The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, and the Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD, today announced the 35 Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Football Association of Ireland (FAI) clubs that will share in a €900,000 Healthy Ireland Walking Tracks fund.
This is the second phase of Healthy Ireland’s IRFU and FAI Walking Tracks initiative, which last year allocated €1 million to improve the accessibility of pitch-side walking tracks in clubs all over Ireland.
During phase one, 22 FAI clubs and 21 IRFU clubs were funded to make upgrades to walking tracks within their grounds, enabling more people in their communities to participate in physical activity. The IRFU and FAI have each received €450,000 under phase two of the initiative, with successful clubs receiving grants of between €15,000 and €30,000.
The 17 IRFU clubs who have received the grant as part of phase two are: Ballyhaunis RFC, Castlebar Rugby Club, Connemara RFC, Loughrea RFC, Sligo Rugby, County Carlow Rugby Football Club, Enniscorthy Rugby Football Club, Dundalk Rugby Club, Portlaoise Rugby Club, Ratoath RFC, Bruff RFC, Dunmanway Rugby Football Club, Kilfeacle & District RFC, Scariff Rugby Club, Thomond RFC, Young Munster RFC, and Cavan Rugby Football Club.
Full list of successful FAI clubs:
Club
Location
Allocation
Kilworth Celtic
Cork
€ 25,000
Tuam Celtic AFC
Galway
€ 25,000
Abbeyfeale United FC
Limerick
€ 25,000
Maree Oranmore FC
Galway
€ 25,000
Carrick Rovers AFC
Monaghan
€ 25,000
Claremorris AFC
Mayo
€ 25,000
Mervue United
Galway
€ 25,000
Renmore AFC
Galway
€ 25,000
Duncannon/Seaview FC
Wexford
€ 25,000
Dunfanaghy Youths FC
Donegal
€ 25,000
Lucan United Football Club
Dublin
€ 25,000
Moyne Villa FC
Galway
€ 25,000
Drinagh Rangers FC
Cork
€ 25,000
Sacred Heart Football Club
Dublin
€ 25,000
Manulla Football Club
Mayo
€ 25,000
Ballingarry AFC
Limerick
€ 25,000
Mungret Regional Football Club
Limerick
€ 25,000
Everton AFC
Cork
€ 25,000
Total
€ 450,000
Enhancements to walking tracks include the installation and upgrading of lighting to extend the hours of track usage, particularly during winter months, enabling more non-playing members to engage in physical activity. The provision of walking tracks is particularly important in rural areas, where safe, well-lit walking routes may be limited.