Mayo club awarded significant sum for facility upgrades
Now in its fifth year, the Texaco Support for Sport initiative – organised by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand – sees a fund of €130,000 set aside annually for allocation in equal amounts of €5,000 to successful applicants chosen on a county-by-county basis.
Westport United Football Club has been chosen as the winners of the Mayo County award in this year’s Texaco Support for Sport initiative.
€5,000 has been presented to the Club to help extend the clubhouse and add new stand-alone changing rooms.
Founded in 1911, Westport United FC has played a focal role at the heart of its community for the past 114 years. Today, the club caters for some 700 members and fields over 40 teams for girls, boys, women and men. Each week, it runs a ‘Football for All’ initiative, providing the opportunity for those with additional needs to participate in activities.
Now in its fifth year, the Texaco Support for Sport initiative – organised by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand – sees a fund of €130,000 set aside annually for allocation in equal amounts of €5,000 to successful applicants chosen on a county-by-county basis.
Previous Mayo winners were Tourmakeady Handball Club (2021), Ballina Tennis Club (2022), Lake District Athletic Club, Ballinrobe (2023) and Ballina Boxing Club (2024).
Congratulating the county winners on the immense contribution that they make to the heart of community life in Ireland, James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited was particularly praiseworthy of the unstinting work of club officials and volunteers, and noted that “since its inception, we are proud to have distributed almost €650,000 to a variety of more than 125 sports clubs under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative.”
Overseeing the judging process was Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, former Irish rugby international and well-known broadcaster, Donncha O’Callaghan. Commenting, he said: “As adjudicator – and from my knowledge of sport gained at junior, senior and international level – the most reassuring aspect of the Texaco Support for Sport initiative is that it gives clubs rare access to funds which are not linked to popularity, membership size or success.” Describing the Mayo club as ‘a very worthy winner’, he went on to add: “Congratulations to all at Westport United Football Club – a club which is at the very centre of its community. I’m delighted that the Texaco award will help to provide changing rooms to cater for its increasing female membership and am looking forward to seeing the next ‘Girls In Green’ from Westport United in the future.”
