Arising from the launch of Team Ireland Golf Trust last September, 18 professionals were yesterday awarded grants totalling £190,000 by the Minister for Sport, Jim McDaid. It is intended that this financial support should help them reach their full potential in paid ranks.
As it happens, two of them will also be receiving funding from a separate, government source. According to the Minister, Paddy Gribben and Raymond Burns will be eligible for assistance from the Northern Ireland Sports Council. There are only two women, Aideen Rogers and Barbara Hackett, who are members of the Ladies' European Tour.
Interestingly, another of the recipients is a 27-year-old Scot. Edinburgh-born Neil Manchip, winner of the Smurfit Irish Professional Championship at The Island last October, is currently employed by Leonard Owens as the head teaching professional at Royal Dublin.
The recipients are: £25,000 - Gary Murphy (Kilkenny), Keith Nolan; £20,000 - Richard Coughlan, Aideen Rogers, Peter Lawrie; £10,000 - David Higgins, Paddy Gribben, Daimen McGrane; £5,000 - Graham Spring, Barbara Hackett, Sean Quinlivan, Raymond Burns, Neil Manchip, Francis Howley, Brian Omelia, Gary Murphy (Cork), Conor Mallon, John Kelly.
For each of its first three years in operation, the Trust will receive its funding from three sources - £50,000 from Government funds at the Minister's disposal, £50,000 from the Irish Sports Council and £90,000 from the private sector. Meanwhile, the Sports Council will give the recipients access to the facilities at the University of Limerick.
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