In August 2024, Cora Systems, a Carrick-on-Shannon–headquartered global software company, sponsored €200,000 to the Shannonside Recreational Campus (SRC). This cornerstone investment ensured that the all-weather 4G “Cora Pitch” — a facility for GAA, rugby, and soccer — could proceed as a flagship element of Phase 1. Importantly, the donation also represented a substantial part of the private fundraising that was essential to unlock access to major national and EU funding.
For the SRC team, Cora’s backing changed the trajectory of the project. Finance Chair Philip Lowe described it as “the difference in bringing this key phase of the project to completion,” while Brendan Lowe, SRC Chairperson, reflected that Cora’s ethos “aligned perfectly with our vision — to create a recreational and sporting campus that truly belongs to everyone.”
Cora Systems is a strong example of a company that blends global success with local commitment. Founded in Carrick-on-Shannon in 1999, the company has grown into a world leader in project and portfolio management software. Today, it employs over 220 staff across offices in Ireland, the UK, and the US, but crucially, over a third of its workforce remains in the Northwest. Supporting the SRC was both a way to give back to the community and a strategic investment in the region’s future.
Chief Marketing Officer Susanne Kerins explains: “By supporting initiatives that enhance the region, we improve quality of life for everyone here and create a more attractive environment for top talent. What’s good for the region is good for us.”
For prospective sponsors, Cora’s story offers a model of what SRC sponsorship delivers:
Impact — by enabling construction of facilities that address the region’s long-standing shortage of recreational and sporting infrastructure.
Legacy — through permanent recognition within a project that will benefit communities and families for generations.
Visibility — through high-profile naming rights, such as the “Cora Pitch,” which will be used daily by clubs and athletes.
The journey is not complete though — the SRC still requires additional corporate support to deliver every part of its ambitious masterplan. Major opportunities remain, including Track and Field sponsorship — a chance for a new partner to secure naming rights to one of the most high-profile facilities on campus.As SRC Chairperson Brendan Lowe emphasised: “Cora’s support showed what’s possible. But further corporate leadership is essential if we are to complete this game-changing facility for our community.”
Cora Systems set the standard by stepping up early and decisively. Their example demonstrates that when business and community come together, the result is not just a facility — it is a legacy that will stand for generations. The invitation is open: more companies can step forward and share in shaping the future of the Shannonside region.
