SSE Airtricity presents 14th annual Community Fund to groups around its Corneen Wind Farm

SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest provider of 100% green energy, has awarded over €6,000 to four community groups close to its Corneen Wind Farm in Co. Cavan. The company has made donations to 52 community groups in Co. Cavan since 2002, and this latest presentation takes its total contribution in the county to over €82,000.

Through its Community Fund programme, SSE Airtricity makes annual contributions to community groups in the vicinity of its wind farms. This year’s presentation of the Corneen Wind Farm Community Fund took place at the Templeport Resource Centre in Ballyconnell on Wednesday 7th December.

Bawnboy Workhouse Ltd will be putting the money towards installing solar panels at their building, while St. Aidan’s National School in Bawnboy will be using the funding to drain their sports pitch. Ballyconnell Krafty Kidz and Ballyconnell Men’s Shed will be putting the money towards new heating systems.

Dymphna Hayden, Secretary of Bawnboy Workhouse Ltd, said: “In 2010, a limited company was set up to save the local workhouse building from falling into disrepair and we’ve been working hard on improvements since then. Last year’s funding from SSE Airtricity enabled us to install solar panels in the laundry block as a source of electricity, and this year’s contribution will allow us to do the same in the storehouse block. The workhouse is now a landmark in the local area.”

Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, commented: “We’re delighted to be awarding funding from our Corneen Wind Farm for the fourteenth year running. The Corneen Community Fund is one of our longest running funds and it’s fantastic to see the difference it has made to the local community over the years. This year we’re pleased to be contributing over €6,000 to four very worthy and forward-thinking projects.”

SSE Airtricity’s Corneen Wind Farm has the capacity to generate 3MW of renewable energy.