18 community projects receive over €125,000 in Airtricity funding from its Dromada, Rathcahill and Tournafulla wind farms

Groups from Athea, Tournafulla, Templeglantine, Moyvane, Duagh and Newcastle West benefit from Airtricity’s largest-ever community fund.

19 April 2012

Community projects across West Limerick have been presented with a massive €127,000 in funding from Airtricity under the company’s Community Fund scheme for its Dromada, Rathcahill and Tournafulla Wind Farms, Co. Limerick.

The presentation is the largest ever made by Airtricity, which is Ireland’s fastest-growing and greenest energy utility. The presentation ceremony was held at the Con Colbert Community Hall, Athea, Co. Limerick, on Wednesday 7th March.

A total of 18 innovative community-based projects from areas such as Athea, Tournafulla, Templeglantine, Moyvane, Duagh and Newcastle West have received funding from this year’s Airtricity Community Fund.

Under Airtricity’s Community Fund Programme, the company annually makes a financial contribution from each of its 26 wind farms across Ireland to projects which promote local energy efficiency and sustainability. In Co. Limerick, Airtricity is supplied with green energy from the combined 68MW Dromada, Rathcahill and Tournafulla Wind Farms which are operated by Ireland’s largest renewable energy generator, SSE.

Local projects being funded from the Airtricity Community Fund include:

• The replacement of existing windows and doors with new double-glazed windows and doors for Templeglantine National School;
• Providing dry-lining insulation and replacing existing glazing with new double-glazed windows for Athea Carnegie Library;
• The provision of dry-lining, cavity wall and attic insulation solutions for Athea National School, Glengurt National School, Carrigkerry Community Centre, Duagh Sports & Leisure Complex, Moyvane GAA Club, Glorach Theatre in Abbeyfeale, Newcastle West AFC Clubhouse, Tournafulla Community Centre, and Monagea Parish Hall;
• The installation of rainwater harvesting systems for Con Colbert Community Hall in Athea and Desmond Community Creche in Newcastlewest;
• Providing a ‘Big Pig’ food waste digester for Abbeyfeale Parish Community Garden;
• Installing a solar panel water heating system for Tournafulla GAA Club;
• Upgrading of existing training pitch lighting with energy efficient lighting for Killeaney AFC;
• Supplying energy efficient bulbs for Killeedy Community Alert Group; and,
• The provision of energy efficient outdoor security lighting for Tournafulla Community Alert area.

Commenting after the presentation, Mags O’Connor, Glencurt National School Tournafulla, said: "Airtricity’s funding for insulation of our school will enable us to reduce our overall heating costs as well as create a warmer and more comfortable environment in which they can learn. The reduced heating cost will also allow us to purchase educational equipment for the school thus enhancing the education of the children in our Community."

Margaret Scanlon, Con Colbert Community Hall, commented: "We’re delighted to receive funding to install a rainwater harvesting system in our hall. It is planned that through this project we could further develop the environmental properties of the building along with reducing costs of the water intake for the hall."

Anne Reynolds, Airtricity Community Liaison Officer, comments: "We’re delighted at Airtricity and SSE to be presenting over €125,000 in funding from our Co. Limerick wind farms for these exciting and innovative community projects.

"We believe in ensuring that local communities around our wind farms benefit from the presence of that wind farm in their locality. That’s why this year we’ve made our largest-ever community fund presentation from our Dromada, Rathcahill and Tournafulla Wind Farms. These funds are set to grow significantly in the coming years upon the completion of our nearby Athea Wind Farm.

"As a result, Airtricity’s Community Funds in Co. Limerick will help ensure that local communities, including each of the 18 groups being supported this year, can make major strides to reduce their fuel consumption, their energy costs and their carbon footprint year on year so that we can all live in greener and more sustainable communities."