Zuckerbergs donate €150,000 to three GAA clubs near new Waterford home at Strancally Castle

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan bought Strancally Castle in August

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, who have donated €150,000 to three Waterford GAA clubs. Picture: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg 

Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have donated €150,000 to three local GAA clubs near  Strancally Castle in Waterford, which the pair purchased last month.

It is the couple’s first Irish philanthropic donation since they bought Strancally Castle in August. The three clubs - Shamrocks GAA in Knockanore, Tallow GAA in Tallow, and Lismore GAA in Lismore - will each receive €50,000. The donations will be paid to the clubs over a two-year period, with each club receiving €25,000 per year.

“The GAA is at the heart of communities across Ireland,” said Mark and Priscilla. “As new members of the Waterford community, we’re proud to support these local clubs and the important role they play.” 

Shamrocks GAA draws players from the combined parishes of Knockanore, Glendine and Kilwatermoy. It plans to use the funds to help upgrade its dressing rooms. Tallow GAA Club intends to use some of the funds to help build a 100-seater spectator stand and towards tarmacking of the club’s community walkway. Lismore GAA Club intends to use the funds to assist with projects such as proposed floodlighting, new pitch side fencing, and a community walkway.

Mr Zuckerberg, Meta’s billionaire chief executive purchased Strancally Castle with his wife, Ms Chan, in August. The Gothic-style, 440-acre estate is located on the banks of the River Blackwater, near the village of Knockanore in West Waterford. In a statement to the Irish Examiner last month, a spokesperson for Mark Zuckerberg said he and his family "are excited to continue caring for this historic home and look forward to spending time in Ireland, where Meta maintains its international headquarters.”

No price was revealed for the purchase. It is believed that the estate will be used as Zuckerberg’s base while he is in Ireland, which is the European headquarters for Meta and which employs 15,00 people across 80 teams in Ireland. Private investment firm owners Michael and Giancarla Alen Buckley previously purchased the property 25 years ago.

The secretary of Shamrocks GAA Club - which has 200 members -Tim Lenehan said the club is "delighted" to receive the donation. "Shamrocks is a small club and this donation will make a huge difference to our fundraising efforts On behalf of everyone connected to Shamrocks Hurling and Football Club I’d like to thank Mark and Priscilla for this donation.” 

Tallow GAA Club has 400 members. “This is the largest single donation that Tallow GAA has received in its 139-year history, and it will have a hugely positive impact on our club." Tallow GAA Treasurer Kieran Geary said.

Lismore GAA Club Lismore GAA Club has 350 members. "We are most grateful to Priscilla and Mark for their generosity to not alone our club, but also to the locality. This donation will help develop our facilities, which in turn will benefit the community at large, most especially the future generations," said Lismore GAA Secretary Emer Barry said.