Over €130,000 presented by SSE Airtricity to community groups in Co. Cork

SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest wind power provider, has presented over €130,000 to 28 community groups close to its Coomacheo, Curragh and Coomatallin Wind Farms in Co. Cork.

This year’s Coomacheo and Curragh Community Fund (€118,000) was presented on Wednesday 13 September at the Aras Eamon Mac Suibhne in Cúil Aodha, while the Coomatallin Community Fund (€12,541) was handed out the following day, Thursday 14 September, at the Dunmanway Community Sports Hall.

Through the Community Funds for its wind farms, SSE Airtricity makes annual contributions to local community groups. The company has been funding community projects in Co. Cork since 2006, and these latest presentations take its overall contribution in the Rebel County to over €1.2 million.

The Aras Eamon Mac Suibhne in Cúil Aodha, which hosted the Coomacheo and Curragh Community Fund presentation, has received funding to further enhance the hall’s energy efficiency measures. Jerh nEalaithe, Secretary of the Aras Eamon Mac Suibhne, said: “We’re delighted to be receiving funding from the SSE Airtricity Community Fund, which will allow us to insulate the walls, and replace the windows and doors at the hall, ultimately making it a more comfortable environment for the community to enjoy.”

Drinagh National School has received a contribution from the Coomatallin Community Fund to replace the front door at the school. Sheila Nowotynski, principal at the school, commented: “The funding we’ve received from the SSE Airtricity Community Fund over the last number of years has been a huge help to the school. This year’s contribution will enable us to replace the front door, which will boost our energy efficiency while keeping the building comfortable for students and teachers, and reducing the noise from the road outside.”

The majority of this year’s recipient groups are putting the funding towards improving their energy efficiency measures, which SSE Airtricity strongly supports.Other projects being supported range from upgrading the lighting and hot water systems at Millstreet and District Housing Association, to replacing windows and doors at Rylane Boxing Club.

Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said: “We’re really proud to be making a difference for communities close to our three wind farms in County Cork. These latest two presentations take our overall contribution in the area to more than €1.2 million, with another 28 fantastic groups receiving funding this year. As always, we’re delighted to see so much of the money going towards projects to improve energy efficiency, which is something we always encourage at SSE Airtricity.”

SSE Airtricity’s three wind farms in Co. Cork have a combined capacity of around 66MW, and produce enough green energy to power nearly 34,000 homes.