52 Older Limerick Groups Receive Go For Life Grant

52 Older Limerick Groups Receive Go For Life Grant
Pictured showing their ‘flisk’ skills, alongside Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, and John Treacy, CEO, Sport Ireland are Teresa Danagher, Tom Kilkenny and Mary O’Gorman, from Kilrush, Co. Clare. Desmond Complex, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick. Picture: Diarmuid Greene

Minister O’Donovan announces  Go for Life Grant success for 52 Older Groups in Limerick. The groups will receive a total of €14,450 to fund physical activity for older people . Almost €300,000 was awarded to clubs and groups nationwide. The Go for Life Grant Scheme enables 30,000 Irish older people to get engaged in physical activity.

A total of 52 groups in Limerick are celebrating the awarding of grants to fund physical activity for older people. The Go for Life Grant Scheme from Age & Opportunity and Sport Ireland is awarding over €14,000 to groups around Limerick.  These grants are aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of older people across the country by providing them with opportunities to engage in physical activity and sport.  Grant recipients include Active Retirement Groups, ICA guilds, Local Sports Partnerships, Sports Clubs, Family Resources Centres and many others who provide older people with opportunities to get active. 

Announcing the successful grantees at the Desmond Complex, Newcastle West, in Limerick, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD, said:  

“The National Physical Activity Plan, launched earlier this year, sets an ambitious target to get half a million people more active within ten years.  Programmes like Go for Life and the National Grant Scheme will help us reach this target by supporting and empowering older people to get active. The fact that approximately 30,000 people will take part in the activities funded by the grants shows what results can be achieved with a small investment and the record number of applications shows the continued importance of the scheme for local groups throughout the country.”

Karen Smyth, CEO of Age & Opportunity, outlines the importance of providing opportunities for older people to engage in sport and physical activity: “Research shows us that physical activity improves mental and physical wellbeing as well as providing opportunities for social networking.  Through our Go for Life Programme and the Grant Scheme we are helping get more older people, more active, more often. Those participating in the Games today are testament to the impact these grants have in local communities, empowering older people to keep fit and healthy on their own terms. The variety of groups who apply and the activities they are engaged in demonstrates the richness and variety of the ageing experience in Ireland.”  

The Grant Scheme is part of Age & Opportunity’s Go for Life programme, and is funded by Sport Ireland. The goal of the scheme is to encourage older people to get involved in sport and physical activity in their communities and the funds allocated are used by groups to buy equipment, run sports events or to try new activities. Now in its sixteenth year, it has so far awarded over €5million in almost 12,000 grants during its lifetime.   Applications have increased each year since the launch of the National Grant Scheme in 2001.  This year saw a record number of applications and a record number of grants awarded. 27% of successful applications were from designated disadvantaged areas. 

Speaking at the launch, John Treacy, Chief Executive of Sport Ireland said: “The National Grant Scheme continues to grow in importance, as demonstrated by the record number of groups who have applied this year and the record number of grants awarded.  Increasing participation in sport and physical activity is one of Sport Ireland’s key strategic priorities.  We are delighted to partner with Age & Opportunity’s Go for Life Programme, to increase participation among older people in recreational sport activities. I also want to acknowledge the groups themselves, and our own national network of Local Sports Partnerships who provide opportunities to increase participation among older people in sport and physical activity”. 

The successful Limerick groups are: Knocklong ARA, Limerick City ARA, Southill Family Resource Centre FRC, Limerick Regional Probus Club, Caherdavin ICA, Croom Communities in Motion, West Limerick Indoor Bowls, Limerick Federation ICA, Thursday Club (Clarina) ARA, Ballyhoura Development Ltd, Castleconnell ICA, Lansdowne ARA, Ballyagran/Castletown/ Colmanswell ARA, ACM Active Social Group Castleconnell, Drombanna ICA, Our Lady Day Care Centre, Ardagh ICA, Limerick Sports Partnership, Abbeyfeale Men’s Shed, Askeaton /Ballysteen ARA, Cappamore ICA, Raheen Co. Limerick ARA, ARA na Féile (Abbeyfeale) ARA, Grange ICA, Southill Dining Club, Ballyhahill/Loughill Going Strong, Limerick Central ARA, St. John’s Senior Citizens Club, (Janesboro) Our Lady, Queen of Peace – Ladies Retired, Kilmallock ARA, Castlemahon ICA, ARRA Friends Newcastle West ARA, Limerick Strand Probus Club, Pallasgreen ICA, Broadford and District ARA, Limerick City ICA, Bothers of Charity Active Retired Group, Deafhear.ie (Limerick), Castletroy ICA, Adare ARA, Fedamore ICA, Patrickswell ARA, Doon ICA, Dromcollogher & District Respite Care Centre Ltd., Glenroe/Ballyorgan Active Retirement Group, Brothers of Charity, Cluid Housing Association, Limerick Holy Rosary ARA,, Murroe Maria Social Club, St. Mary’s Senior Citizens Club, Bruff Go For Life, Mainistir na Feile ICA 

 

About Sport Ireland 

Sport Ireland plans, leads and co-ordinates the sustainable development of competitive and recreational sport in Ireland. 

Sport Ireland’s vision is one where: 

Sport contributes to enhancing the quality of Irish life and everyone is encouraged and valued in sport; 

Young people see sport participation as an integral and enjoyable part of their busy lives; 

Individuals can develop their sporting abilities and enhance their enjoyment, limited only by their talent and commitment;  

Irish sportsmen and women achieve consistent world-class performance, fairly. 

To find out more about Sport Ireland click here.

To find out more about Age & Opportunity click here.

Read more stories about the elderly here.