TEXACO SPORTSTARS BURSARIES ATTRACT RECORD APPLICATIONS
DUBLIN, IRELAND, 9 OCTOBER 2008 - A record 422 sports clubs have submitted applications for this yearıs Texaco Sportstars Bursaries.
Applications were received from all of the 32 counties. The largest number of these came from clubs in Dublin City and County (90). Other leading counties were Cork (45), Antrim (41), Down (29), Galway (27), Limerick (18), Kerry (16), Wicklow (12), Kildare and Armagh (10 each). Of the total, 23 percent of applications came from clubs in Northern Ireland with all of the six counties represented.
Some 51 sporting disciplines were represented amongst the applications received. Soccer clubs made up the largest number (72) followed by GAA (56), basketball (33), hockey and swimming (29 each), athletics (25), rugby (21), boxing (14), special needs (13), rowing and sailing (12 each) and camogie (10). Of the remainder, American football, ice hockey, diving, volleyball and canoeing were amongst the minority sports represented.
Now in its second year, over EUR120,000 has been set aside for the scheme from which a total of 25 sports clubs stand to benefit - twenty from the Republic of Ireland and five from Northern Ireland.
Open to sports clubs of all kind, bursaries will be distributed to clubs in the Republic of Ireland in amounts of EUR5,000 each and to clubs in Northern Ireland in amounts of Stg3,500 each.
Judging is currently under way under the chairmanship of former RTE sports producer, Michael O'Carroll. Winners will be announced and presented with their awards at a ceremony to be held in Dublin on Wednesday, 29th October next.
-ENDS-
