Photo Credit: Cricket Ireland
32 cricket clubs and the three Provincial Unions in the Republic of Ireland have benefitted from €200K worth of funding grants secured by Cricket Ireland as part of the Irish Government’s €1.5 million COVID-19 Sports Relief Fund.
In December 2021, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and Minister of State for Sport and Gaeltacht Affairs, Jack Chambers TD, together with Sport Ireland, announced almost €80M for the sport sector. Part of this package included funding to support Club Resilience Projects, and Cricket Ireland secured €200K of this to directly support cricket clubs and Provincial Unions.
The costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and COVID-19 protocols had a significant impact on club activities – particularly where the sharing of equipment, facilities and resources is commonplace. Meanwhile, income from affiliation & membership fees, events, competition, coaching courses and ancillary services were all reduced. This combination of factors was recognised by the Irish Government through this programme, which was welcome news to many.
Cricket Ireland Participation Director, Elaine Nolan said:
“We are very appreciative of the ongoing support and commitment of the Irish Government and Sport Ireland to sustaining and growing the sport of cricket across Ireland. It goes without saying that 2021 was another immensely challenging year, however, this funding has helped ensure that clubs had the means to maintain operations and prepare for a return to productive activity in good financial health for the 2022 season.”
Entities that received grants were:
• Adamstown CC – € 2,000
• Bagnelstown Cricket Club – € 3,000
• Balbriggan CC – € 5,000
• Carlow CC – €1,500
• Civil Service CC – € 2,500
• Clontarf CC – € 6,000
• Cork County CC – € 6,000
• Cork Harlequins CC – € 8,475
• County Galway CC – €5,000
• County Kerry CC – €6,000
• Greystones CC – €3,000
• Knockharley CC – €7,000
• Laois CC – €1,500
• Letterkenny CC – €5,000
• Limerick CC – €7,000
• Lismore CC – €2,150
• Lucan CC – €2,000
• Malahide CC – €9,000
• Midleton CC – €3,073
• Mullingar CC – €4,000
• North County CC – €7,200
• Oakhill – €5,000
• Pembroke CC – €7,500
• Phoenix CC – €3,000
• Railway Union CC – €7,000
• St Johnston CC – €5,000
• Terenure CC – €9,300
• The Hills CC – €5,500
• UCC CC – €1,200
• Waterford and District CC – €1,500
• Wexford Wanderers CC – €3,760
• YMCA – €7,500
• Cricket Leinster – €25,000
• Munster Cricket – €20,000
• Connacht Cricket – €3,842
