Athlone Boat Club to get €115,000 sports grant

Athlone Boat Club are the biggest winners in the latest round of the Sports Capital Programme, announced by Minister Michael Ring today.

The club, based at Magazine Road on the banks of the Shannon, receives €115,000, the largest local grant from a total of €574,000 earmarked for clubs in Westmeath.

Other beneficiaries include Willow Park FC and Rosemount Community Committee, who both get €18,000, Ballinahown FC is next with €17,000 and there is €15,000 for Athlone Sub Aqua Club.

There is also good news in the latest allocations for a number of Moate-based sports clubs including the Midland Warriors rugby club, due to receive €12,000, while €8,000 has been rubberstamped for Moate Boxing Club and the Shannonside Stealers wheelchair basketball team.

Labour TD Willie Penrose has welcomed the funding news for Westmeath clubs today. “I would like to warmly congratulate local clubs that have been successful in their applications. These grants are an important boost for local organisations and their communities, who are trying to raise finances in difficult times. I was glad to support many of their applications.”

“These are clubs are all voluntarily run, and are critical in providing important recreational infrastructure and facilities in their areas, that can be easily accessed by the wider community, and the benefits deriving from them are manifold, and active involvement of the people in sports and recreational pursuits of whatever nature, leads to a healthy and contented lifestyle,” he concluded.

The €40.5 million allocated today is a 30% increase in funding over the €31 million allocated in the last Sports Capital Programme in 2012. The Sports Capital Programme is the Government’s main vehicle for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment.