Five Roscommon clubs to have new electric vehicle chargers installed at their grounds - News - Roscommon Herald

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Five County Roscommon GAA Clubs will have electric vehicle chargers installed at their grounds as part of EasyGo's selection to help deliver a landmark €15 million government-supported initiative.

St. Brigid's, Fuerty, Tulsk Lord Edwards, Kilbride, and Castlerea St. Kevin's are among 229 sports clubs across the island of Ireland that will benefit from the scheme that is being funded through the Government's Shared Island Initiative and ZEVI infrastructure funding.

Consequently, GAA, rugby, soccer, cricket, golf and other sporting organisations will benefit from fast, reliable 50 kW DC chargers -- bringing vital EV infrastructure into the heart of local communities, including many rural areas.

EasyGo -- the country's largest private EV charging network -- is one of just three suppliers selected under the new scheme, and is offering clubs a zero-cost, profit-sharing partnership.

Participating clubs will receive an attractive commercial offering helping them reinvest in grassroots sport while EasyGo handles installation, maintenance and insurance.

The scheme is expected to significantly expand the EV charging network across both urban and rural areas across the whole island over the coming year. While the clubs eligible for the current scheme have already been selected, EasyGo welcomes expressions of interest from any club.

This latest milestone builds on EasyGo's rapid national expansion and growing track record of community-first EV charging innovation. The company recently partnered with the Department of Transport to launch Ireland's first Shared Charging Initiative -- a pioneering pilot scheme that allows homeowners to make their private EV chargers available to neighbours and the wider public, boosting access to charging infrastructure in residential areas.

EasyGo was established in 2018 in response to the growing need for accessible and reliable EV charging infrastructure across Ireland, extending beyond major urban centres. The company's growth is underpinned by strong financial backing, including a €30 million investment raised in 2023 through Rubicon Capital Advisors from Aviva Investors.

"This is a major milestone in our mission to make EV charging available everywhere -- not just in cities, but in the rural towns and local clubs that are the backbone of Irish communities," outlined EasyGo CEO Ollie Chatten.

"It builds on our shared charging pilot and our international expansion, and shows how Irish innovation can lead the way in sustainable transport. Sports clubs are more than places to practice or watch a match -- they're where people gather and connect.

"By bringing charging infrastructure to these spaces, we're making it easier for families, supporters and volunteers to choose electric, every day," he continued.

Patrick "Bonner" Maher, Key Account Manager at EasyGo and former Tipperary senior hurler, commented that the the initiative was about more than just EV chargers.

"Growing up with my club, Lorrha-Dorrha, I know how important clubs are to communities, especially in rural areas. This initiative is about more than just EV chargers, it's about supporting clubs like mine and making sustainable transport accessible to everyone who relies on them."