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IRISH TEAMS PREPARING to go to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and world championships are to benefit from an additional €1.5 million in funding, it was announced today.
Minister for Tourism and Sports Shane Ross made the announcement in front of the Irish women’s hockey team as they returned today from the Women’s Hockey World Cup, where they were runners-up.
In an interview broadcast on RTÉ he said: “People say how is the government going to respond to this extraordinary achievement? Well, let me tell you.”
He said that in respect to what the Irish hockey team has done, “and in particular because of the timing of what you’ve done”, the government has decided to give an extra €1.5 million for Olympic and world champion preparation.
He said that hockey “will enjoy a significant share of that particular funding”.
There was an emotional reaction from the Irish hockey team to the news.
Yesterday, Minister Ross and John Treacy, CEO of Sport Ireland, said that the hockey team had not had to pay a reported €550 levy to take part in the World Cup. But Treacy did say that Sport Ireland would have loved to have given the team more money.
The team will return to the country for a special homecoming celebration in Dublin at 3pm today. Find out more about it here.
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Must be an election on the horizon
@Nucky: Timing is everything. Looking back through the42, I counted 2 World Cup previews here (8th and 18th July), both by Ryan Bailey. There might have been more but that’s all I saw. The one on July 18th had 2 comments. Now we get 40+ comments of “this is a DISGRACE” and “that’s a DISGRACE” and “the government this and that” and “shame on RTE.” Reactionary, table thumping from people who didn’t care 1 month ago. Ross announces this and still the masses aren’t happy.
@Nucky: There’s better and more urgent need for this money This lot should be able generate their own cash. A total waste
@grandslamkbo: excellent point. The sacrifices from irish sportspeople in all disciplines is astounding. There’s a lot more to this country than the GAA, football and rugby… a lot lot more
And it’s routinely ignored by the establishment. The GAA get so much because of history and their elevated position , soccer because of numbers and rugby because of the school ties…. the rest get the scraps from the table and no one bats an eyelid until they overcome all of the obstacles every so often
@David Clements: was wondering how long the anti rugby posts would take. “school ties” Obviously don’t know the history of hockey in Ireland. Andrew’s, Alex, Mount Anville…bastions of the working class. But who cares? Sport is the great unifier.
Jesus why do Irish people have to get so hung up on these details?Its so sad. And has held us back for years. AS evidenced by this they aren’t routinely ignored. They were for many many years. And those team sports you mentioned forged their own paths.
Its Athletics Ireland’s and the olympic council’s own fault that they squandered so much.
At least things are changing. Fair play to the team. Amazing to see women’s sport in Ireland reach these heights. Could really change our country. Encourage thousands to take up sport and get fit. Encourage a more cohesive society not bound by gender, class or creed. This small ISland just like Croatia can reach great heights. Nothing is stopping us. I remember the time people said we don’t need a 50m pool because we are too small. that myth is dying.
Take it off the FAI’s directors wages. What they have done to grassroots football is shocking
@Dan: and nothing on the pitch for years.
@Dan: hah hah.. you want the government to set the FAI Ceo’s wages? It’s none of their effing business. It’s a private matter. Like the GAA and irfu wages… laughable nonsense
@David Clements:
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/the-fai-millions-where-they-come-from-and-how-they-re-spent-1.2264229
Although it is a private company, the FAI retains substantial control over public funds. In 2013 it received almost €350,000 from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, €42,000 from the Department of Foreign Affairs and €42,390 from the Department of the Environment. In its accounts the FAI says these funds were used “for the purpose they were intended”.
The FAI also receives public funds from the Irish Sports Council – €2.4 million in 2014, down from €2.8 million in 2013
@robbie: no he’s not. The FAI have decimated schools football.
The government doesn’t give anything, it allocates funds that belong to all. Giving would be if Shane Ross took a chunk of his pay and donated it.
Mr Ross, the tax payer is giving the money. Not you, not the government. Stop attaching yourself to other people’s success through hard work and effort. Perhaps you and your colleagues up at the big house could try that sometime.
