Stillorgan Rugby Club to share in sports funding

STILLORGAN-Rathfarnham Rugby Club will share a massive €700,000 in funding that has been made available for local sports organisations under the Government’s Capital Sports programme.

Shane Ross TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, said that 10 local sports organisations had been allocated funding, ranging from €11,654 for Three Rock Rovers to almost €150,000 for Stillorgan-Rathfarnham Rugby Club.

The local allocations were part of the 2018 round of the Sports Capital Programme (SCP), totalling €37m being provided for 994 different projects with 37 different sports benefitting.

The Minister said: “This is very welcome news for the area, providing much needed finance to fund capital projects for sport and community organisations.”

The Minister said great credit was due to the organisations which were successful in their applications and their team of volunteers who are the lifeblood of their communities.

He added: “Increasing participation in sport is the central aim of our National Sports Policy and to achieve our objectives we need to have appropriate sports facilities. These grants will significantly improve sports facilities right across the country.

“The vast majority of grants are going to voluntary organisations and I want to particularly thank all of the volunteers associated with these clubs for their tireless work and their commitment to improving their facilities to benefit all members.”

Minister Ross said that improvements had been introduced in the application process thanks to significant changes to the programme to make the whole process as user-friendly as possible including the simplification of the application form, giving applicants an opportunity to correct applications during the assessment phase and the introduction of an appeals system for unsuccessful applicants.

Stillorgan-Rathfarnham RFC was granted a total of €149,942 for new sports facilities and pitches.

The amateur rugby football club has three teams – 1st XV, 2nd XV and 3rd XV, and these teams compete in the Dublin Metropolitan League and Cup competitions.

In 2013 the club added a Minis section, and this has facilitated juniors to the club for the first time in our history.

The club 1st XV and 2nd XV teams play home matches in Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club beside Marley Park.

The club 3rd XV play home matches in Rockfield Park, Blackrock.

All adult teams train each Tuesday (9pm-10pm) and Thursday (8pm-9pm) in St Benildus College, Upper Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan.

New members are welcomed to the club on a rolling basis throughout the season, and they welcome prospective new members to contact them for further information.

Stillorgan RFC (formerly known as Salesians RFC) was founded and first registered with the IRFU Leinster Branch in 1973, when a group of former pupils from schools run by the Salesian fathers came together with the intention of the establishment of a new club.

Most of the founder members were from outside of Dublin.

They had attended various schools in the Salesian Colleges in Pallaskenry, Limerick, Warranstown in Meath as well as Ballinakill in County Laois.