4 December 2019
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
ESB has awarded more than €50,000 to 13 local community organisations in the vicinity of its Castlepook Power Wind Farm near Doneraile in Ballyhoura Forest, Co Cork. The groups were presented with their funding at a recent event at Doneraile Community Centre.
The County Cork-based groups to receive funding include:
- Heroes Powerchair Football Club towards the purchase of additional sporting equipment
- Ballyhea National School to support the purchase of a collapsible stage for its new general-purpose hall
- Nagle Rice Secondary School towards the purchase of recycled plastic picnic benches
- Kildorrery GAA towards upgrade of floodlights to LED
- The 22nd Kildorrery Scout Group towards the Group Growth and Hillwalking Adventure Skills
- Ballyhea Historical Society towards the compilation of the history of Ballyhea Parish
- Canon Sheehan Primary School towards school entrance pathway and sensory garden development
- Ballyhea National School Parents Association towards the purchase of sports equipment
- Ballyhea GAA Club towards an amenity pathway
- Ballygown National School towards the all-weather soft surface play area
- Doneraile Golf Club towards the purchase of equipment
- Doneraile Drama Society towards stage and auditorium upgrade
- Kildorrery N.S. Parents Association towards reclaiming of surface area after school extension
Thomas Brennan, Stakeholder Manager at ESB, stated: “ESB is proud to support these 13 community and voluntary groups through the Castlepook Wind Farm Community Fund. In making this fund available annually over the next 25 years, ESB aims 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 create a brighter future for all.”
This funding is a part of the Castlepook Wind Farm Community Fund, which aims to provide financial support to local groups, helping them to deliver beneficial projects and initiatives which fall within one or more of our broad themes:
- Education and Skills
- Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Environment and Habitat Conservation
- Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
- Culture and Heritage
- Recreation, Sport and Social Inclusion
- Tourism
Castlepook Wind Farm is a renewable energy project developed and operated by Castlepook Power DAC., a wholly-owned subsidiary of ESB. The wind farm which entered commercial operation in 2018 features 14 wind turbines with the combined ability to generate 33.3 MW which is enough to power over 20,000 homes. Castlepook’s Community Fund launched in 2016 and will operate annually for the lifetime of the wind farm.
Welcoming the funding, John Hannon, Principal of Ballygown National School, said: “Funding from the Castlepook Wind Farm is a huge boost to our efforts to provide the best facilities at Ballygown N.S. As a health-promoting and active school, it enabled us to lay a concrete path around the perimeter of our playground, on which pupils could ‘walk and talk.’ It is already proving very popular with pupils of all ages and is certainly enhancing the health and wellbeing of our pupils. We are extremely grateful to Castlepook Wind Farm and the ESB for their generosity and support.”
The community fund is made available every year for the operational lifetime of the wind farm (i.e. 20+ years), and we welcome all applications from interested organisations. For further information on the community fund and to apply for funding, please visit: http://www.
Pictured are representatives from the 13 community groups that received funding from the Castlepook Wind Farm Fund with ESB staff members at a recent event in Doneraile Community Centre.
