€50,000 allocated for walking tracks at two Kildare GAA Clubs
Castlemitchell GAA and Suncroft GAA have each been awarded €25,000, from the Healthy Ireland GAA Walking Tracks initiative which was confirmed today by the Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing, and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton President of the GAA (Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael) Larry McCarthy. The funding for the two Kildare clubs comes as part of an overall €800,000 nationwide.
It follows an earlier allocation of €815,000, which has enabled 54 GAA, Camogie and LGFA (Ladies Gaelic Football Association) clubs in 26 counties to improve the accessibility of existing community walking track facilities on GAA grounds. The allocation in April were awarded to another two Kildare clubs to improve walking track facilities at Two Mile House and Rathcoffey GAA Clubs who received €15,000 and €10,000 respectively to upgrade their community walking tracks.
Minister Naughton said, “In April, I had the privilege of visiting Oran GAA Club in Roscommon which was among the 54 clubs which received funding to upgrade and develop walking tracks.
“The enthusiasm and commitment of all involved in creating inclusive facilities gave me great hope for communities all over Ireland. I was really keen to support the expansion of this great work so I’m delighted to be visiting Annaduff GAA Club today and announcing an additional €800,000 in funding nationwide.
“Clubs such as Annaduff will now be able to make their walking tracks more inclusive, promoting physical activity and enhancing the overall health and wellbeing of the community.
“Healthy Ireland is a very proud partner of the Irish life GAA Healthy Club Project and the Walking Tracks initiative illustrates the Healthy Ireland ethos by supporting clubs to create healthy hubs.
“I want to express my thanks to the GAA once again for the considerable work involved in this process and I wish the clubs well in their work.”
One of the key elements of the project is to encourage clubs to make their facilities available to non-playing members. The provision of walking tracks is particularly important in rural areas where safe, well-lit walking routes may be limited.
This year over 1,000 clubs participated in the Ireland Lights Up campaign with clubs opening their tracks to the community and almost 30,000 people registered and completed the 6-week walking programme.
GAA president Larry McCarthy said, “On behalf of the Association, I sincerely welcome this additional funding for walking facilities located on GAA club grounds. It offers further recognition of the valuable contribution our clubs and volunteers make towards the health and wellbeing of their communities. With Ireland Lights Up about to throw-in again in January, the announcement is timely, and the recipient clubs will put the funding to great use.”