Sod turning event at new Renville Sports Grounds
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From: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
- Published on: 22 March 2025
- Last updated on: 24 March 2025
- Minister O’Donovan to attend sod turning event at Renville Sports Grounds which received €2.5 million in State funding under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (‘LSSIF’)
- LSSIF-backed sports facility includes a new full size 4G all-weather GAA pitch, multiple sand-based pitches and amenities that will benefit the local and wider community
The Minister for Arts, Media, Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the opportunity to turn the first sod of a new facility in Renville West for Oranmore-Maree GAA One Club, on Saturday 22 March 2025.
Significant support for this project, totalling €2,520,000, has been provided by the department under its Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
The LSSIF-backed project includes the provision of a new full size 4G all-weather floodlit GAA pitch, two sand-based GAA pitches, juvenile pitch and training/warming up areas.
Minister O’Donovan commented:
“It is great to be here at Renville today for the official sod turning. It marks a new era and I am delighted to be part of this groundbreaking ceremony which everybody in the community should take pride in. As a government, we are determined to invest in our sporting infrastructure, and the commencement of this project is a further demonstration of this commitment. I want to congratulate all those involved for their remarkable achievement. The development will provide a state-of-the-art sports venue for players, where supporters and the community can gather and enjoy our games for many years to come.”
Minister McConologue commented:
“As Minister of State for Sport, I am delighted that the department’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund was in a position to provide substantial funding for the development of this ambitious project. I look forward to development of the project and to seeing players and fans enjoying the use of these facilities in the times ahead.”
Notes
Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF)
The aim of the LSSIF is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports projects and facilities where the required Exchequer investment is greater than the maximum amount available under the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF).
To date €297.5 million in funding has been awarded under LSSIF 2018 & LSSIF 2024. Of this, €85.123 million was allocated towards Gaelic Games initiatives on a national scale. This funding pertains to projects that are either directly sponsored by the GAA/LGFA/Camogie and/or incorporated GAA elements.
In January 2018, a total of 33 projects were awarded €86.4 million in capital funding under the first round. An additional €37.6 million was announced in December 2023 to bring the LSSIF 2018 allocation to €124 million.
In November 2024, a total of 35 projects were awarded €173.5 million in capital funding under LSSIF.