Over €125,000 presented by SSE Airtricity to community groups in Co. Cork
14 Sep 2018
SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest wind power provider, has presented over €125,000 to 36 community groups close to its Coomacheo, Curragh and Coomatallin Wind Farms in Co. Cork.
This year’s Coomacheo and Curragh Community Fund (€112,800) was presented on Wednesday 12 September at the Aras Eamon Mac Suibhne in Cúil Aodha, while the Coomatallin Community Fund (€12,500) was handed out the following day, Thursday 13 September, at the Dunmanway Community Garden.
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 €1.3 million.
West Muskerry Athletic Club has received funding for energy efficient lighting for their running track from the Coomacheo and Curragh Community Fund. Collette O’Riordan, Secretary of West Muskerry AC, said: “We’re delighted to be receiving funding from the SSE Airtricity Community Fund, which will allow us to light the recently developed running trail. This upgrade will provide proper and safe facilities for our young athletes.”
Drinagh Parish Hall has received a contribution from the Coomatallin Community Fund to replace windows and doors for the parish hall. Helen Forde, Foroige Club Leader, who applied on behalf of the hall commented: “The funding we’ve received from the SSE Airtricity Community Fund will be a huge help to the Parish Hall. This year’s contribution will enable us to replace the front door and windows, which will boost our energy efficiency while keeping the building comfortable for all the groups that use the hall on a regular basis.”
Most of this year’s recipient groups are putting the funding towards improving their energy efficiency measures, which SSE Airtricity strongly supports. Successful applications include upgrading the lighting at Millstreet Town Park, Choláiste Ghobnatan, Ballyvourney Parish Cross, Rylane Community Park, West Muskerry AC and Banteer Community Sportsfield Ltd to replacing windows and doors at Halla Comhaltas Cosanta Chúil Aodha, Millstreet Housing Association and 29th Cork Macroom Scouts Group. Other projects being supported range from rainwater harvesting for Rylane National School, to supporting Cuman Bheachairí Mhúscraí – Beekeepers education programme.
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 €1.3 million with another 36 fantastic groups, including several first-time recipients, receiving funding this year. As always, it’s fantastic to see so much of the money going towards improvements in energy efficiency, which we support as a great way to secure long-term benefit for the community.”
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.