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Fundraising is one of the key income sources for GAA clubs. Unlike most mainstream lenders, Community Finance Ireland takes fundraising and projected fundraising into account when considering applications for finance for GAA projects.

Our recent #Supporting Clubs On and Off the Pitch Webinars hosted by Aisling O’Reilly Off the Ball Sports Journalist and featuring some of the best GAA clubs in our communities, offered some really insightful and diverse ways that GAA clubs and volunteers are engaged in helping finance the ambition of their clubs and players.

Here are some of the innovative and most popular fundraising initiatives that are being delivered right across the island of Ireland. You may already have tried these in your club, or you may not but as everybody knows all ideas for financing and keeping the club open and vibrant are always welcome.

1. Club Lotto

Club Lotto remains a big earner for GAA clubs. When Covid struck, volunteers weren’t able to go door to door to sell tickets anymore and a number of clubs moved their lotto activity to online. As one of our clients Jim Codd from Ballyhea GAA in Munster told us, at times the Club Lotto can account for up to 30% of our income.

2. Coffee Mornings and Bake Sales

Who doesn’t love a delicious treat? Host a coffee morning and invite the local community to come along. From Rice Krispie squares and millionaire’s shortcake to cupcakes and brownies, everyone can bring along their baked goods to sell, with the profits going into the club’s coffers.

3. Fundraising Walks

During the pandemic, the activity that saw the biggest rise in participation was walking. As a result clients like Knockananna GAA (Co. Wicklow) and Kilcoo GAA (Co. Down) invested in off pitch facilities such as floodlit walkways. Our own Client Relationship Manager for Munster Nora Keogh said that sponsored fundraising walks are a great source of income for GAA clubs as well as great family events:

“My daughter’s football club in West Limerick has the sponsored walk back again this year. The kids are delighted to go out and get €2 off each of their relatives for taking part. It’s only a small amount but it all adds up. It’s great to see and it’s a great family event on the day.”- Nora Keogh, Community Finance Ireland.

4. Golf Classics

The GAA continue to use other sports outside the realm of Gaelic Games to assist with raising funds for their club. One example that our client Jim Codd at Ballyhea GAA referenced was that of a recent Golf Classic, where a combination of players or volunteers created golf teams to compete against each other with all funds raised going back into the club.

5. Strictly Come Dancing Competitions

Add some sequins and sparkle to your fundraising activity with a Strictly Come Dancing style competition. Pair your GAA players with local community volunteers and sell tickets for a weekly dance off to see who knows their sliotar from their salsa.

6. The 300 Club

After meeting with Community Finance Ireland and setting specific and realistic fundraising targets, Freddie McInerney from Newmarket-On-Fergus GAA Club in Co. Clare explains how they set up a 300 Club:  

“We created a 300 club. We got almost 300 people to sign up over a four year period in which we asked for a donation of €5 per week, €250 a year or a quarterly or sign up on direct debit. People were very generous with some offering €1,000 upfront. We created a team of eight people dedicated solely to this fundraising activity. There were two lads in particular – Thomas Reagan and Darren Dugan who went out and collected probably the bones of €100,000 themselves, talking to people, ringing people, cajoling people and getting them to bring money in. So, in the end we got an awful lot of people signed up.”- Freddie McInerney, Newmarket-On-Fergus GAA.

7. Family Fun Days

With many GAA clubs now the hub of most communities the ability to offer family fun days for their members and their wider community is now a reality. Bouncy castles, Mr Whippy vans, face-painting, arts and crafts and fun and games are almost as likely to be found as the footballs or hurls.

8. Car Boot Sale

It’s an oldie but a goodie, but with us all trying to repurpose or resell rather than put items in landfill the car boot sale is a fantastic way to raise funds as well as reduce waste.

9. Table Quiz

Hosting a table quiz is a simple but effective way to bring in some extra cash and a great way to add some entertainment to the line up at the club house bar. A simple eight round event can be used to test your membership’s knowledge on a variety of subject. Maybe even include a specialist round about your club’s history.

