Tyrone proving recession proof

TYRONE’S thriving fund-raising organisation has bucked recessionary trends by pulling in £354,000 (€423,883) in voluntary donations in 2011.

Club Tyrone members dug deep in spite of a difficult economic climate, bringing their total commitment over the past three years to £1m (€1.19).

The £6.7m (€8m) Garvaghey training centre continues to be the main beneficiary of the county’s fundraising activities. But in his annual report, Club Tyrone chairman Hugh McAleer hit out at the failure of government departments to provide financial backing for the project.

“It remains a major concern that neither Sport NI nor DCAL (Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure) have seen fit to contribute even a penny to what is the largest sports/cultural capital project under way anywhere in Ireland. These are unacceptable lapses that simply need to be put right.”