Over €104,000 has been awarded to over 55 Donegal groups by SSE Airtricity as the Community Fund tops €1.1million since 2007.
SSE Airtricity presented the money to community groups located close to Meentycat Wind Farm this week.
In September, 45 community groups and bodies took part in Meentycat’s Community Fund Sponsored Walk.
A record-breaking 1,200 community members walked through Meenycat and Culliagh Wind Farms near Ballybofey.
With the sponsored walk now in its 12th year, community groups have benefitted from almost €781,000 to date.
On Monday, the company presented €52,249 to local groups, topping-up the €80,000 raised by community members from this year’s Sponsored Walk.
The following day, Tuesday, the firm awarded a further €53,000 for 11 local projects through its Community Fund. Both presentations took place in the Villa Rose Hotel in Ballybofey.
Pictured are representative from the community groups who collected their cheques on Monday last in the Villa Rose Ballybofey front from left are Eugene Gallagher, Sean MacCumhaills, Seamus Herron, Service Manger SSE Airtricity, Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer and Cora Harvey, Cappry Rovers. Back from left Brian Anderson, Twin Towns Boxing Club, Coulter Blackburn, Raphoe Congregational Church, Stephen Hasson, Illistrin Football Club, Sean Bonner, Glenfinn GAA, Ciaran Mac Ruaidhrí, Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, John Willie McNulty, Cappry Rovers, Ruth Blackburn, Raphoe Congregational, Sammy Devenney, St Ninians Convoy and Roy Kennedy, St. Ninians Convoy. Photo Clive Wasson
This presentation will bring the total funds awarded to over €1.1 million between the Community Fund and Sponsored Walk.
A large number of this year’s Community Fund recipients are putting the funding towards improving their energy efficiency measures, which SSE Airtricity strongly supports. Letterkenny Rugby Club and St. Ninians’s Convoy Parish Church will improve the insulation of their buildings, while Raphoe Congregational Church, Illistrin Football Club and Sean MacCumhaill CLG will upgrade the lighting for their premises. Twin Towns Boxing Club will upgrade their electric showers in the club. Gairmscoil Chu Uladh will upgrade their heating system for the school. CLG Ghleann Fhinne will undertake roof repairs and insulation for the clubhouse. Cappry Rovers will improve their astroturf facilities at the club. Elsewhere the Green Residents Group and Green Residents Admiran Group have received funding towards landscaping in their area.