10. Scrap Metal Collections

Scrap metal is valuable in high quantities and rural clubs have been jumping on the opportunity for years. It’s easy to raise money by asking farmers and people in your village for their unwanted scrap metal at a collection point so it can then be sold on. It doesn’t cost the community anything and in fact you’re providing a service that they would otherwise have to pay for.

“When we started fundraising initially, we wanted to find things that are a negative cost to people, so we ran a scrap collection, initially that can bring anything from €2,000 to €10,000 depending on when you are running it and how much people have in their backyards that they want to get rid of.”- Jim Codd, Ballyhea GAA.

Our thanks to all the club members or volunteers who participated in our webinar series this summer and for sharing their insights and experience. If you missed these webinars, don’t worry- you can play them back here. In the meantime we speak finance, but we hear people. Click here and the local client to reach out to the local Client Relationship Manager in your area.

#Supporting Clubs On and Off the Pitch.

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On 9th October 2023, Sport NI opened a new £1million pound capital investment fund which seeks to reduce the environmental impact of sports clubs throughout Northern Ireland and contribute to a more sustainable sports club network.

Funded by The National Lottery, the Renewable Energy Fund will support sports clubs with infrastructure upgrades such as solar energy systems, air and ground source heating systems, sustainable water recycling solutions, and floodlight upgrades.

The Renewable Energy Fund will be delivered as a pilot programme in 2023/24, as Sport NI gathers information on which environmental interventions have the greatest impact within sports clubs. The fund was developed using feedback from sports clubs through Sport NI’s Environmental Sustainability Survey.

Investment will be spread across Northern Ireland with at least one club from each of the 11 council areas being selected to take part. To be eligible, clubs must have completed Sport NI’s Environmental Sustainability Survey.

Phelim Sharvin, Head of Community Finance for Northern Ireland at Community Finance Ireland said:

“I welcome the announcement of this new initiative from Sport NI which will enable sports clubs across Northern Ireland to invest in infrastructure upgrades in line with renewable energy ambitions. Not only will the initiative have a positive impact on the environment but it will reduce clubs’ long term energy costs, allowing them to invest the savings into other areas of the clubs’ development.”

WHO CAN APPLY?

  • The Renewable Energy Fund Pilot Programme will only accept applications from sports organisations in Northern Ireland who either own or operate their own sports facilities.

WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS CAN BE FUNDED?

  • Sport NI are interested in taking forward the following types of energy projects within sports clubs:
  • Solar Energy Systems (and ancillary equipment).
  • Air Source Heating Systems (and ancillary equipment).
  • Ground Source Heating Systems (and ancillary equipment).
  • Sustainable Water Recycling Systems.
  • Fixed Floodlight Upgrades (Specifically upgrades to LED Bulbs and Connection to Grid).
  • Sport NI may consider alternative interventions if recommended in your club energy audit, and if the benefits of that intervention have been clearly articulated.

If you are ready to apply to the Sport NI Renewable Energy Fund, click here for more details.

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– Community Finance Ireland delivers almost €1 million of financial support in Cork since 2016 –

Na Piarsaigh GAA, a thriving football and hurling club with almost 800 playing members, is looking to the future with further expansion plans, after support from Community Finance Ireland (CFI) enabled the club to restructure existing bank debt.

First founded by a group of local schoolboys, Na Piarsaigh GAA Club has been at the centre of the Fairhill community in Co. Cork since 1943. As the club prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary, the board are outlining plans for further expansion to meet the demands of a growing membership.

During the recession, the club experienced financial difficulties, which former Club Chairman Denis O’Neill says led to an anxious time for the board:

“The recession hit us badly, we fell back on payments and were very worried. When we dealt with the bank, they were dealing with us like we were a business. It was at that time that James O’Connor, Selector and Club Accountant at Na Piarsaigh, brought Community Finance Ireland to the attention of the Board.”

Na Pairsaigh GAA Sports Capital Grant Community Finance Ireland
At Na Piarsaigh GAA club Grounds Fairhill Cork City are L to R:) Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (local player & legend); Nora Keogh, CFI Client Relationship Manager Munster and Daire Connery (current club legend). As the club restructures its finances with CFI support and advice all looks well for the future legacy of this fantastic volunteer led GAA Club.

