Club Grant Application procedures:

 

Connacht GAA award grants to clubs that undertake development of their physical infrastructure. These grants are only available to clubs that have their facilities vested in the GAA.

 

The Club completes their application through the online form, see link. Applications will not be accepted by email or post for 2026.

 

Grants are awarded under the following headings

 

  1. Land Purchase
    2. Initial Grass Pitch Development and/or Full size Artificial Pitch Development(including Pitch enclosure)
    3. Pitch Re-development (Levelling/Drainage) & small scale Artificial Pitches
    4. Club House / Dressing rooms
    5. Covered Stand
    6. Floodlighting(LED only) – (note: recommendation for Floodlighting to be a minimum 300lux)
    7. Ancillary facilities incl. Dugouts, Ball Stop Nets, Fencing, Scoreboard, Gym Structure(Not Equipment), Car Parks, Grass Cutting Machinery, Ball Wall/Alley, Public/Disability Toilets).

 

Link to application form 2026 – Club Grant Development Grant Scheme 2026 – Fill out form

 

Conditions:

  • Grounds must be vested in the G.A.A.
  • Trustees must be appointed in accordance with Rules laid down by the Association.
  • Purchase Grant applications must be lodged with the appropriate Provincial Council within one year of date of purchase.
  • In the case of Purchase Grant, where approval was given based on a “Letter of Undertaking”, payment of grant will be made only on submission of Declaration Of Trust as prescribed at No. 2 above.
  • Facilities to be made available for Primary/Post Primary/3rd Level Games.

 

Club Development Grants – Terms & Conditions

  • Submissions to the scheme must be made via thev online application form only.
  • Each application for funding must be made separately. If a club is applying for two different grants, they must complete the online process twice.
  • Only expenditure of a capital nature (providing a long-term asset) is eligible for support under the Grant Schemes. Expenditure on ongoing maintenance and repairs is excluded.
  • Only development works commenced within the last 2 calendar years will be considered for grant support.
  • Any club applying for grant aid must have their property properly vested in the GAA and provide a declaration of trust as part of their application.
  • All grant applications must be made using the dedicated online application links provided.
  • Grants will only be payable on the submission of all necessary documentation and copies of the paid invoices or receipts for the project:
    • Any other documentation deemed necessary to support an application under any category from time to time.
    • Cash payments will not be valid for grant rebates
  • All applications submitted will be vetted by your county board and by Connacht GAA.
  • For land purchase applications, copy of letters from the National Finance & Management Committee authorising purchase of grounds must be included.
  • Only one application can be made per project. If a club is developing a pitch, this would be viewed as a project. Similarly, if they’re purchasing land, constructing changing rooms, erecting floodlights or building a hurling wall, these would all be viewed as separate projects. All associated works, groundworks, fencing, netting etc can be included with the overall cost of the project to meet the minimum expenditure thresholds outlined.
  • All GAA units in receipt of development grant funding are required to provide the use of their facilities to provincial, county, clubs, schools, colleges, and other GAA units.
  • Clubs found to be submitting incorrect or fraudulent documentation will be subject to sanctions as deemed appropriate by the Council up to and including suspension from the scheme and repayment of monies paid.
  • Certification of works – all works carried out are required to be certified as per current construction regulations and specifications agreed with the relevant contractors where applicable. Evidence of certification must be provided by the contractor/engineer to the club on completion of the project and these certificates must be included as part of the grant application to Connacht GAA.
  • All approved grant payments shall be made in favour of the applicant club and will be paid out via EFT.
  • Confirmation of any additional grant aid being received by the Club for the project must be notified with the grant application.
  • A completed Health and Safety statement for club grounds and facilities must be updated to reflect the additional facilities and forwarded onto your County Safety & Facilities Officer.
  • Club accounts from the previous two financial year must be submitted.
  • Evidence must be provided to show that building contractors insurance has been supplied to the insurance department in Croke Park (Sinead Leavy).
  • Clubs will be required to submit their EFT details. A payment will be made electronically if the application is deemed successful.

 

Category 1 Grants – Land Acquisition

  • The level of Land acquisition grant shall be 20% of eligible expenditure to a maximum grant of €30,000.
  • There is a minimum expenditure of €50,000 required to qualify for this category. A purchase is considered as one purchase, no matter how many folio numbers are involved. A club that receives a purchase grant to the maximum of €30,000 will not be entitled to a purchase grant for another 2 years.
  • The land being purchased must be for the purpose of pitch development, facilities development, or hurling wall development. In other words, land being used for the playing and development of the games will only be funded.
  • It must be established that the ground the subject of the application is vested in the Association and the property is held in trust under a current and adequate Deed of Trust.
  • The Registered File Plan Folio of the property must be provided, or the ‘dealing number’ in the case of property that is in the process of being registered with the Land Registry or equivalent documentation or certification in the case of unregistered land.
  • Compliance is required on any new regulations deemed necessary by Central Council.
  • The amount of the purchase price of the ground is certified by way of Contract or Deed of Transfer or certification by the Solicitor or Estate Agent dealing with the sale.
  • Permission for purchase must be granted by County Board, Provincial Council and National Finance & Management Committees (NFMC). A copy of letter from the NFMC authorising purchase of grounds must be submitted with the club’s grant application.

