The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, and the Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD, today announced the 35 Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Football Association of Ireland (FAI) clubs that will share in a €900,000 Healthy Ireland Walking Tracks fund.
This is the second phase of Healthy Ireland’s IRFU and FAI Walking Tracks initiative, which last year allocated €1 million to improve the accessibility of pitch-side walking tracks in clubs all over Ireland.
During phase one, 22 FAI clubs and 21 IRFU clubs were funded to make upgrades to walking tracks within their grounds, enabling more people in their communities to participate in physical activity. The IRFU and FAI have each received €450,000 under phase two of the initiative, with successful clubs receiving grants of between €15,000 and €30,000.
The 17 IRFU clubs who have received the grant as part of phase two are: Ballyhaunis RFC, Castlebar Rugby Club, Connemara RFC, Loughrea RFC, Sligo Rugby, County Carlow Rugby Football Club, Enniscorthy Rugby Football Club, Dundalk Rugby Club, Portlaoise Rugby Club, Ratoath RFC, Bruff RFC, Dunmanway Rugby Football Club, Kilfeacle & District RFC, Scariff Rugby Club, Thomond RFC, Young Munster RFC, and Cavan Rugby Football Club.
Full list of successful FAI clubs:
| Club | Location | Allocation |
| Kilworth Celtic | Cork |
€ 25,000 |
| Tuam Celtic AFC | Galway |
€ 25,000 |
| Abbeyfeale United FC | Limerick |
€ 25,000 |
| Maree Oranmore FC | Galway |
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€ 25,000 |
| Carrick Rovers AFC | Monaghan |
€ 25,000 |
| Claremorris AFC | Mayo |
€ 25,000 |
| Mervue United | Galway |
€ 25,000 |
| Renmore AFC | Galway |
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€ 25,000 |
| Duncannon/Seaview FC | Wexford |
€ 25,000 |
| Dunfanaghy Youths FC | Donegal |
€ 25,000 |
| Lucan United Football Club | Dublin |
€ 25,000 |
| Moyne Villa FC | Galway |
€ 25,000 |
| Drinagh Rangers FC | Cork |
€ 25,000 |
| Sacred Heart Football Club | Dublin |
€ 25,000 |
| Manulla Football Club | Mayo |
€ 25,000 |
| Ballingarry AFC | Limerick |
€ 25,000 |
| Mungret Regional Football Club | Limerick |
€ 25,000 |
| Everton AFC | Cork |
€ 25,000 |
|
Total |
€ 450,000 |
|
Enhancements to walking tracks include the installation and upgrading of lighting to extend the hours of track usage, particularly during winter months, enabling more non-playing members to engage in physical activity. The provision of walking tracks is particularly important in rural areas, where safe, well-lit walking routes may be limited.
