Castlepook Wind Farm awards over €50,000 to community groups in Ballyhoura and North County Cork

28 April 2017
By David Sullivan
bryan@TheCork.ie

Funds awarded to 11 community groups including a number of primary schools, GAA club and a scout group

Castlepook Power DAC, the ESB / Coillte joint venture wind farm located near Doneraile in Ballyhoura Forest, Co Cork has selected the first annual Community Development Fund beneficiaries. More than €50,000 has been awarded to 11 community and voluntary groups in the vicinity of the Castlepook Wind Farm.

The community fund is an initiative managed by ESB and Coillte, and will run annually providing support to the cumulative value of €1.2 million for the operational life of the wind farm. The fund is available to community and voluntary organisations for projects which benefit communities located in close proximity to the wind farm.

The 11 groups/projects that have been shortlisted for award of funding commencing in 2017, are as follows:

1. Ballyhoura Development CLG in support of their ‘Bike for Beginners’ programme which aims to get groups more active and to utilise the facilities in the Ballyhoura region.
2. Nagle Rice Secondary School towards the enhancement of their gym facility used by their students and other children and adults from the community year round.
3. Ballyhea Community Council towards the installation of speed limit warning signs in Ballyhea Village.
4. The 22nd Kildorrery Scout Group towards the set-up costs of the new troop, including the purchase of equipment which will allow them to enjoy the great outdoors.
5. Shanballymore Primary School towards the laying of a new surface for its play area.
6. Ballyhea Parish towards the installation of an energy efficient external lighting system at St. Mary’s Church, Ballyhea.
7. Canon Sheehan Primary School towards the provision of a new fenced play area catering for their large student enrolment.
8. Doneraile Development Association towards the creation of a number of historic costumes to enhance their tours of Doneraile Park which tell the history of the area.
9. Ballyhea GAA Club towards the purchase and fitting of floor covering to the gym area of their club house.
10. Ardpatrick Community Council towards the research and preservation of Ardpatrick’s social history through the analysis of the ‘Sunvale Ledger,’ and the development of a website.
11. Ballyhoura Failte DAC to assist in the promotion of Ballyhoura Country as a tourism destination through highlighting its key attractions and recreational assets across national publications and social media.

Michael Bermingham, Stakeholder Manager, ESB, comments: “ESB is proud to support the initiatives planned by these 11 community and voluntary groups through the Castlepook Wind Farm Community Fund. In making this fund available annually over the next 25 years, we aim to contribute to the development of essential infrastructure and services in the area and assist the groups who are committed to helping their community reach its full potential and make things happen.”

Andy Fox, Community Engagement Manager for Coillte, said: “We look forward to seeing the great work that these 11 groups will undertake this year and encourage those who were not successful this time around to request some constructive feedback from our administering body SECAD in order to strengthen their applications for this year’s fund.”

For further information on the community fund which is due to reopen September 2017, please visit: www.castlepookwindfarm.ie