Seven Fingal Club Winners of the Sports Sustainability Competition

Following assessment of the applications received from clubs all around Fingal it has been decided to award and work with seven who submitted applications for the competition.

The seven winning clubs are: Lusk United, Portmarnock AFC, St. Ita’s, St. Mochta’s, Swords Celtic, Garda Association F.C. and Garda Westmanstown Rugby Club. Each will receive payments of €2,000 to be invested in the projects.

These projects can range from eliminating single-use plastic bottles/ coffee cups from the grounds and club rooms, installing a water refill-point for reusable water bottles to introducing a sports gear swap shop for boots and jerseys. The initiatives could also include actively encouraging green travel by walking and cycling to the club grounds, an action day or a children’s poster competition.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien, said: “It is great to see clubs from all over Fingal planning these very positive actions for their members and for the environment. Well done to everyone involved.”

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, said: “I wish to congratulate all the clubs on their winning applications and wish them all the best with implementing the projects in the months ahead.”

In 2019 a very successful competition was run by Fingal County Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer Sinead Fox in which six Fingal GAA Clubs were awarded funds for introducing sustainable measures into their clubs.

This ‘waste prevention’ project is especially effective as it targets an already enthusiastic group who may have an interest in improving their clubs. Many club leaders might already have thought of introducing sustainable measures, so it is great to be able to assist them with funding and mentoring. The other very positive element of this project is the number of participants that could potentially affect; when we put all the members numbers together it will have the potential to reach 3,155 adults and juveniles. Each club also had to choose a buddy club with whom they will share the learnings and outcomes.

Director of Services for the Environment, Climate Action and Water Services Department Ethna Felten commented: “The Environment Department are delighted to be working with soccer and rugby sports clubs in the county on these very positive waste prevention initiatives. We would like to see more organisations and clubs introducing such sustainable actions and all working together to prevent waste.”

Anyone looking for further information on this project can look at the webpage https://www.fingal.ie/sports-club-sustainability-competition-2020 or email [email protected]