Over €56k Allocated for New 3×3 Basketball Courts in Ardee, Dundalk, and Drogheda
Ardee News and Sport – In a major boost for local sports facilities, over €56,000 has been allocated to fund three new 3×3 basketball courts in Ardee, Dundalk, and Drogheda. The funding is part of a broader national investment under the new Participation Nation Outdoor Fund, announced by the Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education, and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD.
The announcement is part of a larger €2.26 million allocation that will benefit 30 Local Sports Partnerships across Ireland. The funds aim to enhance permanent sports infrastructure on public land, fostering greater community involvement in physical activity.
Minister Byrne emphasised the importance of this investment in driving sport participation, especially in local communities. “This is a new fund which seeks to increase participation levels by assisting Local Sports Partnerships with the purchase and installation of barrier-free sports infrastructure,” he said. “The goal is to make sport more accessible to everyone, and the 3×3 basketball courts are just one example of the exciting projects coming to towns like Ardee, Dundalk, and Drogheda.”
The fund aligns with the Government’s target of achieving 60% overall participation in sport by 2027, as outlined in the Programme for Government. With a focus on barrier-free sport infrastructure, the initiative supports the development of facilities that are open and accessible to the public, encouraging physical activity in local communities. Alongside basketball courts, the fund will support other projects, such as outdoor soccer tables, table tennis, and gym equipment.
Minister Byrne also highlighted that Budget 2025 marked a significant moment for Irish sport, with the sport budget doubled compared to 2018 levels, two years ahead of schedule. He praised the Local Sports Partnerships for their role in advancing these projects and thanked Sport Ireland for its work in administering the fund.
The new basketball courts are expected to be completed in the coming months, bringing valuable new facilities to Ardee and the surrounding areas, and encouraging local residents to engage in physical activity for years to come.