Small grants for older‑adult activity

Age & Opportunity has awarded €11,790 to 41 groups in County Mayo for sport and physical-activity projects aimed at older people. (con-telegraph.ie) The announcement was published on Monday, April 13, 2026, under the Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme, which is funded by Sport Ireland. The national scheme is distributing €300,000 this year to more than 1,000 clubs, groups and organisations across Ireland. (con-telegraph.ie) Mayo recipients include Family Carers Ireland Mayo, Irish Wheelchair Association Belmullet, Louisburgh Area Men’s Shed and Islandeady Community Council. Age & Opportunity said the 2026 recipients also include active retirement groups, Irish Countrywomen’s Association branches, Physical Activity Leaders and community associations. (midwestradio.ie) The grants are small by design: the 2026 application form says awards range from €250 to €700. The scheme is meant to help local groups pay for practical costs tied to getting older adults into regular activity. (ageandopportunity.ie) Age & Opportunity describes the programme as financial support for groups that increase participation in recreational sport or physical activity among older people. Its Active programme also links the grants to projects such as Physical Activity Leaders, CarePALs and the Go for Life Games. (ageandopportunity.ie) The Mayo allocation follows a similar pattern in other counties this month. Dublin groups received €33,280 for 115 organisations, while Laois groups received €5,030 for 18 organisations. (dublinpeople.com) (laois-nationalist.ie) The scheme has been running for years. Mayo Sports Partnership said 45 Mayo groups received €13,440 under the same programme in 2025, compared with 41 groups receiving €11,790 in 2026. (mayo.ie) Applications for the 2026 round closed at 12 noon on Friday, February 27, 2026, and the grants are now moving into local projects around the county. In Mayo, that means dozens of community-based groups now have modest funding to run activity sessions for older residents. (ageandopportunity.ie)