SSE Airtricity awards more than £187,000 to community groups around its Slieve Kirk Wind Park

SSE Airtricity, Northern Ireland’s largest renewable energy generator, has awarded over £187,000 to community groups close to its Slieve Kirk Wind Park in Co. Derry~Londonderry.

The presentation took place at the Belfray County Inn in Derry~Londonderry on Wednesday 12August. A total of 44 local groups will benefit from this year’s payout of £187,165, including schools, sports clubs and community associations.

Through its Community Fund scheme, SSE Airtricity makes financial contributions to the communities closest to its wind farms. The company has been donating to local projects near Slieve Kirk since 2012, and this latest presentation takes its overall contribution in the region to over £642,484.

St. Matthew’s GAA Club in Limavady will be putting the money towards safety improvements. Club member, Eunan Rafferty, said: “This year’s funding will be used to install safety fencing at the club’s grounds. SSE Airtricity’s contribution over the last few years has greatly enhanced the facilities at our club and given the members a real feeling of hope for the future.”

Brian Dougherty MBE, Secretary at Creevedonnell Cricket Club in Curryfree, said: “SSE Airtricity’s Community Fund has been invaluable in allowing us to achieve Clubmark accreditation. Over the past number of years, the funding has been put towards our energy efficiency and sustainability programme, which is vital for the future of the club.”

Many of the community groups are putting this latest funding towards greater energy efficiency, with projects ranging from insulating the roof at St. Mary’s GAA Club in Faughanvale, to installing a new boiler at Ardinariff Historical and Cultural Society.

Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said: “We’re always proud to make a positive difference to local communities, and we’re delighted to be helping 44 worthy projects with this latest contribution from our Slieve Kirk Community Fund. It’s nice to see so much of the money going towards improved energy efficiency, which is something we’re always promoting at SSE Airtricity.”

SSE Airtricity’s Slieve Kirk Wind Park has a total capacity of 73MW and produces enough green energy to power over 65,000 homes in the region.