€50,000 for walking track facilities at two Mayo football clubs

TWO football clubs in Mayo are being allocated funding under the IRFU and FAI Healthy Ireland Walking Tracks initiative.

The fund is designed to make pitch-side walking track facilities more accessible to everyone in the community.

Westport United and Castlebar Celtic are to receive €25,000 each under the initiative.

This is the second phase of the Healthy Ireland Walking Tracks initiative, which previously delivered funding to GAA clubs.

The initiative promotes increased physical activity among all ages by supporting clubs to upgrade walking tracks to improve accessibility for people with mobility issues such as older persons and wheelchair users.

Welcoming the allocations, Deputy Michael Ring stated: “I am delighted that these clubs have put forward proposals for track improvements that will benefit the entire community so that we can all reap the health and wellbeing benefits.”

Minister Alan Dillon also offered his congratulations to the Castlebar and Westport clubs on their successful applications and their innovative proposals for track improvements.

He said: “I have visited many GAA, soccer and rugby clubs across the county who have already developed walking trails around their pitches which encourage people, not just members of their club, but others within the community to get out and exercise.

“This funding assists clubs to provide this valuable service to local communities and their ability to enhance facilities, to make them safer and more accessible is key to ensuring they continue to thrive and connect.”