly similar line to the overall amounts though with an over-indexing of multi-sport projects very much in line with the stated criteria that the Department had laid down.
Sport for Business member and partner in the Sports Club Development Series 2 into 3 provided advice and assistance to a number of projects looking for funding , including three that secured the top amount.
Railway Union Hockey Club €150,000
Railway Union is a multi-sports club with a proud history of being open and inclusive. Its stated purpose in the application was to promote access to sport regardless of gender, race, economic background or ability.
The Club needs to replace its all-weather pitch which has come to the end of its life, to cater for the intense demands on the hockey club and other users of varied sports ability across Dublin.
In partnership with Hockey Ireland, schools with no sports facilities access the pitch including DEIS schools.
This investment secured will increase participation facilitating access to more people and diverse groups through outreach projects including Railblazers hockey for people with disability, walking hockey, the Pink Ladies LGBT+ team, intra club crossover and volunteer initiatives with the support of the local community.
St Colmcilles GAA Club €150,000
The club was seeking to redevelop existing indoor and outdoor sports facilities at Piltown in County Kilkenny.
The club has already broken new ground by tackling social issues by addressing the physical and social needs of the local community through providing physical activities through Gaelic games and providing physical infrastructure in a refurbished and fit for purpose indoor sports hall and training zone.
The benefit will be felt by all local schools, community and members as there is no other public provision in this area.
The club emphasised that sporting activity breaks isolation, enhances mental health and enriches individuals and this facility will enhance participation.
Athenry Golf Club €150,000
Athenry Golf club is at the heart of its rural community providing facilities for local schools; community groups, and its members, to participate in golf in a high-class facility.
The funding sought was to enable developments to meet demand.
There is a strong ladies team participating in the sport and this investment in their tee boxes will increase the facilities to develop their team and encourage new members.
The maintenance and upgrade of playing areas are vital to ensure that the facilities encourage greater participation by the community organisations and local schools especially encouraging the youth who have been successful in All Ireland titles.
