CASH BOOST FOR COUNTY DOWN SPORTS CLUB: Richard Maguire from East Belfast GAA celebrate a win of £500 being awarded to the club as part of the Boost Sport Grant from Boost Drinks. 

A new grass-roots sport initiative - Boost Sports Grant scheme - established by Boost Drinks has awarded East Belfast GAA with £500 to help achieve their goals after a very tough year in sport. 

A total of seven NI clubs each received a cash boost from the soft drink leader which also included an overall winner - Malone Rugby Football Club Women’s Team who were awarded £2000.  

County winners were made up of Lurgan Town FC from County Armagh, Speed Development Project Track Club from County Londonderry, St Mary’s GAC Aghagallon from County Antrim, East Belfast GAA from County Down, Artigarvan FC from County Tyrone and Enniskillen Royal Boat Club from County Fermanagh. 

Covid-19 restrictions have put a huge burden onto sports clubs this year with lack of income being gained to support and run much loved community-based grass-roots clubs so Boost Drinks made sure to help by providing an essential boost in funds to seven clubs. 

Over 50 applications were received from across NI before a judging panel selected a well-deserving overall winner and six county winners.  

East Belfast GAA caught the judges attention and was chosen as the County Down winner due to their cross community offering with a commitment for inclusivity and public wellbeing.   

Richard Maguire, Chairman, East Belfast GAA describes the delight at winning: “This Boost Drinks Grant of £500 will be used to support grassroots sport in East Belfast.  

As Gaelic games have been reinvigorated in the East Belfast area during the lockdown the numbers of adult players has reached almost 400. This grant will be used to provide equipment and excellent playing facilities to make the players’ experience as enjoyable as possible. The club is striving to add to the health and wellbeing of all people in East Belfast and we are delighted to have Boost's support in this.” 

Boost Marketing Director, Adrian Hipkiss said: “This initiative was very important to us as we appreciate times have been difficult for many in NI and sports have taken a big hit with little support. 

“All the judges were so impressed by the applicants. It is very clear that Northern Ireland has sporting talent in abundance – which we want to help nurture.  

“On behalf of Boost we want to wish all the Boost Sport Grant recipients congratulations and good luck for the future,” continued Adrian.