Under the scheme, hosted by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand, a fund of €130,000 will be distributed to twenty-six sports clubs on a county-by-county basis, with successful applicants receiving €5,000 in each case.
Open to sports clubs across the 26-counties, irrespective of sporting discipline, size, membership, age, cultural appeal or gender (including clubs that may have made an unsuccessful application previously), the initiative is one that recognises and supports the valuable contribution that sports clubs make to communities and throughout Irish society as a whole.
With two years completed, clubs that have received funding span the spectrum of Irish sporting activity. Amongst them were athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, camogie, climbing, cricket, diving, Gaelic football, golf, handball, hockey, hurling, rowing, rugby, soccer and tennis.
Avenue to funding
Launching the 2023 programme, James Twohig, director of Ireland operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited described the Texaco Support for Sport initiative as one that “opens up an avenue to funding for those clubs and communities that need it most.”
Seeing sports clubs as ‘the heart and soul of community life’ in so many Irish cities, towns and villages, Mr. Twohig went on to say how pleased his company is to provide “a new and significant route to revenue for sports clubs, many of which have faced difficult challenges of one kind or another in recent times.”
Adjudication
Leading the adjudication process once again is Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, broadcaster and former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan. Commenting, O’Callaghan said that the most heartening aspect of the Texaco Support for Sport initiative is ‘the extent to which it brings much needed benefit to clubs when least expected.’
“Through the scheme, even the smallest and most remote clubs and minority interest groupings have had access to the vital funds they needed to develop facilities, increase memberships, and broaden their appeal within their communities, at grassroot level,” he said.
Application
Following similar lines to that which proved successful over the past two years, the application process is now open online at www.texacosupportforsport.com where full details of the initiative and its operation can be viewed.
Clubs wishing to apply can first register their interest to be followed, before closing date, by a completed application that should include full details of their sporting activity, the importance that the club holds in their local community, the purpose for which the funding is sought and the use to which it will be put.
A sole qualifying requirement is that clubs making application must be properly constituted and supply confirmation of a valid Games & Sports Exemption number (GS number) which has been issued by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.
Closing date for applications is 31st January 2023 with adjudication taking place thereafter.