Malahide Basketball Club has scored a major win off the court — securing €5,000 in funding after being named Dublin County winners in this year’s Texaco Support for Sport initiative.
The long-running Northside club, founded in 1977, was singled out for its exceptional growth, strong community spirit and focus on keeping teenage girls engaged in sport.
The new funding will go towards purchasing much-needed training equipment and organising extra sessions to cope with a surge in membership.
Malahide Basketball Club is now one of the largest in Ireland, with more than 500 members and 32 teams competing out of six local gyms.
It caters for boys and girls from the age of eight right through to senior level and stands out as the only club in the country to have achieved the Basketball Ireland Platinum Award for best practice and governance.
Around 65 percent of its membership is female — something club officials say reflects their ongoing mission to ensure girls stay involved in sport through their teenage years and beyond.
The Texaco Support for Sport initiative, organised by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, sets aside a fund of €130,000 annually to support grassroots sports clubs on a county-by-county basis, with each winner receiving €5,000.
Malahide joins an impressive list of recent Dublin recipients including Cliffhangers Youth Climbing Club in Finglas (2021), Glasnevin’s St Vincent’s Basketball Club (2022), Astra Handball Club in Ballinteer (2023) and Lusk Athletic Club (2024).
James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations with Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, praised the work being done on the ground by volunteers and coaches at clubs like Malahide.
“Since its inception, we are proud to have distributed almost €650,000 to more than 125 sports clubs under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative,” he said.
“We congratulate the county winners on the immense contribution that they make to the heart of community life in Ireland.”
Former Irish rugby international and well-known broadcaster Donncha O’Callaghan acted as adjudicator for this year’s awards in his role as Texaco Support for Sport ambassador.
He said what impressed him most about the initiative is that it gives clubs access to funding that is not based on their popularity, size or success, but on their impact.
Describing Malahide Basketball Club as “a truly deserved recipient”, O’Callaghan added: “Malahide Basketball Club is an amazing club with a fantastic membership base – reflected in the number of teams it produces. I’m delighted the Texaco funds will be used to purchase additional equipment that will leave a legacy in the club for the next generation. Well done all, you slam dunked it!”
Entries for the 2026 Texaco Support for Sport scheme will open again in the New Year, and organisers are encouraging all sports clubs to apply — including those whose applications may not have been successful previously.