Arva GAA club lands €5,000 in funding
GAA news
St Patrick’s GAA club, Arva is to receive €5,000 funding under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative launched last September by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand.
Open to sports clubs across the 26 counties, irrespective of sporting discipline, size, membership, age, cultural appeal or gender, the initiative saw a fund of €130,000 being made available by Valero for distribution in equal amounts of €5,000 to successful applicants chosen on a county-by-county basis.
Congratulating the club on its success, James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited said, “A feature evident in almost all applications was the pressure felt by clubs in the current circumstances to expand their role within their local communities with increased membership demands and the need for extra equipment and improved facilities.
“The purpose of our initiative is to help clubs to overcome these obstacles so that they can continue to remain active and at the very heart of their local communities. This is why we believe our initiative has been so warmly welcomed by sports clubs nationwide in its launch year,” he added.
At the very centre of community life in Arva, St Patrick’s GAA is a club with a clear vision. Currently undertaking what it terms ‘an exciting new development’ at its location on the Aughnacliffe Road on the outskirts of Arva, on which preliminary work has commenced, the club is especially mindful of the importance of player retention and equality amongst players, male and female.
Additional plans include measures to support teams, especially at underage level, by having dedicated and experienced coaches to enhance coaching and member training sessions. To that end, the €5,000 funding awarded to it under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative will be spent on the purchase of goal sets, training equipment, secretarial materials, kitchen equipment, protective clothing and other items needed to help with its progression and enhance its position going forward.
Overseeing the adjudication process was Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, acclaimed broadcaster and former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan. Commenting, he described the club as “a very worthy winner and a fantastic amenity in the heart of Cavan”.
“Impressive is the manner in which the club has interpreted the support for community purpose behind the Texaco Support for Sport initiative reflected in its plan to improve facilities and provide for its members” he added.