Minister Canney welcomes €477,000 in core sports funding for Galway in record 2026 allocation
Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has welcomed the confirmation of €477,048 in core funding for Galway sports programmes in 2026, as part of a record €33.36 million national investment in core funding for sporting organisations.
The 2026 Core Grant Investment includes €19.5 million for National Governing Bodies of Sport, €12.66 million for Local Sports Partnerships and a further €1.2 million to support other sporting bodies focused on inclusion, participation and lifelong involvement in sport.
The Galway allocation will be delivered through the Galway Local Sports Partnership, with €462,048 in core and programme funding, alongside an additional €15,000 dedicated to Women in Sport initiatives, supporting participation, inclusion and community-based sport right across the county.
The 2026 allocation represents part of the highest-ever level of core investment in sport, with funding for Local Sports Partnerships nationally increasing to €12.66 million, a rise of 5.9% on 2025. The funding supports staffing, locally delivered participation programmes, disability inclusion, women in sport initiatives and community sports development.
Welcoming the Galway figures, Minister Canney said the investment underlines the importance of sustained, long-term funding for community sport.
“This funding provides real, practical support for sport and physical activity at local level in Galway,” Minister Canney said. “Through the Local Sports Partnership, it supports participation across all ages and abilities, strengthens inclusion for people with disabilities, and ensures women and girls continue to be supported to take part in sport in their communities.”
Minister Canney also noted that 2026 marks the first year of Sport Ireland’s new multi-annual funding model, which will give sporting organisations greater certainty and allow for improved planning and delivery over the coming years.
“This move to multi-annual funding is an important step,” he said. “It gives local sports organisations the confidence to plan ahead, invest in staff and programmes, and continue to grow participation in a sustainable way across Galway.”