December 6th, 2023
There's some great news for Kilkenny this morning, as I'm delighted to confirm that the Watershed is to receive a significant ‘top up’ grant allocation under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
The popular sports and leisure facility will receive a further €728,000, in addition to the €1.4 million allocation announced in January 2020.
This is a very welcome boost for the Watershed, which is one of just 27 projects nationwide to benefit from this additional funding. With well over half a million visitors and users a year, including members, pay as you go customers, and the large number of clubs, schools and other groups using the pool, sports hall, pitches and track facilities, the Watershed has established itself as a really integral part of Kilkenny’s sport and leisure infrastructure. As a large sports campus, the Watershed has also shown tremendous local leadership in embracing renewable energy and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.
As a hugely popular local amenity and resource for the people of Kilkenny and the wider hinterland, I'm thrilled that the Watershed can now invest further in its on-campus sports facilities so that people of all ages and abilities can benefit from their use.
Additionally, my government and Party colleague Minister Catherine Martin has announced that a new round of the LSSIF will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website in due course. This is fantastic news and a great opportunity for sports facilities across Carlow and Kilkenny to secure vital funding.