Ward retains top grant from Irish Sports Council

Five boxers, including Moate’s Joe Ward, retain the top grant of €40,000 for the next 12 months, following the announcement today (Thursday) of the Irish Sports Council’s carding scheme allocations.

Boxing was the main winner in this year’s allocations, with five athletes (Joe Ward, Katie Taylor, John Joe Nevin, Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes) allocated the maximum €40,000 Podium award.

The announcement will come as a further boost to Ward, the current European light-heavyweight champion, after he recently defeated Kenneth Egan to retain his Irish light-heavyweight title.

The overall total for the Carding Scheme was down from €2.34 million in 2012 to €1.7 million this year, with double Gold Paralympian, Mark Rohan, from Ballinahown, also receiving the maximum €40,000. Clay pigeon shooter, Derek Burnett, from Longford, who spent much of his early career with Athlone Clay Pigeon Club, received €12,000, while two athletes who have impacted greatly at the Triathlone in recent years, Bryan Keane and Gavin Noble, received €12,000.