Just over €123,000 in community funding has been awarded to community groups close to SSE Renewables' Bindoo and Gartnaneane Wind Farms in Co. Cavan, and Mullananalt Wind Farm in Co. Monaghan for 2020.
The wind farm funding was made available through the Community Fund programme operated by sister company, SSE Airtricity. Under the programme, SSE makes annual contributions to community groups in the vicinity of its wind farms. The company has been awarding funding to local projects in Cavan and Monaghan since 2006, and this latest presentation takes its overall contribution in the counties to over €1.6 million.
The most recent awards saw a total of 52 community groups benefit from the fund, including schools, sports clubs and community centres.
Scoil Eanna, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, put their 2020 award towards Covid measures enable the school to re-open.
Principal, Diane Murphy, said: “As we returned to work in September we wanted to provide a safe environment for both pupils and staff in our school. SSE Airtricity’s funding enabled us to put measures in place to allow us to stay within the department/government regulations. The project involved investment in thermometers, to highlight before entering the school whether a child/staff member has an elevated temperature reading, visors for staff and hand sanitisers and dispensers. We also installed two half doors to protect our office staff, principal and secretary. This half door system allows people to talk into the office or collect requisites from a safe 2m distance, but it will prevent people ‘forgetfully’ walking into this small space posing a threat to staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Installing the doors is something we have also being planning to make our building more energy efficient with better insulation and hopefully we can reduce the uses of small electric heaters in these spaces”
Many of the recipient groups put the funding towards Covid measures to reopen their schools, clubs and community halls. Other projects supported range from the installation of energy efficient doors and windows at Model School Bailieborough and Carrickallen Community Hall and energy efficient lighting at Bailieborough Shamrocks GAA, Kill Shamrocks, Killgarry GFC and Latton O’ Rahilly GAA, to environmental garden and wild life projects at Clones Town Football Club, Killinkere Development Association and Laragh Sports Partnership, as well as the installation of an accessible toilet at St, Mark’s Church and funding for defibrillators for Mountainlodge Defibrillator Group.
Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said: “We’re very proud to be making a difference in the local area particularly this difficult time for communities and particularly schools, this year’s fund has been repurposed to assist in the relief measures around Covid-19. It is hoped this fund can provide some support with the ongoing pressures in the community owing to the Covid-19 pandemic along with energy efficient and sustainable projects. This latest funding brings our total contribution to the communities close to our Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt Wind Farms to over €1.6 million since 2006, with 52 groups benefitting this year.”
SSE Airtricity’s three wind farms in counties Cavan and Monaghan have a total generation capacity of 70MW, and produce enough clean, green energy to power over 30,000 homes in the region.
The 2021 Community Fund for Bindoo and Gartnaneane Wind Farms will open on July 12 and applications will be accepted until July 30.
Full list of 2020 recipients:
Ashfield Parish Church
Bailieborough Community Resource House
Bailieborough Shamrocks
Bailieborough Community Association
Bailieborough Community Association
Bunnoe Community Enterprise Ltd
Carrickallen Community Group
Castletara National School
Clones Town Football Club
Corcaghan Community Preschool & After School
Corduff Handball Club
Corduff Raferagh Community Association
Darley National School
Dernakesh Church
Doohamlet Community & Resource Centre
Drum Presbyterian Church Hall
Drumgoon Community Centre
Drumgoon Community Centre Afterschool
Drumgoon Hill Graveyard Maintenance & Support Group
Drumgoon Ladies Gaelic Football Club
Drumgoon Parish Finance Committee
Drumgoon Eire Og GAA
Drumgoon Camogie Club
Drung ICA Guild
East Knockbride Community Hall
East Knockbride National School
Fingers & Toes Community Childcare
Kill National School
Kill Community Alert
Kill Shamrocks GAA
Kilmount Presbyterian Church
Knockbride Parish Church
Killinkere Development Association
Killygarry GFC
Laragh Sports Partnership
Latton O’Rahilly GAA Club
Lavey Community Group
Little Rays Playgroup
Maudabawn Community Alert
Model School Bailieborough
Mountainlodge Defibrillator Group
Moybologue Historical Society
Rainbow Kids Community Care
Scoil Éanna Ballybay
Shercock National School
St. Felim’s National School
St. Mark’s Church Kill
St. Michael’s Hall Cootehill
St. Michael’s National School Clifferna
St. Michael’s National School Cootehill
St. Oliver Plunkett Community Preschool Ltd
Trinity Church