Community Finance Ireland provides social finance loans to community and volunteer-led organisations that drive social impact through sport, community projects, faith-based groups, and social enterprises. Operating a model similar to traditional credit unions, all loan repayments go toward supporting other communities across Ireland. CFI provided Na Piarsaigh Hurling and Football Club with a long-term loan of €500,000 to restructure their existing bank loans.

Club Chairman Na Piarsaigh GAA Denis O’Neill said:

“I particularly like that Community Finance Ireland are a non-profit organisation. CFI understand that we are volunteers who just want to provide quality sports services for our local community. They understand where we are coming from and the challenges we faced as a voluntary board.”

Nora Keogh, CFI Client Relationship Manager for the Munster Region, said:

“Na Piarsaigh are an important hub for the local community with members playing at under six right up to senior level. Beyond the players and their families, the club also offers accessible facilities to the wider community through hire of the hall, and their indoor arena, the first of its kind to be built in Ireland which is a great source of pride for the club. We’re delighted to have helped the club refinance and find a pathway to become debt free. The legacies of the recession still have a hold on many clubs across Ireland and we’re proud to help them pave a way forward so that like Na Piarsaigh, they can plan for the future, rather than feel bogged down by the past.”

O’Neill says the club hopes to develop new facilities for the local community and upgrade the public walkway. They hope to secure adjacent land to accommodate an additional training pitch.

Between 2016 and 2022, Community Finance Ireland delivered €7.8m in social finance supports to volunteer and community-led organisations in Munster, including €0.8m in support of projects in Cork.

A total of £16.9m (€18.5m) has been allocated to 162 sports clubs and organisations across Ireland between 2016 and 2022.

If your club is  looking for finance, get in touch today or follow us on Twitter.  

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At Community Finance Ireland 37% of our loan portfolio is made up of organisations from the sporting sector. So our team spend a lot of time talking to and walking with those in their local communities who see sport as a means to offer opportunities, address rural decline and also help personal and community fitness.

Each has a very hands-on approach when it comes to working with our clients. We put people first. When our clients call with a query, they hear a familiar voice at the end of the phone. They know the face who is at the other end of an email. Our change-makers are on the ground, supporting communities, meeting clients and making an impact in their regions.

We speak finance but we hear people – So, we thought you might like to hear their own thoughts on what a sporting change-maker might look like and also their own sporting stories.


Emmett O'Hara Sports

Our next Change-Maker is Emmett O’Hara, Head of Community Finance RoI, from Bettystown. Working with clients like Father Manning Gaels, Hercules Club and Athlone Town AFC in Longford, Dublin and Westmeath, Emmett is passionate about all sports.


What has been your own involvement in sports?

I played rugby and hurling in my younger years.  I now coach my son Matthew’s under 9 soccer team (Donacarney Celtic). My daughter Lily also plays GAA for St. Colmcille’s in Bettystown, where my wife Miriam is also involved on the coaching side.

What client or local sporting clubs do you admire and why?

I admire our client the Hercules Club which is based in the North Inner City Dublin. The club has been in operation since 1935 and despite a number of moves has built a strong legacy with generations of weightlifters and boxers involved.

We also have a number of GAA clubs who make such an impact in their local area at every level – sporting, social and also community. Ones that come to mind include Kiltegan GAA, Lough Lene Gaels and Mount Nugent GAA.

Who is your sporting hero and is there a particular reason?

Kenny Dalglish would be a long term hero of mine, not only because he was such a great player and manager but also because of the efforts that he made in the aftermath of the Hillsborough tragedy by attending every funeral to help those families who had lost loved ones, with their grief.

How has sport helped you/ your family/ community personally?

Sport is a huge part of the local community in Bettystown. There is a very diverse range of sports available to play including GAA, soccer, athletics and given the sea side location – swimming, paddle boarding, kite surfing and also recently beach volleyball.

