Dingle GAA fundraiser tops €80k as Kerry total hits €200k

The three Kerry clubs which reached this year's All-Ireland club football finals have raised over €200,000 towards their preparations

Kerry champions Dingle face Roscommon's St Brigid's in Sunday's All-Ireland Club SFC final. Pic: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

Dingle GAA club has raised over €80,000 towards their preparations for Sunday's All-Ireland Club SFC final against St Brigid's. That takes the total to over €200,000 raised by the three Kerry clubs which reached this year's All-Ireland club football finals. 

"We’re so grateful for all the donations, thanks to everyone that has contributed," Dingle's Paul Geaney said on social media, while including a link to the club's iDonate page. "I’ll leave this here for anyone that would like to donate, strike while the iron is hot!"

Dingle's west Kerry rivals An Ghaeltacht, who defeated Derry side Glenullin in last Sunday's intermediate decider, raised over €93,000 through  GoFundMe. The fundraiser was set up following their extra-time semi-final win over Sallins in early January.

“We have reached the All-Ireland final for the first time in 22 years,” their message on the website read. “We desperately need financial support to cover the costs of the campaign. Can we count on you? Sprid, Croí, Caid, Teanga.” 

Also on iDonate, Ballymacelligott, victors over Tyrone’s Clogher Éire Óg in the junior final, attracted €26,372. "This incredible achievement comes with unplanned costs – travel, accommodation, training, and preparation," the club explained after setting up the fundraiser. 

Meanwhile, Ulster GAA have welcomed the Northern Ireland Executive’s intention to reflect inflationary pressures in additional funding for Casement Park.

Finance Minister John O’Dowd’s draft budget includes an extra £40m (€46m) for the redevelopment of the Belfast venue, although the budget is subject to public consultation and further consideration.

The figure would bring the secured funding for the stadium to just over £210m (€242m). The executive initially committed £62.5m (€72m) to the project in 2011.

“The Ulster GAA & its Stadium Project Board welcomes the publication of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Draft Budget and the proposed increase in funding for the re-development of Casement Park to take account of inflationary pressures given delays for the project to date,” the provincial council’s statement read.

“This represents a significant and positive step forward in a project that Ulster GAA, alongside many partners, has worked diligently on for a number of years to secure.

“Casement Park is an Executive flagship programme for government priority and a vital piece of sporting and community infrastructure, not only for Gaelic games but for the wider sporting and cultural life of the North.”