Over €35,000 was presented to 31 local groups in Co. Sligo in 2020 through the SSE Airtricity Community Fund. This brings the total award to recipients in the area to over €495,000 since the Community Fund programme was launched in 2004.
The Community Fund is operated by sister company SSE Airtricity on behalf of SSE Renewables.
The latest round of funding commenced in August 2020 when the company launched a Schools COVID-19 response fund to support local schools around Kingsmountain and Dunneill wind farms in Co. Sligo. The funding was made immediately available, to enable schools open safely in compliance with COVID-19 measures in September.
Six schools were awarded funding of €12,000 for the rollout of COVID-19 response measures.
The remaining Local Community fund was opened in January and 25 groups were awarded funding totalling €23,600. Applications focused on rebuilding communities in the months ahead post COVID-19. In recognition of the impact of the pandemic on many community organisations, the funds in 2020 were repurposed to support running costs as groups were unable to generate the funds to cover these costs while Covid restrictions were in place.
The majority of recipient groups put their 2020 contribution towards COVID 19 measures, improving their energy efficiency and sustainable measures.
Templeboy Aughris Rural Action group, pictured before the pandemic temporarily halted its activities, has been receiving community funding since 2017 and will put their 2020 contribution towards further restoration works on the World War II Lookout Post on the Aughris Loop Walk.
Raymond Lynch, Chairperson, Templeboy Aughris Rural Action Group, commented:
“Our project will improve the Aughris Loop Walk by ensuring the safety and restoration of this historic building. These Lookout Posts are part of our recent history and very few remain in existence. The Aughris Lookout Post is one of the best preserved nationwide and essential work now will sustain it for the future. Construction work will be carried out by a local company and will include some sensitive maintenance work on walls, roof and installation of windows and doors. Following completion of the building work, a wild garden will be planted around the Lookout post to improve biodiversity”.
Other projects being supported range from installing energy-efficient sports lighting at Castleconnor GAA, Coolaney Mullinabreena GAA and Easkey GAA, to LED lighting for The old School House Templeboy, Dromore West Village Enhancement, High Park Parents Association and Skreen Dromard Community Preschool, to windows for Beltra Market Hall, Skreen Church of Ireland and Skreen Parochial Hall, to laptops for Enniscrone Women’s Activity Group, Enniscrone Men’s Shed and Dromore West Men’s Shed and a contribution towards building a Fairy Trail for Enniscrone & District Community Council into Castlefield Community Park.
Anne Reynolds, Community Development Officer, said: “SSE Airtricity is really proud to be making a difference in communities in Co. Sligo. We’ve been presenting communities here with funding since 2004 and this latest funding brings our total funding in the area to over €495,000. Through the financial assistance of over €35,000 awarded from Kingsmountain and Dunneill wind farms within the last few months 25 community groups and six schools were able to deliver a range of community support reliefs. energy efficient and sustainable measures. Measures supported include delivery of food for vulnerable families and meals on wheels to the elderly to those unable to leave the house. These were lifesaving services that where valued by each member of the community. Importantly, funding was provided to allow community groups to purchase the necessary PPE to be able to provide the COVID-19 response measures and provide that level of safety to the volunteers and schools open safely.”
Dunneill and Kingsmountain Wind Farms in Co. Sligo have a combined capacity of over 36MW, and produce enough green energy to power over 24,000 homes in the region.
This year marks a change in the name of the funding programme. Previously promoted under the SSE Airtricity brand, the programme will now be known as the SSE Renewables Community Fund. The change is designed to better link annual funding award payments from SSE’s wind farms in Northern Ireland to SSE Renewables, which owns and operates each of the company’s wind farm sites.
The next round of funding for communities in the vicinity of Dunneill and Kingsmountain Wind Farms will open on January 10, 2022 and applications will be accepted until January 28, 2022.
The following groups in Co. Sligo received funding from the 2020 SSE Renewables Community Fund COVID-19 Measures and for a variety of energy efficient and sustainable projects:
Beltra Country Market
Castleconnor GAA
Coolaney/Mullinabreena GAA
Dromore West Astra Turf
Dromore West Community Centre
Dromore West Village Enhancement Committee
Dromore West Men’s Shed
Easkey GAA
Easkey House
Enniscrone & District Community Council
Enniscrone Men’s Shed
Enniscrone Women’s Activities Group
Eoghan Rua Ladies Football Club
High Park Parents Association
Kilglass Enniscrone United
Old School House, Templeboy
Mayo Beekeepers Dromore West
Skreen Church of Ireland
Skreen Dromard Community Care
Skreen Dromard Community Preschool
Skreen Parochial Hall
St. Farnan’s GAA
Templeboy Aughris Rural Action
Tireragh Community Support
Western Gales Hurling Club
Kingsmountain & Dunneill Schools Covid Response recipients 2020:
Dromore West National School
Rathlee National School
Killeenduff National School
Stokane National School
Kilrusheighter St. Mary’s National School, Templeboy
St. Joseph’s National School