New grant scheme announced in Mayo to support sport and physical activity

The Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme has today announced €11,790 in grants to support sport and physical activity for 41 groups in Mayo.

The scheme, which is funded by Sport Ireland, will assist over 1,000 clubs and organisations across the country, with €300,000 in grants this year.

The funding recipients announced under the 2026 scheme include Family Cares, Men’s and Women’s Sheds, ICA’s, Active Retirement Groups, Physical Activity Leaders (PALs), and other social, sporting, and community associations. 

Since its establishment in 2001, over 20,000 grants worth €8.5 million have been awarded to recipients. Every year, circa 34,000 older people take part in physical activity funded through the scheme.

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This year’s grant funding will look to support the rollout of activities such as pickleball, dancing, walking, cycling, table tennis, walking football, and yoga. The financial support will enable organisations to purchase sports equipment and host active initiatives and events for older people. 

Speaking on this year’s grant announcement, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, said:

“The Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme drives participation among older people in recreational sport. Staying active as we age has proven physical and mental health benefits, and as such, I am pleased to announce the distribution of €300,000 in funding from my Department today.

“The Government is committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity, regardless of age or ability, and with the overall aim of increasing participation among the population to 50% by 2027. These grants will help fund activities, secure essential equipment, and support events that bring older people together in a sports setting.” 

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport Charlie McConalogue TD also expressed his delight at the scheme.

 “Over 1,000 groups will directly benefit from today’s announcement, which will have a positive impact across the country in terms of providing older people with more opportunities to exercise.  

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"We know that participation levels among this cohort continue to increase, so we need to ensure that we are catering to people of all ages. The allocated grants will enable organisations to adapt and tailor activities for older people,”  he added.

Sport Ireland CEO, Dr Úna May, further expressed her delight to work with Age & Opportunity to deliver grants to groups across the country.

“The allocation of the funding across a diverse range of activities, groups, and communities reflects our commitment to ensuring that people of all ages are valued in sport. 

“It is important that we have a diverse sporting landscape, and increasing participation among older people is a key driver in making that happen. 

“Sport Ireland’s Local Sports Partnerships are helping people to get active and removing barriers to sport and physical activity, and these partnerships work hand in hand with the Age & Opportunity Active Programme and National Active Grant Scheme,” he added.

Additionally, commenting on the grant scheme, Sue Guildea, Active Programme Manager at Age & Opportunity, said:

"Once again, we have seen an incredible response to the grant scheme with applications coming in from across the country. Older age should be a time of opportunity, and through this grant scheme, older people have improved access to recreational sport and targeted opportunities to engage in physical activity.

“A third of this grant is going to areas of disadvantage, and 60% is funding physical activities and sport in active retirement and other older adult groups. Each year we see the rise in applications from both Men’s and Women’s Sheds who can access this funding to add physical activities to their own programmes,” she added.

The National Active Grant Scheme is part of Age & Opportunity’s Active programme, funded by Sport Ireland, and delivered nationwide with the support of the HSE, Local Sports Partnerships and other local agencies.