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22 Oct 2025
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22 Oct 2025
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Cllr Maria Dollard, Catherine Martin, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Cllr Maria Dollard has welcomed the news that funding of €52 million has been awarded to sporting organisations all over the country. The announcement by her Green Party colleague and Minister Catherine Martin that funding has been granted to sports organisations to cover energy costs, Covid 19 funding, sports equipment and for sporting events couldn’t come at a better time with the cost of living reaching into and impacting every sector and while some disability services still cope with COVID restrictions.
“While funding for GAA (€13M), Football (€2.7M), Rugby (€2M), Camogie (€218,000), Cycling (€284,000) and a whole host of other sports is wonderful to get, I particularly welcome the funding for sports for people with disabilities. CARA, the sports inclusion organisation has received €45,000, Deaf Sports Ireland have received 25,000, Irish Wheelchair Association Sport have received €200,000, Paralympics Ireland have received 119,000, Vision Sports Ireland have received 170,000 but the biggest winner of all is Special Olympics Ireland who have received €1.075 Million.
Special Olympic Ireland is an amazing organisation and proves that participation in sport is not for elite athletes but for everyone. Our family have enjoyed the Kilkenny Special Olympics Club for many years now and our daughter Lucy was lucky enough to be chosen to represent her country in 2019 at the SO World Games. It was the most fantastic experience we have ever had and Lucy was extremely lucky to be offered the challenge, which she rose to splendidly. Athletes in Kilkenny are so delighted to be back competing again after a long absence due to COVID restrictions and we hope to see some Kilkenny Athletes competing with Team Ireland next Summer. Special Olympics Kilkenny is a great community and the athletes love each other’s company, as do the families”
Other welcome funding focusing on women in sport goes to The Camogie Association, Ladies Gaelic Football and Women in Sport share a pot of over €800,000
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