Bord na Móna has awarded more than €500,000 in funding this year to communities neighbouring the Mountlucas and Cloncreen Wind Farms in Co Offaly.
The Mountlucas and Cloncreen Wind Farms Community Benefit Funds are intended to provide significant financial support to community groups, near neighbours and local scholars.
More than €2m has been invested in the funds over the past 10 years, and the funding has supported 327 community projects in Edenderry, Clonbullogue, Ballyfore, Daingean, Mountlucas and Walsh Island.
The funds have also covered annual electricity contributions to 270 households through the Near Neighbour Schemes, ensuring those living closest to the wind farms directly benefit.
This yer alone, the funds have provided over €250,000 in funding to 41 local community projects spanning educational institutions, community centres, community development groups and sports clubs, including Gaelscoil Éadan Doire, which received investment for educational resources to support immersive Irish-language education.
Bord na Móna’s Community Benefit Funds have also supported the Acorn Project, which is helping to drive environmental awareness and sustainability programmes, and funding provided to Walsh Island Development Group will help the delivery of local development initiatives and community infrastructure.
Clonbullogue GAA Club was supported in the installation of a 14.79kW Solar PV array and 10.2kW Battery.
Funding provided through the Community Benefit Funds to the Ballycommon Telework and Training Centre is helping the rollout of digital literacy and training programmes.
All this year's investments and recipients were celebrated at an awards night in Tullamore hosted by Midlands 103's Ronan Berry that recognised the dedication of local groups and individuals who go above and beyond to make a difference in their communities.
“Since 2014, Bord naMóna has been deeply committed to supporting the communities around the Mountlucas Wind Farm and more recently the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund has been introduced.," said John Reilly, head of renewable energy at Bord na Móna.
"With over €2.2m invested to date, the positive impact of these Funds is clear to see in the remarkable projects and community-led initiatives that have been delivered.
"In 2024, we are proud to continue supporting these local communities through our allocation of over €500,000 in financial support for community groups, near neighbours and local scholars.
"We will continue to work in collaboration with these communities and look forward to building on this work in the years to come."
Photo: Cllr.Fergus McDonnell (centre) pictured with (l-r) Stephen Gonoude, Enda Kelly, Karina Dennigan, Brendan Connolly and Niall Donlon from Bord na Móna. (Pic: Supplied)
