Over 750 take part in annual SSE Airtricity Wind Farm Walk in Co. Donegal

Over 750 people walked through our Meentycat and Culliagh Wind Farms near Ballybofey, Co. Donegal on Saturday 23 September for our annual Community Fund Sponsored Walk.

The walkers shrugged off mixed weather conditions to step up for a variety of local causes, with a record 50 community groups and bodies represented. Since 2007, community members have made their way across the stunning landscape between the two wind farms to raise vital funding for community projects in in areas including Ballybofey, Cloghan, Convoy, Curragh, Drumkeen, Letterkenny, Stranorlar and Finn Valley.

Through the SSE Airtricity Community Fund programme, the money raised by the participating groups is topped-up by annual payments from the company. With the Sponsored Walk now in its 11^th year, community groups have benefited from nearly €630,000 to date.

As always, walkers had the opportunity to get up close with a number of the 63 wind turbines at the two wind farms, while enjoying views of some of the region’s most scenic landmarks, including Mount Errigal and Barnesmore Gap, as well as the outskirts of Letterkenny town. 

Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said:

“It was great to have so many community members and local groups taking part, especially when the weather wasn’t always on our side! It was a really enjoyable day and most importantly the money raised will benefit a wide variety of community groups and projects. Through the Sponsored Walk and our wider Community Fund programme, SSE Airtricity is really proud to be making a difference for the communities local to the wind farms.”

Our Meentycat and Culliagh Wind Farms near Lifford generate over 100MW of clean, green energy combined.