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20/02/2017

Croke Park Marks €750,000 Community Milestone

Local groups from across Dublin’s north inner city joined GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail today to celebrate the latest milestone of the Croke Park Community Fund.  Over €750,000 in support has now been allocated to voluntary groups based within 1.5km of the stadium since the fund was established in 2009 and in the past 7 years, funding from the stadium has included:

  • Over €150,000 in support to local primary schools
  • €112,000 in funding to local youth clubs & youth projects
  • €96,000 in support to local sports clubs & sporting activities
  • Over €87,000 in funding to activities and events for senior citizens
  • Over €75,000 in support to local arts & cultural initiatives
  • €71,000 in funding for local environmental projects & community gardens
  • Over €68,000 in support to local resident associations
Acknowledged for the contribution it is making to the local area in last week’s “Dublin: North East Inner City” Plan, the stadium’s community fund continues to flourish and successful applications to the fund have grown by over 30% in the last three years.  2016 was the fund’s busiest year to date with 59 community groups receiving support in local areas throughout the stadium’s catchment radius including community groups, schools and clubs in Ballybough, Clonliffe, Drumcondra, Dorset & Gardiner Streets, Summerhill, North Strand, North Wall, Sean McDermott & Sheriff Streets, East Wall, Fairview, Iona, Mountjoy Square, Phibsboro and Marino.
 
To mark the milestone, the stadium welcomed representatives from the 59 local groups, schools, associations & sports clubs to a special reception in Croke Park hosted by GAA President, Aogán Ó Fearghail and Croke Park Stadium & Commercial Director, Peter McKenna.  Over 180 guests were invited to attend.  Speaking about the funding milestone, GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail said:

“Through the fund, we’ve been backing our local community around the stadium since 2009 and for some of the groups, Croke Park is their only financial supporter.  The fund makes a difference in our community every day - from ensuring our youngest neighbours access to the most cutting-edge technology in their classrooms to making sure our local boxing or martial arts clubs have the equipment they need to train future champions. For many local projects, Croke Park’s support is a game changer.”

He continued:

“As we celebrate today’s milestone, it’s critical we acknowledge the work of local residents who give up their time to make a difference in our community.  The scale of projects we support each year through the Croke Park Community Fund continues to flourish and we are very proud of what is achieved by local groups with our support.  We look forward to working with them and being inspired by them each year.”
 
“Local resident & committee member of the Ballybough Community Group, Sandra Burke-Reid explained how the Croke Park Community Fund helps them:

“Croke Park has always been there for us since we started our group in 2014.  Each year, they support the activities we run for children under ten in Ballybough.  Croke Park has supported our annual summer project as well as other special experiences we organise for the kids. Without Croke Park’s support, it would not be possible to run a summer project in Ballybough and the children wouldn’t be kept occupied with different activities and trips.   We’re a group trying hard to make a difference for kids in Ballybough and Croke Park has been the biggest supporter of our work since day one.”
 
Local applications for 2017

The fund is currently accepting applications from local groups for 2017 - the form can be downloaded here (Link to - https://crokepark.ie/stadium/community/croke-park-community-fund) or picked up at the Croke Park Reception on Jones Road.    

Additional information and help filling in the application form is also available from the stadium; please contact [email protected] or 01-865 8607.
 
About the Croke Park Community Fund:
 
  1. The Fund was established in 2009 and is administered on behalf of the stadium by an independent committee.  Mick Feehan is the current chairperson of the Community Fund committee and he is joined by committee members Fintan O’Toole, Senan Turnbull and Alan Gallagher
  2. Each year, the Croke Park Community Fund awards grants totalling €100,000 to local organisations in the stadium’s 1.5km community area. These can range from approximately €300 up to €10,000.
  3. The fund supports projects of benefit to a wide range of people in communities primarily within 1.5 Kilometres of Croke Park Stadium. 80% of the participants/beneficiaries must be usually resident within the stadium’s catchment area
  4. Applications are only accepted from bona fide community/resident/voluntary or not for profit organisations that are based within the stadium’s 1.5km catchment area
  5. Funding is provided on the basis of original invoices and vouched expenditure being provided
  6. Projects qualifying for the fund will be considered across the widest possible range of headings:
  • Environmental improvements
  • School and education initiatives
  • Facilities or services for local people
  • Multi functioning community facilities
  • Local heritage projects
  • Residents groups
  • Community events & festivals
Find out more about the Croke Park Community Fund.
 
For reference:

Julianne Savage, Community & Public Affairs, Croke Park Stadium
Tel. 00 865 8607 and [email protected]
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