What about facilities? Had to laugh while watching the diving, swimming and gymnastics wondering where our world class facilities are
@Tommy C: that private school on dublin is getting a brand new hockey pitch thanks to mr ross
@Tommy C: Abbotstown.
@Tommy C: National aquatic centre…. We do need better facilties but not the ones you mention. But as evidenced by all the moaners in this section we don’t seem to want them.
Its like the Rugby World Cup bid…yeah we want nice shiny things but we don’t want to pay for it or build things.
Shane Ross facilitated Templeogue Tennis Club getting nearly €1 Million if you include all the grants for their club in 2years. Shocking when they have neat the same amount in the bank. Shane should resign for this.
@Cranky: It would make for an interesting government if politicians resigned every time you’re not happy. Had this been announced 1 month ago, or the ladies team not been so wonderfully successful, would you have bothered?
@Cranky: the way sports grants are designed, it makes the rich richer. Tennis doesn’t get much money. But for one club to receive that much seems rediculuce.
Why is the hashtag for this article “#WINNERS”…err they lost big!!
Generated by ticket sales :)
What a disappointment Shane Ross turned out to be. He was the great white hope who turned into the big pile of bull poop. Before he was elected I used to see him at the supermarket, everyone wanted to talk to him and wish him well, now all he gets are dirty looks. Just another bit player, fawning and speaking from both sides of his mouth.
Great news
What a miserable pittance of a sum and it’s to be spread among a number of sports too. Ross should scrap the silly ‘granny child minding’ proposal and divert this money to Irish sports instead and this should go a long way to correct the growing obesity among grannies’ grandchildren.
@Con Stable: How do you know the sum is a pittance? Have you calculated what each sport asked for/wants/needs?
I hope this is the last time we see money been wasted on such luxury its a bit like Bertie’s free cash give away to the Gaa that as was we all know was a total waste .
@Alan Scott: Sport is a luxury? they really need an eyeroll emoji on here….
Would that even cover the flights?
@Ruairi O’Bric: it is extra money.
@Ruairi O’Bric: ask the Irish rowing team? Problem lately about funding for flights for our Olympic rowers!!
What a co-inky-dink!
Just wondering why there’s a party and what ever else will be going on this afternoon the team lost and lost big what is all the excitment about ?
@Alan Scott: @Alan Scott: you Sir are thick! They got to a World Cup Final which no other Irish team in history have been able to do ! They lost against the best team in the World who by the way are all professionals! Not bad for a team only ranked 16th in the world at the start of the competition!
@Alan Scott: You’ve posted several comments rubbishing the girls’ achievements, saying how there’s nothing to celebrate just because they were beaten in the final.
So, on that basis, should the (or any) Irish soccer team get to a World Cup final and lose, or the (or any) Irish rugby team get to a World Cup final and lose, or any Irish athlete(s) come home with a silver medal in whatever their event is, we should belittle it because they didn’t win gold? What have you achieved that puts you in a position to quell the first EVER Irish field team to reach a World Cup final?
@Alan Scott: I Know right!!! Just like those 19,999 Losers that ran the Dublin marathon this year …
There is a solution here for all,let the hockey team man the Garda Station in Stepaside.Win won for Winston Churchtown.
Wow, these guys can jump on band wagons like it’s the friggin Matrix.
In light of the hockey teams success, the gov are “giving” 1.5 million to…… all Irish teams for Olympics and world competitions. I presume it’ll be there but they might have to apply for some of it, and you know how bureaucracy is, you might not get it!
I suspect it may be held back because our incompetent politicians will be due more pay rises, and they’ll be telling us that they’re somehow entitled to it!
Great. It’s a shame the boxers are in chaos. We would have a chance at a few medals.
Her name is Duke
well done to the girls. and great new on funding. but not enough. for example… the British canoeing team get 20 million sterling for their Olympic funding. a few years ago while managing the irish kayak team at a regatta in Germany. i found that the set of tyres on the Portuguese kayak trailer cost more then our funding for that year.
Duke not Duske!
Put them in for the soccer next time. They would shame that shower we have.
@Larry Doherty: Put them in the shower next time. That should shame the soccer we have.
Divided by…??
Recycled funding
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