Killeshandra Leaguers are among the biggest beneficiaries. Above young club members who participated in the 2018 St Patrick's Day parade and will benefit from the improved facilities.

Over €4.8M for sport clubs in Cavan and Monaghan

Forty-one clubs in Cavan to benefit

Sports clubs across counties Cavan and Monaghan have been allocated over €4.8M in funding to improve their facilities.

Minister for Sport Jack Chambers has confirmed the allocations under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme with a record €150M package distributed.

Earlier today, Minister for Sport Jack Chambers announced a record €150 million in funding for local sports clubs across the country with over €4.8m in grants to be allocated to Cavan & Monaghan.

Killeshandra Leaguers and Kingscourt Harps AFC are the biggest beneficiaries in County Cavan this time out. They are set to receive €150,000 each towards clubroom development and new dressing rooms.

Cootehill Celtic GAA has also been awarded over €140,000 to develop its facilities.

In all 41 clubs across County Cavan, most of them GAA clubs, have been awarded funding for a variety of projects.

Cavan grants

Arva GAA Club: €90,000 for walking track and ball stop nets

Bailieborough Shamrocks GAA: €39,400 for community walking track

Ballyhaise GAA Club: €75,081 for second pitch drainage and ancillary works

Ballymachugh GFC: €37,056 for upgrade of lighting system

Belturbet Golf Club: €79,056 for course drainage, storage shed and rough mower

Castlerahan Community Development: €42,800 for dressing rooms, toilets and showers

Cavan and Monaghan ETB: €110,388 for redevelopment of existing school pitch

Cavan County Council: €101,543 to upgrade sport and recreation equipment

Cavan Lawn Tennis Club: €132,122 for resurfacing courts and upgrading of floodlighting

Cootehill Celtic GAA Club: €141,153

Cootehill Harps AFC: €112,379 to upgrade grass pitch and install walking track

County Cavan Golf Club: €45,053 to develop ladies tee boxes and drainage works

County Cavan Rugby: €61,440 for pitch development

Crosserlough GFC: €95,932 to develop a new training pitch

Cuchulainns GFC: €125,122 for LED floodlighting

Cavan Gaels: €31,261 for gym equipment, boiler and pitch improvement

Droim Dhuin Eire Óg GAA: €39,455 to construct a new gym on the side of the sports hall

Drumalee: €14,737 to purchase equipment for new training pitch

Kill Shamrocks GAA: €41,928for gall stops, goalposts, fencing and lighting

Killeshandra Leaguers: €150,000 for clubroom development

Killinkere GFC: €25,217 for pitch and running track lighting

Killygarry GAA: €85,431 for playing pitch drainage

Kingscourt Harps AFC: €150,000 for dressing rooms extension

Kingscourt Stars GAA: €74,604 for artificial pitch

Lavey GAA Club: €94,567 for improvement work to existing sports hall and pitch

Ballinagh Leisure & Sports Complex: €12,072 for gym

Loch Gowna GAA: €65,636 for spectator fencing

Maghera Mac Finns GFC: €27,732 for pitch and equipment upgrade

Mullahoran GFC: €88,753 for training pitch (lighting and nets)

Munterconnaught GAA Club: €95,152 to improve main playing pitch

Ramor United GFC: €92,657 to develop sporting facilities

Redhills GAC: €56,346 for continued development of sport grounds

Shercock Athletic Club: €6,958 for sports equipment

Shercock GFC: €31,785 for lighing and accessibility measures

Templeport St Aidan's GAA Club: €74,165 for phase three of community gymnasium

UCL Harps FC: €91,309 for phase two of clubhouse development

Virginia Rugby Club: €5,914 for floodlight upgrade

Zidaneoturf Ltd: €39,684 to redevelop playing surface and upgrade lighting

Warm welcome

The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.

Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth was among the first locally to confirm the grants, which she described as "a strong investment in grassroot sports from this Government".

She remarked: "It is great to see crowds back at big sporting events in recent weeks but our key focus is to get as many people participating as possible.

“I'm delighted to see such a strong focus in supporting grassroot sport in communities. Volunteer clubs in towns and villages across both counties will be able to deliver new and important projects focused on delivering really important projects aimed at improving participation across the board, providing enhanced facilities for clubs with strong female participation and supporting clubs active in disadvantaged communities."

Fianna Fáil's Brendan Smith also welcomed the allocations and said they couldn't come at a better time.

"Through these unprecedented times, the volunteers in all our sports clubs have worked extremely hard to ensure that sporting activity continued. I compliment all involved in ensuring that we have vibrant clubs across so many different games and disciplines," he said.

All unsuccessful applicants will be given the opportunity to appeal the Department’s decision.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, congratulated all of the successful clubs.

“These grants are supporting a wide range of sports including GAA, Soccer, Rugby, Tennis, Handball, Athletics and much more.

“These grants will allow local clubs to carry out vital upgrade and development works which will benefit communities across both counties," she said.

Her party colleague Senator Joe O'Reilly also welcomed the funding.

“It is so important to encourage people to play sport. Not only is it good for their physical health but it benefits their mental health too. Supporting sports teams, clubs and organisations is also tantamount to supporting community engagement and helps to foster strong community spirit.

“Investment in sport is also a really worthwhile policy objective for Government from a health point of view. Society reaps the rewards through improved health of the population. This is more important than ever with the rise in obesity.

“I look forward to continued success for all of our local clubs and sporting organisations,” said the Cavan Senator.