Mayo kayak club receives vital funding as part of nationwide initiative
Over €60,000 in vital funding has been officially awarded to 30 grassroots sports clubs across Ireland as SPAR and EUROSPAR conclude a major nationwide series of regional celebration events. Among the recipients is ATU Mayo Kayak Club, Castlebar.
The nationwide campaign concluded with three regional celebration lunches held in Kildare (Lawlor’s Hotel, Naas), Galway (Lough Rea Hotel) and Cork (The Kingsley Hotel). The events brought together winning clubs, local independent SPAR and EUROSPAR retailers, and some of Ireland’s top sports stars to recognise the vital role grassroots clubs play in building healthier, stronger communities.
From weightlifting in Kildare to dragon boat racing in Sligo, powerchair football in Wexford, and kayaking in Mayo, the 30 winning sports clubs represent a diverse range of disciplines.
The celebrations were highlighted by the attendance of official SPAR and EUROSPAR Team Ireland ambassadors, double Olympic gold-medallist rower Fintan McCarthy, Irish record holder and Olympic heptathlete Kate O’Connor, and World Champion Paralympic swimmer Róisín Ní Riain, alongside fellow Team Ireland athletes Ellen Walshe (swimming), Katie O’Brien (paralympic rowing), Sharlene Mawdsley (400m), Nicola Tuthill (Hammer), Andrew Coscoran (1500m), John Shortt (swimming), Shauna Bocquet (paralympic athletics), Lara Gillespie (track cycling), Fiona Murtagh (rowing) and Jordan Conroy (rugby sevens).
The €60,000 SPAR and EUROSPAR Community Fund was launched earlier this year to support 30 grassroots sports clubs at all levels across Ireland. The initiative forms an integral part of SPAR and EUROSPAR’s official retail sponsorship of Team Ireland, in partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, as Irish athletes build towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Following applications submitted nationwide, entries were evaluated by an expert judging panel led by iconic Irish sports commentator George Hamilton, who also provided the voiceover for SPAR and EUROSPAR’s national radio campaign. The judging panel comprised representatives from the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Paralympics Ireland, SPAR Ireland and agency partners.
The initiative builds on SPAR and EUROSPAR’s long-standing dedication to championing Irish sport at both grassroots and elite levels. By encouraging clubs to showcase how they are 'Hungry for Success', the fund focuses on empowering local volunteers, improving club infrastructure, and creating lasting pathways for young athletes, while strengthening community engagement across local towns and villages nationwide.
Commenting on the announcement, Colin Donnelly, SPAR sales director, said: “Sport lies at the very heart of local communities across Ireland, bringing people together and inspiring the next generation. Through the SPAR and EUROSPAR Community Fund, we are delighted to celebrate 30 remarkable clubs that truly embody ambition and community spirit.”
EUROSPAR sales director, Peter Dwan, added: “EUROSPAR and SPAR stores take immense pride in supporting their local communities. Alongside Team Ireland, we are thrilled to present this funding to help these winning clubs build for a bright and successful future.”