Kingspan funds Cavan athletes and sports clubs
FOUR amateur athletes and seven sports clubs across County Cavan have each received a €1,000 uplift courtesy of Kingspan, a leading insulation and building materials manufacturer.
The Kingspan Kickstart Sports Fund, launched last year, with support from Irish professional golfer, Shane Lowry, provides support for grassroots level athletes and community sports clubs. It has already awarded a total of €90,000 to successful applicants across Ireland.
As part of the Fund, Ava Fannin, Crosserlough; Clara Corrie, Bailieboro; Aoibhín Smith, Ballyjamesduff and Tadhg Watters, Kingscourt have each been awarded €1,000 alongside clubs Virginia Rugby Football Club, East Cavan Eagles Basketball Club, Virginia; Mullahoran Handball Club; Dun A Ri Golf Society, Kingscourt; Kilmainhamwood (K&K) Boxing Club; Cootehill Celtic GAA and Kingscourt Harps AFC.
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Darragh Gaffney from East Cavan Eagles Basketball Club, which is a recipient of the Kingspan Kickstart Sports Fund.Image 2 of 3
Amateur athlete Aiobhín Smith (centre) is pictured alongside Yvonne Walsh, left and Nora Carroll, right, from Virginia RFC, which was also a recipient of the Kingspan Kickstart Sports Fund.Image 3 of 3
Shay Leonard and Agnes Clarke, representing Dun A Ri Golf Society, which was a recipient of the Kingspan Kickstart Sports Fund.The funds are intended to help provide sporting equipment, training and other necessary resources, alongside offering assistance with any campaigns that are currently underway.
Speaking about the Fund, Hannah Fidgeon, Kickstart Marketing Manager at Kingspan said: “We are a long-standing supporter of Irish sports through our sponsorship of Ulster Rugby and Cavan GAA, so establishing the Kingspan Kickstart Sports Fund was an important initiative for us.
“Professional level sport is largely well bolstered, however if it’s to continue to progress and thrive, support for grassroots level athletes, sports clubs and facilities is essential. It’s well known that competing at an amateur level can be extremely tough, especially in terms of finances, and we hope that this fund will help to make a huge difference to clubs, facilities and athletes in their sporting journey."
Ms Fidgeon acknowledged the "immense" home-grown sporting talent in Cavan and nationally.
“If our rich sporting culture is to continue to evolve and develop, we must do all we can to support the grassroots levels, which hopefully the Kingspan Kickstart Sports Fund will help to achieve.
“Congratulations to all the recipients. We’re looking forward to seeing how your clubs and athletes grow in the near future.”
For further information on the Kingspan Kickstart Sports Fund, click here.