Funding to secure future of equine club needs to be sourced

THE longterm future of Clondalkin Equine Club (CEC) is in doubt, and the uncertainty has impacted it’s ability to book in local schools for tours of the facility.

As previously reported in The Echo, funding of €60,000 per year is needed to allow the club to continue to develop, providing invaluable training for youths with horses, and employing workers from the local area.

Established in 2017, the centre caters exclusively for kids aged 10-18 years-of-age – the only such equine club in Ireland that is solely for young people who want to own and learn all about horses in a safe environment.

It has already led to success stories for members, two of whom, Tony Ellis and Luke Byrne, were accepted to the prestigious Racing Academy & Centre of Education (RACE) in the Curragh, a social project that supports young racing apprentices.

Since their public appeal in April, Rachel Maher, Development Manager CEC, said there has been a “lot of goodwill and feedback” from local politicians and representatives, but funding has yet to be sourced.

“At the moment we are still trying to identify funding streams, we have a couple of ideas, hopefully we can sort something out in the next few weeks,” said Rachel.

To help with local fundraising efforts, the club is hosting a race night on Friday, June 10, at the Deadmans Inn, Palmerstown.

Gino Kenny (PBP/Sol), a long-time supporter of an equine club for the wider Clondalkin area, has urged people to “help raise funds for the long-term future of the project”.

“If you would like to attend the event just show up on the night.

If you would like to sponsor a race, please contact me directly,” said Deputy Kenny. Ms Maher said there was a good turnout for a recent open day at the Ballyowen Lane facility, just off Fonthill Road, and believes a “multi-agency” approach may offer the best option at survival.

“We are ticking a lot of boxes. In fairness the Dept Agriculture have been very good.

If we were looking at funding from a few sources, that might work,” she said.

“With the uncertainty, schools are not visiting, because we are not in a position to confirm they can come, and it is the same with people asking about work experience.

We can’t commit and plan too far ahead, it would be unfair on people.”

Pre-covid, the club provided access to stables for children from local schools and youths involved with external agencies, which allowed for therapeutic benefits arising from interaction with horses.