Mayo club receives Texaco Support For Sport funding

Ballina Tennis Club is to receive €5,000 in fundingunder this year’s Texaco Support For Sport initiative, hosted and organised by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand.

Under the scheme – similar to that which proved successful last year when the Mayo county award was presented to Tourmakeady Handball Club – a fund of €130,000 is made available by Valero for distribution in equal amounts of €5,000 to a successful applicant in each county.

Ballina Tennis Club is a small community club whose membership is steadily growing. The club provides coaching and competition for members ranging in age from age four to over 80.

The €5,000 award made to Ballina Tennis Club under the Texaco Support For Sport initiative will be used to develop its facilities with the aim of creating an outlet for social interaction outside of the games themselves.

Overseeing the judging process was Texaco Support For Sport ambassador, former Ireland rugby international and well-known broadcaster Donncha O’Callaghan, who praised Ballina Tennis Club's inclusiveness and great community spirit.

Pointing to what he termed the 'invaluable contribution' that sports clubs make to the heart of community life in Ireland, James Twohig, director of Ireland operations with Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, congratulated the Ballina club, saying: “Special to us, and the purpose for which our Texaco Support For Sport initiative was introduced, is the opportunity it presents to ease the financial pressure on members by providing new and additional funding so often required to help clubs achieve their ojectives and play a pivotal and positive role in their communities.”