Minister McConalogue joined successful applicants at the Sport Ireland CampusHorse Sport Ireland (HSI) has allocated 75,170 to 15 sporting affiliates under the Participation Grant.This funding will be used by HSI affiliates to target increased participation in equestrian sports across various disciplines.Since 2020, Horse Sport Ireland has distributed 426,170 to affiliates through the Participation Grant.Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport with special responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, joined HSI CEO Denis Duggan, Sport Ireland CEO Dr na May, and HSI Chief Operations Officer Avalon Everett for the funding announcement.Representatives from the Irish Pony Club were also present at the event, which took place at the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown. Among them was Lucy Jo McMahon of the Ward Union Pony Club in County Meath, with her Connemara pony, Ballinlough Addonis.Minister Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport with special responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy; right, with, from left, Denis Duggan, CEO of Horse Sport Ireland; Dr na May, CEO of Sport Ireland; and Lucy-Jo McMahon of the Ward Union Pony Club, onboard Ballinlough Addonis, a connemara pony; during the Horse Sport Ireland participation grant launch. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Support for grassroots participation is key for the development and safeguarding of all sports including equestrian sports, said Minister McConalogue.This is why I am delighted to be in the Sport Ireland Campus for the announcement of Horse Sport Irelands Participation Grant.Equestrian sport across various disciplines is active right across the country and this scheme will see increased participation, youth development and targeted training, said Minister McConalogue.Horse Sport Ireland CEO, Denis Duggan said, 426,170 has been given to HSI affiliates for the last six years across all the sport horse disciplines for targeted projects to help grow their sport by increasing uptake at a local level.Participation at the community level is the cornerstone of the sport horse sector. Without this grassroots engagement and youth development, the sport cannot grow.Over the past number of years, affiliates have implemented really positive programmes using this funding, which have genuinely benefited their specific disciplines and led to improvements in coaching development, female participation initiatives, horse judge training, and much more.Speaking in the Sport Ireland Campus, Dr na May said, Investment in grassroots and youth programmes is vital to see Ireland continue to produce quality high performance athletes.Participation programmes, such as this one delivered by Horse Sport Ireland, help the sport grow and support the development of the next generation of Irish Olympians. HSI Participation Grant Summary 2025HSI AffiliateAssociation of Irish Riding Clubs (AIRC)4,700.00Association of Irish Riding Establishments (AIRE)3,800.00Dressage Ireland5,765.00Eventing Ireland3,300.00Polo Ireland6,500.00Irish Polocrosse Association3,200.00Irish Pony Club (IPC)4,900.00Irish Pony Society (IPS)6,600.00Irish Quarter Horse Association (IQHA)6,600.00Irish Shows Association (ISA)4,500.00Mounted Games Association of Ireland (MGAI)2,800.00Northern Irish Horse Board (NIHB)5,600.00Para Equestrian Ireland (PEI)7,050.00RDA Ireland4,700.00TREC Ireland5,155.00Total75,170The post Horse Sport Ireland announces Affiliate Participation Grant recipients appeared first on .