 

Category 2 Grants – Initial Grass Pitch Development and/or Full size Artificial Pitch Development(including pitch enclosure)

  • The level of grant shall be up to 20% of eligible expenditure to a maximum grant of €20,000.
  • Applications under this category are confined to the construction of new playing pitches only.
  • Clubs cannot apply under this category on the same project for a two-year period after having received such a grant.
  • It must be established that the ground the subject of the application is vested in the Association and the property is held in trust under a current and adequate Deed of Trust.
  • The Registered File Plan Folio of the property must be provided, or the ‘dealing number’ in the case of property that is in the process of being registered with the Land Registry or equivalent documentation or certification in the case of unregistered land.
  • The total claimed expenditure is fully vouched and the works are certified, completed and available for use at time of application.

 

Category 3 Grants- Pitch Development (Artificial Pitches)- 10% to a maximum of €10,000

  • The level of grant is 10% of eligible costs to a maximum of €10,000.
  • Applications under this category are confined to the construction of new pitches and redevelopment to existing pitches. This grant is intended for the development of facilities directly associated with the playing of the games.

 

Category 4 Grants- Construction of Changing Rooms & Gyms

  • The level of grant shall be up to 20% of eligible expenditure to a maximum grant of €20,000.
  • Applications under this category are confined to the construction of new facilities. However, extensions to existing facilities will be considered.
  • Clubs cannot apply under this category on the same project for a two-year period after having received such a grant.
  • It must be established that the ground the subject of the application is vested in the Association and the property is held in trust under a current and adequate Deed of Trust.
  • The Registered File Plan Folio of the property must be provided, or the ‘dealing number’ in the case of property that is in the process of being registered with the Land Registry or equivalent documentation or certification in the case of unregistered land.
  • The total claimed expenditure is fully vouched and the works are certified, completed and available for use at time of application.
  • This grant is intended for the development of facilities directly associated with the playing of the games i.e., changing rooms and gyms.

 

Category 5 Grants- Covered Stand

  • The level of grant shall be up to 20% of eligible expenditure to a maximum grant of €25,000.
  • Applications under this category are confined to the construction of new facilities.

 

Category 6 Grants – Floodlights – LED only

  • The level of grant shall be up to 20% of eligible expenditure to a maximum grant of €20,000.
  • Applications under this category are confined to the erecting of new floodlights on pitches. Pitch lighting levels installed are to be a minimum of 300 Lux and certified to the appropriate standard required.

 

Category 7 Grants – Ancillary facilities incl. Dugouts, Ball Stop Nets, Fencing, Scoreboard, Gym Structure(Not Equipment), Car Parks, Grass Cutting Machinery, Ball Wall/Alley, Public/Disability Toilets).

  • The level of grant shall be up to 10% of eligible expenditure to a maximum grant of €3000.
  • The premises that is subject of the application must be vested in the Association and the property is held in trust under a current adequate Deed of Trust.
  • The Registered File Plan Folio of the property is provided, or the ‘dealing number’ in the case of property that is in the process of being registered with the Land Registry or equivalent documentation or certification in the case of unregistered land.
  • Compliance is required on any new regulations deemed necessary by Central Council.
  • The total claimed expenditure is fully vouched as required.
  • All works are required to be fully certified as per current construction regulations.
  • All works are completed and available for use at time of application.
  • All electrical works are required to be Certified to IS 10101.2020 A Certificate will need to be provided by the Electrical Contractor.

 

Please note that the level of grant aid for category 7 applications will vary depending on the number of applications received.

Club development grant contacts

The contact details for your County Safety & Facilities officer

Galway: Mary Judge

Email: vicechairperson.galway@gaa.ie

Leitrim: Donal Fox

Email: safetyandfacilities.leitrim@gaa.ie

Mayo: Frank Flynn
Email: safetyandfacilities.mayo@gaa.ie

Roscommon: Pat Compton

Email: safetyandfacilities.roscommon@gaa.ie

Sligo: Pauric Clancy

Email: safetyandfacilities.sligo@gaa.ie