Birr Town AFC to benefit from grassroots sports funding
Birr Town AFC is one of 30 grassroots sports clubs to benefit from the SPAR and EUROSPAR Community Fund.
Over €60,000 in funding was awarded to the various sports clubs during a special presentation lunch at Lawlor’s Hotel Naas, the first of three regional celebration events taking place across the country to recognise and celebrate this year’s recipients.
The presentation lunch brought together winning clubs spanning 14 counties to celebrate their dedication and commitment to grassroots sport.
Attendees had the opportunity to meet SPAR and EUROSPAR Team Ireland ambassador and multi-event athlete Kate O’Connor, alongside fellow Team Ireland athletes Katie O’Brien (paralympic rowing), Ellen Walshe (swimming), Jordan Conroy (rugby sevens) and Lara Gillespie (track cycling).
The €60,000 SPAR and EUROSPAR Community Fund was launched earlier this year to support 30 grassroots sports clubs at all levels across Ireland.
The initiative forms an integral part of SPAR and EUROSPAR’s official retail sponsorship of Team Ireland, in partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) and Paralympics Ireland (PI), as Irish athletes build towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Following applications submitted nationwide, entries were evaluated by an expert judging panel led by Irish sports commentator George Hamilton, who also provided the voiceover for SPAR and EUROSPAR’s national radio campaign. The judging panel comprised representatives from the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Paralympics Ireland, SPAR Ireland and agency partners.
The initiative builds on SPAR and EUROSPAR’s long-standing dedication to championing Irish sport at both grassroots and elite levels.
By encouraging clubs to showcase how they are 'Hungry for Success', the fund focuses on empowering local volunteers, improving club infrastructure, and creating lasting pathways for young athletes, while strengthening community engagement across local towns and villages nationwide.