Football clubs can apply for share of €300k as part of 2026 Walking Tracks Fund

Sep 22 2026

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI), in partnership with Healthy Ireland, is pleased to announce the launch of the Walking Tracks Ireland fund for 2026, with a total allocation of €300,000.

This figure brings the total available to clubs since 2024 to €1.2million. In total, 40 clubs from around Ireland have benefit from the funding which is specifically targeted at FAI Club Mark accredited clubs.

It enables these grassroots clubs to enhance their existing walking tracks, improve their facilities, and provide accessible exercise options for their local communities.

As part of the 2026 allocation of Healthy Ireland/FAI Walking Track funding a top-up grant is available to clubs who have previously been successful in being awarded funding. This is capped at a maximum of €5,000.

FAI Director of Football John Martin said: “The Healthy Ireland Walking Track Fund has enabled football clubs to be at the heart of the health and wellbeing of their community. Giving our Club Mark Clubs the opportunity to improve facilities through funding and to create more walking routes enables them to foster a culture of activity and health. We thank the Department for allocating more than €1 million since 2024 because this funding is having a huge benefit for our clubs and our local communities.”

Key Details:

Deadline for Submissions: Friday, October 23rd at 17:00
Maximum Funding Available: €25,000
Minimum Funding Available: €10,000
Maximum Top-Grant: €5000
Club Mark: 1- & 2-Star Clubs

Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for this funding, clubs must have an existing walking track.

Examples of projects that qualify for funding include:
Resurfacing an existing grass track to a hardcore/tarmac surface.
Installing lighting to extend the hours of use.
Upgrade and enhance the existing walking track to increase inclusivity and accessibility