Zuckerberg's Déise philanthropy: Couple back Waterford GAA clubs in generous donation
Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, together with his wife Priscilla Chan have donated €150,000 to three Waterford GAA clubs.
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have donated €150,000 to the three GAA clubs which are located closest to Strancally Castle in Co Waterford.
It is the couple’s first Irish philanthropic donation since they bought Strancally Castle in August.
The three clubs - Shamrocks GAA in Knockanore, Tallow GAA in Tallow, and Lismore GAA in Lismore - will each receive €50,000. The donations will be paid to the clubs over a two-year period, with each club receiving €25,000 per year.
“The GAA is at the heart of communities across Ireland,” said Mark and Priscilla. “As new members of the Waterford community, we’re proud to support these local clubs and the important role they play.”
Shamrocks GAA has been operating since November 1953, and draws players from the combined parishes of Knockanore, Glendine and Kilwatermoy. It plans to use the funds to help upgrade its dressing rooms.
Its juvenile players – from under 8s to under 20s – are combined with Tallow juveniles and play under the Cois Bhríde name as neither club would typically have enough players to field underage squads.
Tallow GAA Club was founded in 1887 - the club intends to use the funds to promote coaching and games, help build a 100-seater spectator stand and to assist with the tarmacking of the club’s community walkway.
Lismore GAA Club was established in 1897 and intends to use the funds to assist with projects such as proposed floodlighting, new pitch side fencing and a community walkway.
Shamrocks GAA Secretary Tim Lenehan said: “Shamrocks is a small club and this donation will make a huge difference to our fundraising efforts.
On behalf of everyone connected to Shamrocks Hurling and Football Club I’d like to thank Mark and Priscilla for this donation.”
Tallow GAA Treasurer Kieran Geary added: “This is the largest single donation that Tallow GAA has received in its 139-year history, and it will have a hugely positive impact on our club... On behalf of our members, players, supporters, and the wider Tallow community I’d like to thank Mark and Priscilla for their kind donation to Tallow GAA & Camogie Club.”
Meanwhile, Lismore GAA Club is placing the funds in a dedicated development account and they may be used to contribute to capital projects such as proposed floodlighting and a community walkway.
Lismore GAA Secretary Emer Barry said: “We are most grateful to Priscilla and Mark for their generosity to not alone our club, but also to the locality. This donation will help develop our facilities, which in turn will benefit the community at large, most especially the future generations.
"We in Lismore GAA would like to extend a welcome to the Chan Zuckerberg family to the west Waterford area and hope they will have many happy memories here."
