Cork training ground for Olympic rowers gets €440,000 boost

The National Rowing Centre in Farran, the training ground for Cork’s Olympians, has been awarded €440,000 as part of an allocation of nearly €630k for the Cork Local Sports Partnership.

Nationally, €33.36m in funding for sporting organisations, through Sport Ireland, was announced this week, the highest ever level of core investment in sport, representing a 6.5% increase on 2025 levels and an 87.4% increase on the €17.8m investment in 2018.

This year marks the first year of Sport Ireland’s three-year multi-annual funding model, a transformative development that will support improved planning, workforce stability, and more strategic use of resources within sports organisations.

The record Cork allocation is made up of €604,691 in core and programme funding and a further €23,500 specifically towards women in sport.

The funding marks an 83% increase since 2018, and the funding to Rowing Ireland based at the National Rowing Centre in Farran, the training ground for the Olympic rowers, was more than double the 2018 allocation.

The funding will further enhance the capacity of Local Sports Partnerships in Cork, ensuring communities, particularly those in disadvantaged areas, are supported and empowered through accessible and inclusive programmes.

Fianna Fáil TD Aindrias Moynihan welcomed the allocations.

“The Local Sports Partnerships are focused on promoting lifelong physical activity, increasing participation, and strengthening community partnerships across County Cork.

“The Sports Partnership continues to deliver excellent outcomes in the areas of community health, wellbeing and social cohesion by ensuring sport and physical activity are accessible to everyone.”