Inter-county Government Grant Workshops for 2018

THE government grants introduced last year for inter-county Ladies Football and Camogie squads will roll out again in 2018, providing supports in the areas of Medical Cover & Injury Prevention, Player & Team Performance and Training Facilities.

Workshops on filling in the grant applications have commenced, and Limerick was first up on Wednesday, December 6. 

Enniskillen is next on Thursday, December 7, followed by Dublin on January 9. 

Grant applications are agreed upon by players, management and county board officials and representatives from each are required to be in attendance for their squad to be eligible for the funding in the coming year.

In the first collaboration of its’ kind, the scheme is jointly administered by the Womens Gaelic Players Association, Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the Camogie Association, supported by Sport Ireland and the Department of Sport.

The workshops will cover comprehensive information on the spending areas covered by the grants, completing the application forms, documenting expenditure, reclaiming funds and the necessary communications.

There will also be an interactive element providing an opportunity for knowledge exchange with other counties and administrators.

2017 was the first time inter-county grants were awarded and they were widely welcomed as a means of supporting county teams and recognising players as elite athletes and acknowledging their contribution to Irish communities. In the first year, a total of €425,159.76 was applied for across 55 squads, covering a wide range of supports and services including:

Injury Prevention & Medical Cover:

• Physiotherapists and doctors,
• Health and movement screening,
• Cryotherapy and pool sessions,
• Pilates and sports massage.

Maximising Player & Team Performance:

• Strength and conditioning,
• Performance analysis,
• Sports psychology and nutrition.

Access to Training Facilities:

• Gym and pool access
• Wall balls and indoor halls
• Floodlit and astroturf pitches,
• Running tracks.

Sinéad McNulty, Chairperson of the Scheme Implementation Group stated:  “We look forward to working with counties right across the country again this year on the scheme. It has been a collective effort to get it off the ground and we pay tribute to everyone involved for the efforts in making it work.

The investment provides a range of valuable services, directly benefitting female Gaelic Games players across the country. Female intercounty athletes demonstrate supreme commitment to their sports, highlight the potential of performing at the highest levels through intercounty representation and also provide excellent role models for Irish women and girls.”

County secretaries are reminded to return their workshop booking form asap to Christine via intercountyfunding@gmail.com.