Ballyshannon Squash Club has been chosen as winners of the Donegal County award in this year’s Texaco Support for Sport initiative.
A €5,000 cheque has been presented to the club to help upgrade facilities, invest in coaching and fund introductory events to make squash more accessible for everyone in the community.
The club prides itself on being friendly, vibrant and active with over 70 members, catering for all skill levels and ages from 6-80. It organises training sessions for juniors on weekends, coupled with coaching workshops, leagues, tournaments and social nights for members throughout the year.
Now in its fourth year, the Texaco Support for Sport initiative – organised by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand – sees a fund of €130,000 set aside annually for allocation in equal amounts of €5,000 to successful applicants chosen on a county-by-county basis. Previous Donegal winners were Gleneely Colts FC Sports & Leisure Club (2021), Muff’s Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin GAA Club (2022) and Donegal Town Football Club (2023).
Congratulating the winners on what he termed ‘the invaluable contribution that sports clubs make to the heart of community life in Ireland’, James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, praised the unstinting work of club officials and volunteers.
Overseeing the judging process was Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, former Irish rugby international and well-known broadcaster, Donncha O’Callaghan.
“As adjudicator, the most heartening aspect of the Texaco Support for Sport initiative is the benefit it brings to Irish sports clubs by providing rare access to funds which are not linked to the popularity, membership size or success of any given club,” he said.
Describing the Donegal club as ‘a very deserving winner’, he went on to add: “Its success in the initiative demonstrates Ballyshannon Squash Club’s commitment to growth and community outreach.”
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