Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have pledged €150,000 (£128,000) to three County Waterford GAA clubs near their Strancally Castle estate, giving €50,000 (£42,000) to Shamrocks, Tallow and Lismore over two years. Club officials said the gift was initially met with scepticism but has been widely welcomed and will fund youth development, coaching and facility upgrades including changing rooms, floodlighting, pitch fencing and community walkways. Representatives praised Zuckerberg's team for swift communication and described the donation as potentially transformational for small volunteer-run clubs.
Zuckerberg Donates €150,000 To Three Waterford GAA Clubs Near Strancally Castle
Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, plan to give three clubs €50,000 (£42,000) each [Getty Images]
Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have pledged a combined €150,000 (£128,000) to three Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs in County Waterford that are closest to their recently purchased Strancally Castle.
Donation Details
The couple will donate €50,000 (£42,000) to each of the clubs — Shamrocks GAA, Tallow GAA and Lismore GAA — with payments due to be made over a two-year period. A spokesman for Zuckerberg said the pair were "aware of the very significant role that the GAA plays in local communities in Ireland" and, as new members of the area, wanted to offer their support.
Reaction From Clubs
Representatives from the three clubs told BBC News NI that the gift had been warmly welcomed. Many in the clubs and the wider communities were "hugely welcoming" of the donation, although some initial scepticism gave way to gratitude once the offer was confirmed.
"Initially we were a bit taken aback — was it actually legitimate?" said Kieran Geary, treasurer of Tallow GAA. "But Mark's legal team were fantastic to deal with and things moved quickly."
How Talks Unfolded
After Zuckerberg bought Strancally Castle in August, Tallow's treasurer reached out to contacts about potential sponsorship. When there was no immediate reply, the club secretary later received a phone call from the Zuckerbergs to discuss the proposal. A Zoom meeting with Zuckerberg's team followed to identify how the couple might support the clubs.
Planned Uses For The Funds
Club officials outlined practical priorities for the funds. Tallow plans to invest in underage development, coaching, senior and adult teams, and improvements to a community walkway to enhance accessibility. Shamrocks — a small club of just over 200 members — intends to upgrade changing rooms and strengthen its underage section. Lismore said it will target projects such as proposed floodlighting, new pitch-side fencing and a community walkway.
All three clubs emphasised that, as largely volunteer-run organisations that rely heavily on local fundraising, the donation could be transformational for local facilities and youth programmes.
Local Culture And Community
The three clubs also shared historical notes: Tallow GAA was founded in 1887, Lismore GAA in 1897 and Shamrocks GAA in 1953. Club officers said they hope the Zuckerbergs might visit in future and that the clubs will present jerseys as a gesture of thanks.
Club secretary Emer Barry of Lismore added with characteristic local warmth: "We are always open for players — there is no parish rule in Waterford." The donation marks the couple's first recorded philanthropic gift in Ireland since buying the property.
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