Gaelic Games

JP McManus to donate €1m to every GAA county board in massive boost to clubs

Limerick billionaire’s donation will benefit clubs in the GAA, LGFA and Camogie organisations

Limerick hurling manager John Kiely brings the Liam MacCarthy cup to JP McManus in July of this year. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho.
Limerick hurling manager John Kiely brings the Liam MacCarthy cup to JP McManus in July of this year. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho.
Paul Keane
Thu Dec 14 2023 - 12:35

Gaelic games is to receive a major cash boost following the latest donation from Limerick billionaire JP McManus.

It emerged this morning that the long-time backer of Limerick GAA is to donate €1 million to each county in Ireland, to be distributed equally among the GAA, LGFA and Camogie organisations.

It follows another tranche of money which McManus gave five years ago when he donated €100,000 to every GAA county board, amounting to €3.2 million.

His latest donation should be a welcome bonus for boards around the country.

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Limerick GAA has confirmed in a statement that they received the €1 million donation from the McManus family. The South Liberties man is the county’s honorary president and, according to the statement, has directed that the funding be distributed ‘evenly to the GAA, Camogie and Ladies Football clubs within the county’.

[ Gordon Manning: JP McManus’s cash injection will go straight to GAA’s grassroots ]

JP McManus: long-time backer of Limerick GAA is to donate €1 million to each county in Ireland, to be distributed equally among the GAA, LGFA and Camogie organisations Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
JP McManus: long-time backer of Limerick GAA is to donate €1 million to each county in Ireland, to be distributed equally among the GAA, LGFA and Camogie organisations Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho

“Clubs have this morning been notified of the news,” read the statement. “The funds which will be distributed before Christmas will greatly help clubs as they prepare their plans for the 2024 season.”

Limerick GAA chairman Séamus McNamara said that it was an “exceptionally generous donation”.

“The clubs are the bedrock of the GAA and this will help in a time when costs are increasing for clubs to manage their funds,” said McNamara. “We are exceptionally grateful to JP, Noreen & all the McManus family for this fantastic donation.”

News of the McManus gesture was initially reported on Extra.ie and counties areg that hoping the payments materialise with one county chairman stating that, if true, the gesture would amount to “all our Christmases coming at once”.

Presuming that the money is distributed between clubs again, as it was in 2018, the smallest counties with the fewest clubs will benefit most. It will also come as a massive bonus for LGFA and Camogie units.

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