SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s leading green energy provider, has presented more than €40,000 to community groups close to its Kingsmountain and Dunneill Wind Farms in Co. Sligo.
The presentation took place at the Old School House in Templeboy, Co. Sligo on Thursday 12 April. A total of 26 local groups will benefit from this year’s funding, including schools, sports clubs and community centres.
Through its Community Fund programme, SSE Airtricity makes annual contributions to community groups in the vicinity of its wind farms. The company has been donating to local projects in Co. Sligo since 2004, and this latest contribution takes the total amount awarded in the region to over €370,000.
The majority of this year’s recipient groups are putting the money towards greater energy efficiency, which SSE Airtricity strongly supports.
Dromore West National School has been receiving funding from SSE Airtricity since 2015, and will be using this year’s contribution for the third phase of their ceiling insulation project. The school’s principal, Ursula Langan, said: “The funding received from SSE Airtricity in recent years has allowed us to improve our energy-efficiency, helping with our bills, and creating a more comfortable environment for both staff and pupils. This year’s funding will go towards the next phase of our project to insulate our ceilings, which will have significant and long-lasting benefits for the school.”
Other projects being supported range from installing energy-efficient lighting at Easkey GAA, Rathlee National School and the Windmill Players Drama Group in Templeboy, to replacing the doors at Killeenduff National School, High Park National School and Skreen Dromard Community Council.
Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said: “We’re very proud to once again be awarding funding to so many fantastic community projects in the area. We’ve been supporting groups close to our Kingsmountain and Dunneill Wind Farms since 2004, and it’s great to see the positive impact the funding has had in that time. As always, we’re delighted to see so much of the money going towards improvements in energy efficiency this year, which will hopefully result in long-term benefits for the community.”
SSE Airtricity’s Dunneill and Kingsmountain Wind Farms in Co. Sligo have a combined capacity of over 36MW, and produce enough green energy to power over 24,000 homes in the region.