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SSE Renewables and Greencoat Renewables present over €155,000 to Community Groups near Galway Wind Park

19 Sep 2023

51 groups benefit from the 2023 Local Community Fund

SSE Renewables and Greencoat Renewables have awarded over €155,000 to community groups close to Galway Wind Park, Ireland’s largest wind farm, through the wind farm’s Local Community Fund.

The 174MW Galway Wind Park, co-owned by SSE Renewables and Greencoat Renewables, can generate enough renewable energy to power almost 145,000 homes^, while offsetting over 140,000 metric of harmful carbon emissions annually*.

The Galway Wind Park Community Fund was launched in 2018 and is the largest annual fund of its kind in operation in Ireland. The overall Fund, which totals over €400,000 per annum, is made available to applications from local groups and individuals via its Local Community Fund, Major Projects Fund, and Scholarship Fund.

So far, approximately €2.4 million has been allocated to groups around the Wind Park, including schools, sports clubs and community centres. One of this year’s successful applicants is the Corribdale Grounds Committee which received funding towards repairing the children’s playground equipment in Corribdale Grounds.

"The playground at Corribdale Grounds was first opened in 2010 and has had basic maintenance works carried out on the equipment of the playground in the intervening years to ensure compliance for its Annual Safety Certification. The funding from the Galway Wind Park Local Community Fund will also us to replace worn playground equipment, ensuring a safe place for local children to play."

Gerry Gibbons Secretary for Corribdale Grounds Committee

Other projects supported include:

  • Contribution towards finishing new pedestrian footpath facility from Doon East to Doon West and Rosscahill
  • Energy efficient lighting project at Newtown National School Moycullen and Scoil Naisiúnta Colmcille Leitir Moir
  • Contribution towards new laptops for Colaiste Cholmcille and replacement white boards at Scoil Cholmáin Tuairíní
  • Contribution towards running programmes for Sonas Senior Citizens, Moycullen Active Retirement, Rosscahill ICA, Oughterard Senior Citizens, Oughterard Meals on Wheels and Beile Blasta Maigh Cuilinn
  • Contribution towards playground upgrades at Coiste Pairc Spraoi Leitir Moir, Tullyokyne National School and Tar Isteach Playground
  • Contribution towards equipment upgrade for Coiste an Chillin, 15th Galway Scouts, Oughterard Men’s Shed Clann Resource Centre, Oughterard Parent and Toddler Group, Oughterard Bridge Club, Galway Mountain Rescue, Men’s Shed Duiche Sheoige, Comharchumann Shailearna Teo, Moycullen Angling Club, Corrib Athletic Club, Oughterard Community First Responders, Cumann Iománaiochta Mhaigh Cuilinn, and Club Judo an Cheathru Rua
  • Contribution towards running youth and training programmes for Platform Youth Club, Corrib Basketball Club, Youth Café Clann Resource, Oughterard Boxing Club and Cumann na Peil mBan Maigh Cuilinn
  • Funding to run Oughterard Show Committee and Baboró International Arts Festival for Children
  • Contribution towards making an Irish language film for FPMC Plean Teanga
  • Contribution towards Corrib Computer Training to run their programme for schools near Galway Wind Park
  • Contribution towards running equine therapy sessions at Horse Connects Enterprise, Galway RDA and Forum Connemara CLG
  • Funding to complete the installation of PV solar panels on the clubhouse of Oughterard Golf Club

"SSE Renewables and Greencoat Renewables are delighted to continue our financial assistance to community groups in vicinity of the Galway Wind Park, with funding awards this year from the Galway Wind Park Local Community Fund to over 51 groups totalling over €155,000. This brings the total funding distributed by all Galway Wind Park funds since 2018 to over €2.4 million. We’re very proud to be making a difference in the local area. As always, it’s great to see so much of the money going towards social sustainability projects as well as improvements in energy efficiency, which is a great way to secure long-term benefit for the community."

Anne Reynolds Galway Wind Park Community Development Officer

"We are delighted to be supporting 51 local community and group projects through the Galway Wind Park Community Fund this year. As long-term owners of wind farms in rural areas we are keen to support and build strong relationships with the local community through projects like this. The Local Community Fund offers communities the opportunity to deliver sustainable projects which bring value and growth to rural areas which represents true community development."

Patrick Maguire Head of Asset Management for Greencoat Renewables

"SSE Renewables are once again proud to be supporting local groups in the vicinity of Galway Wind Park who are bringing about change to their communities with transformational projects in their local area. Through the contributions of SSE Renewables to these communities and the local economy we can provide funding to so many diverse groups. We look forward to continuing to work with the community to help develop and deliver these projects that can bring a real difference to the communities in Galway."

Ciaran Maguire Onshore Wind O&M General Manager Ireland for SSE Renewables