Groups share Wind Park Fund

Community groups in the vicinity of Galway Wind Park have shared 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. 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 Killannin was among those to receive funding, towards creating additional space to allow for social distancing to enable the school to open.

“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,” said school principal Padraig O’Duineacha.

Corrib Mask Search and Rescue Service applied to the fund to help towards running cost for the year.

“We have had a particularly difficult year to date on many fronts as our fundraising has collapsed because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Niall O’Meachair, PRO of Corrib Mask Search & Rescue.

“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,” he added.

The fund also contributed towards planning permission for new pedestrian footpath facility from Doon East to Doon West and Rosscahill; provision of a walking track around Killannin Pitch Development, and walkway lighting for Corrib Athletics

It helped fund a vegetable garden at Carraroe Men’s Shed; sports equipment for Killannin Ladies Football Club and Coiste na nÓg, an Spidéil, and towards programmes for Rosscahill ICA and Oughterard Senior Citizens as well as Sonas Senior Citizens.

There was a contribution towards Oughterard Anglers & Boatmen’s new moorings project; money towards a heating system upgrade for Scoil Muire Doireglinne, and a contribution towards a playground at Páirc Spraoi.

Panedmic-specific initiatives supported 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.

The 174MW Galway Wind Park is Ireland’s largest onshore wind farm, generating enough renewable energy to power around 140,000 homes, while offsetting roughly 289,000 tonnes of harmful carbon emissions annually.