Sport Ireland funds help older groups to thrive in Galway
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A total of 65 Galway clubs, catering for and involving older people, are to share €18,560 in grants to support sport and physical activity, thanks to the Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme.
Funded by Sport Ireland, this will assist over 1,000 clubs, groups and organisations across the country to the tune of €300,000 in grants this year.
The funding recipients announced under the 2026 scheme include Family Carers, Men’s and Women’s Sheds, ICA’s, Active Retirement Groups, Physical Activity Leaders (PALs) and other social, sporting and community associations.
Over 20,000 grants to the tune of almost €8.5 million have been awarded since the inception of the Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme in 2001.
Every year, approximately 34,000 older people take part in physical activity funded through the scheme.
Grant funding for 2026 will support the rollout of activities such as pickleball, dancing, walking, cycling, table tennis, walking football, yoga and much more. The financial support will enable organisations to purchase sports equipment and host active initiatives and events for older people.
Galway recipients include Blossom Day Service the Brothers of Charity, ARD Family Resource Centre, Croí na Gaillimhe, ICA Maree Oranmore Co Galway, Moycullen ARA, Claran ICA, Diamond Hill Housing, Clogher Environmental Group CLG, and the Activity and Social Group Ardrahan.
They also include Active in Age Oranmore, Galway Pickleball, Merlin Woods Tennis Club, Headford Women's Group, Annaghdown Corrandulla Active Age Group, Gort ICA Guild, Renmore Bowls, Ballinderreen Community Centre, Galway City Partnership, Bushypark Active Retirement Association, Knocknacarra ICA Guild and Tuam Womens Shed.
Also benefitting are Maree Oranmore FC, Loughrea ICA, Galway Kayak Club, Creggs Rugby Club, Loughrea Men's Shed, BNT Social Services, Ballinasloe Social Services, Diamond Hill Ladies Wellness Group, Glinsk Community Development Society LTD, Garbally View Nursing Home LTD, New Inn ICA, and North Connemara Social Services - Ross Social Centre Clonbur Day Care Centre and Meals on Wheels.
Sharing the funding are Galway City Women's Shed, Clifden ARA, Galway Mental Health Association, Clifden ICA, Ballyglunin Community Development CLG, Claregalway Active Retirement, Cró na mBan Moycullen, Salthill Mens Shed, Looscaun Ladies Club, Oughterard Lesiure Centre and For Us Now Women Group.
Staying active as we age has proven physical and mental health benefits
Grants go to Corofin Ladies Group, Maree Tennis Club, Glenamaddy Community Garden, Glenamaddy Community Alert, Abbeyknockmoy ICA Guild, Move, Abbeyknockmoy Active Retired Group, Retired Nurse's Association Galway West, St. Jarlath's Court Residents Association, Carrabane Women's Shed, Galway Boxing Club, Tearmann Éanna CTR, Tribesmen Rowing Club, and Bearna Guild ICA.
And the list is completed by ARA groups in Barna Furbo, Castlegar, Loughrea, Mervue, Dunmore, and Eyrecourt Meelick Clonfert.
The National Active Grant Scheme is part of Age & Opportunity’s Active programme, funded by Sport Ireland, and delivered nationwide with the support of the HSE and Local Sports Partnerships and other local agencies.
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan praised the Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme as driving participation among older people in recreational sport.
“Staying active as we age has proven physical and mental health benefits and as such, I am pleased to announce the distribution of €300,000 in funding from my Department,” he said.
“These grants will help fund activities, secure essential equipment and support events that bring older people together in a sports setting.”
Sport Ireland CEO Dr Úna May said it was critically important to have a diverse sporting landscape and ‘increasing participation among older people is a key driver in making that happen’, she said.
“Sport Ireland’s Local Sports Partnerships are helping people to get active and removing barriers to sport and physical activity, and these partnerships work hand in hand with the Age & Opportunity Active Programme and National Active Grant Scheme,” she added.