Kilkenny RFC, Ballyhale, Emeralds among clubs to benefit from funding boost

Local TD John Paul Phelan has welcomed significant investments in sports facilities in Kilkenny, state investment which will further boost participation in and enjoyment of sports in the city and county. 

Kilkenny County Council has been granted €300,000 towards synthetic pitches and sports hall floor improvements and Thomastown United AFC is getting €118,053 to help finance an all-weather artificial soccer pitch.

Other large investments include €150,000 for Kilkenny Rugby Club, Ballyhale Shamrocks and Emeralds GAA as well as over €130,000 for soccer in Ferrybank and just under  €150,000 for both Mullinavat GAA and Graignamanagh GAA.  

“These are two very welcomed investments in the city and county and the Sports Capital Programme signals the government’s commitment to supporting services in our communities. Sport has played a crucial role in keeping people’s minds and bodies active during the pandemic and these investments augur well for the future of a variety of sports in our city and county. 

“Sport is of huge importance in Kilkenny and it's great to see a variety of sports being  catered for in this investment,” Deputy Phelan said. 

Other investments in sport across the county include:  Ballyhale Shamrocks Hurling Club, €150,000; Barrow Rangers GAA Club Barrow Rangers Community Sports Park Development Gaelic Games €149,456;   Kilkenny CM Community Sports CM Community Sport  €50,000;  Dicksboro GAA Club Pitch Drainage to Pitch A and Boundary Treatments Gaelic Games €59,768;  
East End United East End Equipment and Facilities Development Soccer €22,965; Emeralds G.A.A. Wallball/Astroturf/Natural Surface Training Pitch Gaelic Games €150,000;  Evergreen FC Astro training pitch with floodlighting soccer €70,000; Ferrybank AFC Upgrade of Floodlights from Metal Halide to LED Soccer €131,875; Graigue-Ballycallan Gaa Club One kilometre led floodlit community walkway Gaelic Games €45,000; Graiguenamanagh Boat Club Graiguenamanagh Rowing Club 2021 Rowing €44,922;  Graiguenamanagh GAA Club Graignamanagh GAA Club Sports Capital Grant 2020 Gaelic Games €147,872; 
Highview Athletic Football Club All weather artificial turf playing surface Soccer €150,000; James Stephens GAA Club Pitch Maintenance Equipment Gaelic Games €52,854; John Lockes Completion and finished surface on club walkway Gaelic Games €30,244;   Kells Sports Centre Refurbishment of Second Handball Court Phase 2 Handball €47,928;   Refurbishment of a M.U.G.A at Newpark, Kilkenny Multi-sport €23,962;   Installation of MUGA at Ferrybank Multi-sport €61,168;  Dunmore Activity Recreation Centre Multi-sport €74,264;    Kilkenny Lawn Tennis Club Upgrade of facilities kilkenny tennis club Tennis €149,429;  Kilkenny Rugby Football Club Floodlighting upgrade, fencing & equipment. Rugby €150,000; Kilmacow Football Club New Goals and install LED Lighting Soccer €6,003;  Mooncoin Celtic Football Club MCFC Further Development Project Soccer €58,806;  Mooncoin Gaa Club Mooncoin GAA Club-Pitch Development & Equipment Gaelic Games €66,794;   Mullinavat GAA Club Mullinavat GAA Grounds Development Gaelic Games €149,454; New Ross Golf Club Upgrade existing practice area Golf €50,036;  Piltown A.F.C. Limited Build Pitches & Training Area & Walking Track Soccer €150,000;   Rower-Inistioge GAA Club All Weather floodlit playing Surface Gaelic Games €85,000;   St Senans Athletic Club St. Senan's AC - Fencing & Athletics Equipment Athletics € 3,777;   St. Joseph's Athletic Club St Josephs AC Walkway & Floodlight Project Athletics €50,000;   Stoneyford Development Association Dressing rooms and toilets Multi-sport €144,000;  Thomastown Scout Group Outdoor spaces for sport Multi-sport €32,133;   Tullogher Rosbercon GAA Club New Full-sized GAA Pitch Development Gaelic Games €126,315 and Waterford Golf Club Ltd Waterford Golf Club Drainage scheme - phase 2 Golf €106,786.