Community groups in the vicinity of Galway Wind Park have received over €227,000 in funding from the community benefit programme since the beginning of the pandemic. SSE Renewables and Greencoat Renewables, joint owners of Galway Wind Park initially launched a €70,000 COVID-19 response fund in April 2020 to support local communities near the wind park in Connemara.
The funding was made immediately available to community groups that were mobilising a rapid response to support those most-in-need as a direct result of the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak. Awards to 18 applicants, totalling €43,360 were approved for funding for the rollout of initiatives designed to lend support within their community to those in need as a direct result of the pandemic. The remaining €26,640 was returned to the wider Galway Wind Park Community Fund.
Following the success of the initial COVID-19 response fund, the remaining local Community Fund of €157,500 was opened to COVID-19 related initiatives, and 48 groups were successful in securing funding.
Applications from these groups focussed on initiatives to rebuild communities in the months ahead, post-COVID-19. In light of the pandemic, the 2020 funds were repurposed to support applications for running costs, as restrictions rendered communities unable to generate the funds to cover these expenses.
St. Annin’s School in Oughterard received funding towards creating additional space to allow for social distancing to enable the school to open.
Padraig O’Duineacha, school principal, commented on the funding: “Reopening in September has been very difficult for the school. Galway Wind Park community funding will enable us to increase our school yard space thus ensuring that the children can exercise safely and keep their social distance.”
Corrib Mask Search and Rescue Service applied to the fund to help towards running cost for the year.
Niall O’Meachair, PRO of Corrib Mask Search & Rescue, said: “Corrib Mask Search and Rescue have had a particularly difficult year to date on many fronts as our fundraising has collapsed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The awarding of monies from Galway Wind Park Community Fund will ensure that we will be able to maintain our services in 2020 and into 2021”.
Other projects supported include:
- Contribution towards planning permission for new pedestrian footpath facility from Doon East to Doon West and Rosscahill
- A walking track around Killannin Pitch Development
- Walkway lighting for Corrib Athletics
- Gardening equipment for Rosscahill Tidy Towns
- Running camps for Venture Out Wilderness Project and Brigits Garden
- Wheelchair accessible garden at Clann Community Garden located at Clann Resource Centre
- Vegetable garden at Carraroe Men’s Shed
- Sports equipment for Killannin Ladies Football Club and Coiste na nÓg, an Spidéil
- Programmes for Rosscahill ICA and Oughterard Senior Citizens, Sonas Senior Citizens,
- Contribution towards Oughterard Anglers & Boatmen’s new moorings project
- Heating system upgrade for Scoil Muire Doireglinne
- Contribution towards a playground at Páirc Spraoi
Anne Reynolds, Galway Wind Park Community Development Officer, said: “We are delighted that through the financial assistance of over €227,000 awarded from Galway Wind Park within the last few months 66 community groups were able to deliver a range of community support reliefs. Initiatives supported include delivery of food for vulnerable families, meals on wheels to the elderly and those isolating/shielding, and medical deliveries to those unable to leave home. These were essential services that were valued by each and every member of the community. Importantly, funding was provided to allow community groups to purchase the necessary PPE to enable them provide the COVID-19 response measures and provide that level of safety to the volunteers and the community.”