Sport brings people together and I think this has been illustrated over the span of the pandemic when we have needed those networks more than ever, and volunteers have stepped up with new and innovative ways to develop clubs and build communities.

Finally on a scale of 1 (average) to 5 (excellent) how do you rate your own fitness?

The kids are a lot fitter than I am, I’m happy enough to cheer from the sidelines.


If you and your team, have a dream that could make a difference in your community, we’re here to listen. Whether you want to change something by solving a problem or creating an opportunity, we want to hear what you have to say. Get in touch with us today.

Share this article:

At Community Finance Ireland 37% of our loan portfolio is made up of organisations from the sporting sector. So our team spend a lot of time talking to and walking with those in their local communities who see sport as a means to offer opportunities, address rural decline and also help personal and community fitness.

Each has a very hands-on approach when it comes to working with our clients. We put people first. When our clients call with a query, they hear a familiar voice at the end of the phone. They know the face who is at the other end of an email. Our change-makers are on the ground, supporting communities, meeting clients and making an impact in their regions.

We speak finance but we hear people – So, we thought you might like to hear their own thoughts on what a sporting change-maker might look like and also their own sporting stories.


Donal Traynor Sports

Our next Change-Maker is Donal Traynor, Group CEO from Meath. Working with clients like Craughwell AC, Illies Golden Gloves Boxing Club and Dublin Cliffhangers nationally, Donal is passionate about Gaelic football.


What has been your own involvement in sports?

I’ve been involved in Gaelic football at many levels including; Club Senior Championship (Killinkere), Ulster Colleges MacRory Cup (St. Patrick’s College Cavan); and UCD Football League. More recently though this has reduced to Dads ‘n’ Lads (over 40s) Gaelic football (Navan O’Mahony’s GAC) and tag rugby (Navan RFC).

What client or local sporting clubs do you admire and why?

Craughwell AC are just one example of many clubs with great vision and a committed team to dream big. A calculated phased approach to development, underpinned by solid local crowd funding has witnessed not just the emergence of improved facilities, but also substantial membership growth, with regional and national successes to show for it all each year.

Who is your sporting hero and is there a particular reason?

Katie Taylor. She imagined winning an Olympic gold medal in a sport that didn’t even exist at that level. Like Community Finance Ireland, she was keen to ensure this was felt rather than simply dreamt, and led the way for that dream to become a reality.

How has sport helped you/ your family/ community personally?

Sport has had a profound impact on me personally. Important life lessons that sport has taught me over the years include: the importance of team work and knowing that you are only ever as strong as the weakest among you. Realising you will never win them all, but the victories when they come, are to be truly appreciated. You learn more from losing than can ever be gained from victory. Realising that the local club will always be like an extended family, a unit both you and your family can always rely on in times of trouble.

Finally on a scale of 1 (average) to 5 (excellent) how do you rate your own fitness?

3, it’s good at the minute, but that can always change…


If you and your team, have a dream that could make a difference in your community, we’re here to listen. Whether you want to change something by solving a problem or creating an opportunity, we want to hear what you have to say. Get in touch with us today.

Share this article:

At Community Finance Ireland 37% of our loan portfolio is made up of organisations from the sporting sector. So our team spend a lot of time talking to and walking with those in their local communities who see sport as a means to offer opportunities, address rural decline and also help personal and community fitness.

Each has a very hands-on approach when it comes to working with our clients. We put people first. When our clients call with a query, they hear a familiar voice at the end of the phone. They know the face who is at the other end of an email. Our change-makers are on the ground, supporting communities, meeting clients and making an impact in their regions.

We speak finance but we hear people – So, we thought you might like to hear their own thoughts on what a sporting change-maker might look like and also their own sporting stories.


Lita Notte Sports

Our next Change-Maker is Lita Notte, Head of Marketing and Communications from Cork City and living in the idyllic Carlingford.


What has been your own involvement in sports?

As a young child/teenager I got involved in sport as it was the only real way to have some time and chats with my Dad – who played football until he was actually 48 and his legs failed. I spent many cold dark evenings running behind him as he was a key volunteer for the local Togher Athletics Club.

Athletics and basketball were my sports of choice. I won some medals and captained my secondary school basketball team in Cork City. Tuesday and Thursday nights were training and Saturday was usually a game or a run somewhere – all of which was organised by parents and local teachers. I guess I didn’t realise then that they ultimately were the volunteering community who helped us all have fun and find friends whilst staying happy and safe.

What client or local sporting clubs do you admire and why?

Our client Finn Valley FC in Donegal is a wonder to me. With my background in athletics I understood first-hand how that type of facility would help all the athletics around the hinterland feel like they could run at any speed and at any length. It was a stark contrast to the training facilities available to us in Cork back in our day. The team here focus on fostering opportunity and that is also to be admired. Opportunities exist for all their members to strive for excellence and compete to their personal best. They really have built a world class sporting facility that you would expect in a capital city – not a rural location in Ireland.

Who is your sporting hero and is there a particular reason?

Martina Navratilova tennis champion extraordinaire. She helped put female tennis on a level playing field. Both on the court and off it she was a trailblazer. It’s thanks to athletes like her that pay differences were addressed and that physical strength not just prettiness was the new norm. Her story off court was just as exemplary – her quiet but effective method of promoting differences and protecting athletes’ private lives from intrusion, were ahead of her time. Sport and sometimes our communities need role models that push us to accept who we are is really all we need to be. Nowadays when watching Wimbledon on TV I’m thrilled to see her front and centre in the BBC commentary panel. She was and is a voice for all independent and confident women.

How has sport helped you/ your family/ community personally?

Although I don’t compete anymore or even play sport much these days (sea swimming is my new fix) I remember how sport helped us a family have fun and be together. It definitely helped me understand the importance of teamwork. My family continue to connect across sporting events (recent Olympics was a great Whatsapp driver) and when I see local cars pulling kids up outside local pitches or clubs I’m reminded that both memories and adults are being made right there.

Finally on a scale of 1 (average) to 5 (excellent) how do you rate your own fitness?

I think I can only be honest and give myself a 2+ at this stage. But it means I have something to strive for – and as any sporting enthusiast will tell you having something to strive for is the best situation to be in.


If you and your team, have a dream that could make a difference in your community, we’re here to listen. Whether you want to change something by solving a problem or creating an opportunity, we want to hear what you have to say. Get in touch with us today.

Share this article:

At Community Finance Ireland 37% of our loan portfolio is made up of organisations from the sporting sector. So our team spend a lot of time talking to and walking with those in their local communities who see sport as a means to offer opportunities, address rural decline and also help personal and community fitness.

Each has a very hands-on approach when it comes to working with our clients. We put people first. When our clients call with a query, they hear a familiar voice at the end of the phone. They know the face who is at the other end of an email. Our change-makers are on the ground, supporting communities, meeting clients and making an impact in their regions.

We speak finance but we hear people – So, we thought you might like to hear their own thoughts on what a sporting change-maker might look like and also their own sporting stories.


Nicky McElhatton Sports

Our next Change-Maker is Nicky McElhatton, Marketing and Social Media Executive from Coalisland in Co. Tyrone. Nicky is a self-proclaimed couch potato but he has recently tried to change that.


What has been your own involvement in sports?

At school, P.E. was my least favourite subject. I would always conveniently ‘forget’ my P.E. kit so I didn’t have to take part. That was until the teacher announced that the class would be travelling the short distance to Dungannon Leisure Centre for six weeks of swimming. I loved being in the water and was more advanced than most of the class. This was because when I was four, my father had taken me every Saturday to the same pool for ‘Little Duckling’ swimming lessons. It was funny to hear exclamations from my (usually more athletic and sporty) classmates who were surprised that I was actually good at a sport, as I outswam them in the pool.

As an adult I must admit that my involvement in sport has been minimal. That was until recently. Having enjoyed a summer of sport on the TV with the Euros soccer competition, the Olympics, the Paralympics and my native Tyrone impressing on the GAA pitch, I have been inspired to take up some exercise. I quickly downloaded the Couch to 5K app having had it recommended my some of my more exercise-inclined friends. I’m now in Week 9 and already notice a marked difference, not only in my fitness levels, but my stamina, my mood and my mental health. Taking to the nearby Orangefield Park with my partner, sweatbands on, earbuds in and warm up exercises done, the app’s Denise Lewis has coached me three times a week, with incremental increases in run to walk ratio as the weeks go by. By the end of each 30 minute session I am usually out of breath, shins aching but it always feels worthwhile and I’m always looking forward to my next run.

What client or local sporting clubs do you admire and why?

We have such a diverse range of clients spanning many different sports. I always find it interesting when a sport that I know little or nothing about approaches us for assistance in developing their organisation. Niche sports like kayaking, harness racing and cliffhanging are represented in our portfolio with clients like Kilcar Kayaking (Co. Donegal), Irish Harness Racing (Co. Dublin) and Dublin Cliffhangers (Co. Dublin). They truly represent the resilience that exists in the sports sector. They represent sports that may find it more difficult than mainstream sports to leverage funding from traditional sources, often having to fight harder or state their case more emphatically. But they don’t let this get in the way of their passion that they have for their particular sport and they strive to improve their facilities for those in their community who are equally passionate.

Who is your sporting hero and is there a particular reason?

With the Euros dominating the airwaves this summer, I got really into football like I never have before and never missed a match. With Ireland not making the cut in the qualifying stages, I had to look for an alternate national team to support. That’s when I fell in love with Italy and in particular Lorenzo Insigne. He was always at the heart of the action, tirelessly creating goal opportunities for his team and in particular his partner in crime Ciro Immobile. The team had their ups (topping their group with maximum 9 points) and downs (that dicey match with Spain resulting in a penalty shootout) but ultimately they powered through and won their second Euros title, made all the sweeter by the fact that they beat England in the Final.

How has sport helped you/ your family/ community personally?

My whole extended family are mad into the GAA. Always have been and always will be. Growing up we would always have gone to all the Tyrone matches together and never missed one. My dad was always on the phone hunting for tickets for the more sought after games. While my mum’s patience was put to the test trying to organise the three children- making sure our jerseys were cleaned and ironed, that the flasks were filled with tea, that the half time sandwiches and snacks were packed in our picnic bag. This was a special time for us to bond as a family.

With Tyrone’s recent success in the Ulster Final and winning the All Ireland Final, we’ve had the chance to relive those glory days, albeit this year in front of the TV, rather than pitch side. Travelling home to Coalisland for Tyrone’s clash against Mayo, we were all gathered round cheering on the boys in red and white. There has been a bit of discord in the family though, as one of my cousins recently married a Mayo man. When the two counties did battle in the All Ireland final, I’m glad I wasn’t watching in their house.

Finally on a scale of 1 (average) to 5 (excellent) how do you rate your own fitness?

I feel like a 3 is fair assessment. It’s very much a case of a work in progress. While I have started doing my Couch to 5k and I am enjoying it, it’s very much a recent thing. Prior to this I did zero exercise with the exception of the occasional Sunday walk. I also feel like I could be doing more. So I’m hoping to incorporate a weekly swim in the Winter when the weather starts to turn.


If you and your team, have a dream that could make a difference in your community, we’re here to listen. Whether you want to change something by solving a problem or creating an opportunity, we want to hear what you have to say. Get in touch with us today.

Share this article:

At Community Finance Ireland 37% of our loan portfolio is made up of organisations from the sporting sector. So our team spend a lot of time talking to and walking with those in their local communities who see sport as a means to offer opportunities, address rural decline and also help personal and community fitness.

Each has a very hands-on approach when it comes to working with our clients. We put people first. When our clients call with a query, they hear a familiar voice at the end of the phone. They know the face who is at the other end of an email. Our change-makers are on the ground, supporting communities, meeting clients and making an impact in their regions.

We speak finance but we hear people – So, we thought you might like to hear their own thoughts on what a sporting change-maker might look like and also their own sporting stories.


Pauline Carolan Sports

Our next Change-Maker is Pauline Carolan, our Office Administrator living in the wee county of Louth.


What has been your own involvement in sports?

My participation in sport has been varied over the years. It started as a young girl, twirling a baton and marching the roads of Ireland as a majorette. In my teenage years, in secondary school volleyball was a sport I loved and spent weekends competing in tournaments.

I decided a number of years ago, that I wanted to complete a marathon before a big birthday. I ended up completing three, and while I can’t say I enjoyed every minute of it, I have made friends for life and learned some invaluable life lessons along the way. I have also been involved in charity cycles from Dunleer to Ballinasloe (both on the bike and behind the scenes).

What client or local sporting clubs do you admire and why?

Behind every local sporting club and voluntary organisation, is a group of people and volunteers, who give their time and their knowledge, to selflessly help others, and it is these people I admire most. The people who arrive an hour before everyone else to get the pitch ready, the people with their line full of freshly washed team colours, the people who clean up and switch off the lights, long after everyone else has gone home.

Who is your sporting hero and is there a particular reason?

My sporting heroes are local legends David and Aileen ’the Sheriff’ Carrie.  They set up a running group in 2010 to help local people in Dunleer achieve their dream of training for and completing a marathon (with a lot of craic along the way). David is a postman by day, and a running coach by night. He is a former international athlete, and has helped over 1,000 people achieve their dream of completing a marathon (whether you are a turtle or a hare). In the process, hundreds of thousands of euro have been raised for charities.

How has sport helped you/ your family/ community personally?

In recent years, sport has made me realise, that if you put your mind to something, you can achieve anything. 

Finally on a scale of 1 (average) to 5 (excellent) how do you rate your own fitness?

I would say 3 at the moment.


If you and your team, have a dream that could make a difference in your community, we’re here to listen. Whether you want to change something by solving a problem or creating an opportunity, we want to hear what you have to say. Get in touch with us today.

Share this article:

At Community Finance Ireland 37% of our loan portfolio is made up of organisations from the sporting sector. So our team spend a lot of time talking to and walking with those in their local communities who see sport as a means to offer opportunities, address rural decline and also help personal and community fitness.

Each has a very hands-on approach when it comes to working with our clients. We put people first. When our clients call with a query, they hear a familiar voice at the end of the phone. They know the face who is at the other end of an email. Our change-makers are on the ground, supporting communities, meeting clients and making an impact in their regions.

We speak finance but we hear people – So, we thought you might like to hear their own thoughts on what a sporting change-maker might look like and also their own sporting stories.


Barry Symes Sport

Our next Change-Maker is Barry Symes, Client Relationship Manager from Wexford. Working with clients like Kilcock Celtic FC, Mount Leinster Rangers GAA and Edenderry Golf Club in the Leinster Region, Barry Symes is passionate about seeing clubs fulfil their ambitions, whatever that may be.


What has been your own involvement in sports?

I was super fortunate to participate in many sports right across the full spectrum from an early age but unfortunately a double ankle break in my mid-teens put an end to virtually all contact sport from that point on. At this point I turned to golf, where I later became pretty handy getting to a scratch handicap. My sporting involvement and goals these days however are largely played out through my children and my work in Community Finance Ireland with my aim ultimately, is helping all achieve their goals.

What client or local sporting clubs do you admire and why?

It would almost be unfair to single out one club, as all the clubs I am either involved with or have supported have admirable aspirations and are successful in their own right. Overall I would say the more inclusive the club is, the more successful the club is. I am a firm believer in “when everyone plays, we all win”. Inclusivity, regardless of ability, is paramount. If pressed on the matter, I would refer to Kilcock Celtic FC who were one of the founders of the FAI’s Football For All programme – inspiring.

Who is your sporting hero and is there a particular reason?

In a global setting, two individuals stick out. Firstly, as a keen motorsport enthusiast, the legend that is Ayrton Senna was something else. His bravery, tenacity, doggedness, ability to extract performance from himself and machine at times was extraordinary. Regrettably the nature of the man who always pushed the limits and the sport resulted in his loss of life, but thankfully his legacy lives on. Secondly, Roger Federer – I am not sure who invented tennis, but I’m pretty sure when they watch Roger Federer play, they think, “that’s what I’m talking about”.

