SSE Airtricity has handed out more than €13,000 to nine community groups near its Knockastanna Wind Farm in Co. Tipperary, bringing the company’s overall contribution in the region to over €113,000 since 2010.
The presentation took place at Sean Treacy’s GAA Club in Kilcommon, Co. Tipperary on Friday 16 June. A total of nine local groups will benefit from this year’s contribution of €13,676, in areas including Cappawhite, Cullen, Donohill, Kilcommon and Rearcross in Co. Tipperary, and Doon in Co. Limerick.
Through its Community Fund programme, SSE Airtricity makes annual contributions to community groups in the vicinity of its 26 wind farms on the island of Ireland.
Sean Treacy’s GAA Club will be putting the funding towards additional energy-efficient lighting for their hurling wall. Club Development Officer, Oliver Carr, said: “Last year, we were able to upgrade our lighting for the hurling wall area with help from SSE Airtricity. We now want to install additional lighting, so that we can train outside through the winter months. We are continuing in our efforts to boost our energy efficiency, so funding can be directed to other projects in the club.”
Other projects being supported range from adding electric heaters at Cappawhite National School, to upgrading the hot water system at Rearcross Football Club. The majority of the groups will use the funding to boost their energy efficiency measures, which SSE Airtricity strongly supports.
Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said: “It’s great to be awarding funding to groups in the local area for the eighth year running. This year, there are nine fantastic groups receiving funding, and we’re always delighted to see so much of the money going towards projects to improve energy efficiency. We’re really proud to be making a difference for the communities close to Knockastanna, and this year’s funding brings our overall contribution in the area to more than €113,000 since 2010.”
SSE Airtricity’s Knockastanna Wind Farm has a total capacity of 6MW and generates enough green energy to power over 2,000 homes in the region.
The successful applicants for this year’s Community Fund are Cappawhite National School, Cullen–Lattin AFC, Donohill Development Council, Doon GAA, Doon Irish Red Cross, Dún Bleisce Historical and Literary Society, Kilcommon Community Council, Sean Treacy’s GAA Club and Rearcross Football Club.