Ballymoney Ladies' Hockey Club Archives – Community Finance Ireland

Castletown GAA Club has become the latest recipient of Community Finance Ireland’s (CFI) Community Fit Giveaway, receiving a sponsored training kit worth €1,000. The initiative, launched by CFI in late 2024, aims to support grassroots sports clubs across Ireland, reinforcing the essential role they play in their communities. Each quarter, the scheme awards €1,000 to a club in the Republic of Ireland and £1,000 to a club in Northern Ireland to assist with acquiring vital training equipment.

At a special presentation, representatives from Castletown GAA, including the under-14 girls’ team, gathered to receive the equipment from CFI’s Head of Community Finance (ROI), Barry Symes. Also present at the event were Club Chairman Paddy Flood and Máire Halvey, who highlighted the significance of the donation.

Máire Halvey, who selected the under-14 girls’ team for the prize, expressed her excitement about the impact of the giveaway:

“The Community Fit Giveaway is a fantastic initiative, and I’m delighted to nominate the under-14 girls’ team at Castletown GAA as chosen recipients. This team embodies the dedication and passion that grassroots sports are all about. The new training kit will help them feel more united and prepared, and it’s wonderful to see them benefit from this support. A huge thank you to Community Finance Ireland for making this possible.”

Community Fit Giveaway Community Finance Ireland Castletown GAA — Photographed at Castletown GAA Club, and being presented with their free training equipment are left to right: Máire Halvey, Jessica Blackwell under 14 team player & Barry Symes Head of Community Finance (ROI)

Speaking at the presentation, Paddy Flood, Chairman of Castletown GAA Club, also expressed his gratitude:

“Our club has a deep-rooted commitment to developing young players and fostering a love for the game. The Community Fit Giveaway from Community Finance Ireland allows us to provide better resources for our under-14 girls’ team. It’s not just about the training kits – it’s about the sense of pride and belonging they instil in our players. We are truly grateful to Máire for selecting our Club, to club member Eilis Kinsella Kavanagh for co-ordinating matters and to CFI for their ongoing support of grassroots sports.”

Barry Symes, Head of Community Finance (ROI), reaffirmed CFI’s dedication to investing in local sports initiatives:

“At Community Finance Ireland, we believe that sport is a powerful driver of social inclusion and community development. Castletown GAA Club embodies the spirit of teamwork, dedication, and resilience. We are delighted to support them and look forward to seeing the positive impact this initiative has on their players.”

The Community Fit Giveaway has already made a tangible difference to local clubs, with Ballymoney Ladies’ Hockey Club in Northern Ireland being the first recipient. Their club benefitted from sponsored kit bags and all-weather jackets, ensuring their players are well-equipped throughout the season.
For grassroots clubs looking to benefit from this initiative, Community Finance Ireland encourages applications through their mailing list. If your sports team could use support, sign up today and be in with a chance to receive the next Community Fit Giveaway award.

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Ballymoney Ladies’ Hockey Club have become the first recipient of Community Finance Ireland’s Community Fit Scheme. Nominated by Alliance Party Councillor Lee Kane, the club has received sponsored kit bags and all-weather jackets from Community Finance Ireland (CFI).

The Community Fit scheme launched by Community Finance Ireland in late 2024 is an opportunity for CFI to give back to grassroots sports clubs who are an integral part of the social finance infrastructure. Each quarter the scheme awards £1,000 to a club in Northern Ireland and €1,000 to a club in the Republic of Ireland towards the acquisition of sponsored team kit items by means of a giveaway.

Ballymoney Hockey Club was set up by two Dalriada students Eilish Gillan and Jayne Thompson in 1984 as an outlet for girls and women who wanted to play hockey. In the intervening years the club has grown from strength to strength and the club now fields four teams and boast over 200 minis and juniors members.

Community Fit Community Finance Ireland Giveaway Sports Clubs Grassroots — *Young ladies of the Ballymoney Hockey Club during a recent practice session. **Photo credit:** Brian Morrison.*

The club has achieved major successes over the years including winning the Irish Senior Cup in 2001 and more recently the European Club of the Year in 2021. The club’s players Lynsey McVicker, Bridget Cleland, Katie Mullan, Megan Frazer have all gone on to captain the Ireland team and 13-year-old Sammy Jo Greer became the youngest goalkeeper in Ulster and Irish Hockey’s history.

Emma Creelman, Treasurer of Ballymoney Ladies’ Hockey Club, says the equipment provided by CFI was a huge help for the club. She said:

“The new kit bags and all-weather jackets will make a massive difference to the girls and women on the team. Playing hockey outdoors in the winter months can be tough going and having the new jackets in particular will help us keep warm during training sessions. It means that the money that we would have spent on these items can be redirected to other areas of the club. A huge thank you to Cllr Kane and Community Finance Ireland.”

Community Fit Community Finance Ireland Giveaway Sports Clubs Grassrooots — **(L to R):** Alliance Party Councillor Lee Kane, Ballymoney Hockey Club Treasurer Emma Creelman, Group Chief Executive of Community Finance Ireland Donal Traynor and Ballymoney Hockey Club Chairperson Elizabeth Moreland. **Photo credit:** Brian Morrison.

Donal Traynor, Group Chief Executive for Community Finance Ireland who visited the Club earlier this month to present them with their new kit items, said:

“At Community Finance Ireland, we are delighted to support Ballymoney Hockey Club with sponsored equipment that empowers them to grow their success on the field. The club’s commitment to providing a sporting facility for the local community of Ballymoney aligns perfectly with our mission to invest in sporting initiatives that drive positive social change.”

If you are involved in your local sports team and want to be considered for future Community Fit awards, sign up to Community Finance Ireland’s mailing list here to be eligible.