Kilkenny sports facility to receive major funding boost

Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee, Jackie Cahill has confirmed that Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium is to receive funding from the Department of Agriculture.

Deputy Cahill has told Kilkenny Live he received confirmation from the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, that his department officials will engage with the board of the stadium to secure funding for the development of facilities at the track.

"I have been working closely with Deputy John McGuinness and Minister Charlie McConalogue over the last number of months to secure funding for Kilkenny Dog Track,"  Mr Cahill said.

"I'm happy to confirm that Minister McConalogue has informed me that his officials in the Department of Agriculture will be working closely with the Board of Kilkenny Dog Track over the coming weeks to progress the funding that the track needs to commence the development of the track. This is an extremely successful track but its facilities need upgrading and this funding from the Department will secure the future of the track and keep it for the dog owners and people of the region into the future," the Fianna Fáil TD concluded.

The news follows a positive week for local sporting organisations. Last week, it was announced that Kilkenny had been allocated a total of €334,263 under the 'Funding for Sports Bodies 2024' scheme through Sport Ireland.

The news came as part of a record investment of almost €30 million in core funding support to sporting organisations throughout the country announced by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, and the Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne.