Football and sport more widely in Ireland, particularly at grassroots level, are some of the strongest forces we have in building communities. Many Deputies were brave enough to wear the football kits of their local clubs today but I could not be seen to be wearing one club over another, particularly in Kildare North where we have so many clubs like, in my own hometown, Maynooth Town Football Club, Celbridge Town AFC, Leixlip United AFC, Confey FC, Kilcock Celtic FC, Ballyoulster United AFC, Straffan AFC, Kill Celtic AFC, Naas AFC, Sallins Celtic FC, Caragh Celtic FC, Clane United AFC and BBC United FC in Broadford. That shows the level of football throughout Kildare North. A lot of those clubs were established in the 1970s and 1980s when Kildare North started to expand and the population was increasing. They deliver so much to their communities. I want to mention in particular Maynooth Town Football Club because Maynooth Men's Shed was at a difficult point last year when it had to vacate the premises it was in. My colleague, Councillor Donna Phelan, and I were contacted by the men's shed and were looking for a new site for it. Councillor Phelan approached Maynooth Town Football Club, as did I, and it was extremely welcoming. Now, a brand new shed, supported by Kildare County Council, is on Maynooth Town Football Club's grounds. That shows the level of community involvement by these football clubs. I also want to mention Klub Kildare. There has been talk of League of Ireland and its expansion. Klub Kildare has the potential to enter senior leagues and become a League of Ireland club. I initially thought that the then Maynooth University Town FC between Maynooth University and Maynooth Town Football Club could be that club, but Klub Kildare, encompassing the entirety of the county, is really the way forward. Two or three years ago, we had St. Patrick's Athletic FC and I thought "St. Brigid's Athletic" would be an apt name for a football club in Kildare. If we get the pathway right for clubs to enter the League of Ireland, it will be able to expand in a sustainable way. We have seen the success and increased numbers attending matches. This is really positive for the homegrown game and for the future. In women's football in particular, there has been an explosion, with Katie McCabe and all the senior women's football team being really inspiring in their match against Poland. On sports capital grants, a lot of clubs are crying out for all-weather pitches. Celbridge Town AFC is looking at an all-weather pitch, as is Ballyoulster. Ideally, every club would have one but we will try to be as constructive and strategic as possible working with these clubs. The most important thing is that, by investing in our sports clubs, be they soccer, GAA, rugby or whatever, we are investing in community infrastructure and the very fabric of our communities. I commend the Minister of State on his work. I thank the volunteers, parents and everybody who contributes to clubs around Kildare.

Sentiment score: 0.21