How has sport helped you/ your family/ community personally?

Sport is so much greater than just the playing of the game or sport. It is often the glue that binds us as players, coaches, supporters, spectators, critics and individuals in our clubs and communities. The very nature of it is also super important not only for our physical well-being but also our mental health where activity is well proven to have a positive impact. It also however plays tricks in thinking we are now capable of keeping up with those actually participating. But it’s all good and no different to many across the country, particularly with Covid, it has been our invaluable escape.

Finally on a scale of 1 (average) to 5 (excellent) how do you rate your own fitness?

Let’s just say, there’s work to be done.


If you and your team, have a dream that could make a difference in your community, we’re here to listen. Whether you want to change something by solving a problem or creating an opportunity, we want to hear what you have to say. Get in touch with us today.

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At Community Finance Ireland 37% of our loan portfolio is made up of organisations from the sporting sector. So our team spend a lot of time talking to and walking with those in their local communities who see sport as a means to offer opportunities, address rural decline and also help personal and community fitness.

Each has a very hands-on approach when it comes to working with our clients. We put people first. When our clients call with a query, they hear a familiar voice at the end of the phone. They know the face who is at the other end of an email. Our change-makers are on the ground, supporting communities, meeting clients and making an impact in their regions.

We speak finance but we hear people – So, we thought you might like to hear their own thoughts on what a sporting change-maker might look like and also their own sporting stories.


Terri Martin Sports

Our next Change-Maker is Terri Martin, our Office Manager and Micro Finance Lead. Living in Co. Louth, Terri is a big advocate for Ladies’ GAA.


What has been your own involvement in sports?

Where I grew up there were limited team sports for girls, so with the help of a few friends we set up a Ladies’ Gaelic Football team with the full the support of Meath Hill GAA Club (Co. Meath), and within a few short years we won the Junior Championship. As a result of this I was asked to trial for Meath Ladies’ at the U16 age group, where we won a Leinster Championship, from there I captained the Meath Ladies’ Minor team who also a Leinster Championship. I then trialled for Meath Ladies’ Junior team, where I successfully got my place on the team. After being beaten by Donegal in the semi-final the previous year, we were lucky enough to go on and win a Junior All Ireland Championship and League title in that same year (I have deliberately left the year out as it might give my age away) I also played soccer at a local level and badminton in the winter time, great to keep you fit in the winter months.

What client or local sporting clubs do you admire and why?

I’m a die-hard supporter of my home club of Meath Hill. Still to this day, I follow them all around the county. It is a small rural club, but we are known for being fierce loyal and always support our team on match days. This creates a kind of belonging to our community. This was demonstrated more than ever during the Pandemic, where there were many volunteers to do shopping, make dinners etc. for those in the community who needed support during hard times.

Who is your sporting hero and is there a particular reason?

Too many too mention, but I have to say with Meath Ladies’ winning the All Ireland Senior final recently – who could not but admire Emma Duggan and Vicki Wall – their sheer determination and will to win is an inspiration to any child or adult who plays sport.

How has sport helped you/ your family/ community personally?

Sport has created many wonderful memories for me, especially those family days out when we would head to Croke Park with three generations packed into a car, playing games, trying to sing songs on route, the obligatory picnic and of course the post-match analysis discussed over a drink on the way home, building bonfires and dancing on the street to celebrate glory days of Sean Boylan’s reign, a distant memory now but we will come good again.

Finally on a scale of 1 (average) to 5 (excellent) how do you rate your own fitness?

Unfortunately 1, average is how I would describe my fitness at present, I spend my time mentoring my children’s Gaelic teams and dropping and collecting from the numerous sports that are available to my kids nowadays, so I’m lucky if I get time to walk the dog.


If you and your team, have a dream that could make a difference in your community, we’re here to listen. Whether you want to change something by solving a problem or creating an opportunity, we want to hear what you have to say. Get in touch with us today.