Kilkenny soccer club nets huge sum of money in funding

Funding of €25,000 has been allocated to Thomastown United AFC as part of the ‘Healthy Ireland Walking Tracks initiative.

The announcement was made by Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy, Colm Burke who commended the successful clubs for the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Football Association of Ireland (FAI) Healthy Ireland Walking Tracks initiative. The two organisations shared in a €1 million fund designed to make pitch-side walking track facilities more accessible to everyone in the community.

This is the second phase of the Healthy Ireland Walking Tracks initiative, which previously delivered €1.6m in funding to GAA clubs. 

The fund promotes increased physical activity among all ages by supporting clubs to upgrade walking tracks to improve accessibility for people with mobility issues such as older persons and wheelchair users.

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Funding was allocated for a range of improvements, including the upgrading or the installation of lighting designed to prolong the hours of usage particularly during the dark winter evenings. Following a rigorous evaluation process, 21 clubs were approved for funding by the IRFU and 22 by the FAI. Grants ranged from €10,000 to €50,000.

Speaking to Kilkenny Live, Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness said: "This is a fantastic initiative and I'm delighted to see a County Kilkenny club benefitting from the scheme. It will be a welcome boost to Thomastown United and the local area."

"Once work is complete there will be a walking track that can be used by the whole community, that will be safe, accessible and inclusive. I want to congratulate the club and I look forward to seeing this project come to fruition," he continued.

Minister Colm Burke, added: "This initiative is a wonderful example of how the Healthy Ireland principles can be harnessed to deliver immediate and lasting benefits for our population.

"Partnership is an important component of Healthy Ireland’s work, as organisations such as the IRFU and FAI are ideally placed to deliver initiatives that support improved health and wellbeing," the Minister added.

"By supporting sports clubs to provide safe and accessible facilities for all, we are making it easier for people to get out and exercise, and to connect with others in their community, thereby reducing social isolation," he stated.