A fund worth €635,000 will be used to encourage older people to take part in more sport and physical activities, it was announced today.
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue today unveiled the Irish Sports Council plan, which will see €300,000 allocated to local organisations and the remainder used to enable older people to become sports leaders in their communities.
Active retirement associations, senior citizens clubs, ICA guilds, sports clubs, day centres and community centres are among 541 groups across the country who will receive grants of between €500 and €2,500.
Speaking today, Irish Sports Council chairman Ossie Kilkenny said that research carried out by the ESRI for the council has shown that the relationship between sports participation and good health strengthens as people age.
"Our research proves that people can improve their health considerably by engaging in sport and physical activity as they grow older in years," he said.
Mr O'Donoghue said that physical activity "fostered well-being" and that contact with other people was the best "guarantee for independent living and increasing ability to cope until late in life".