DONEGAL COMMUNITIES RECEIVE OVER €1.1 MILLION FROM SSE AIRTRICITY COMMUNITY FUND AND SPONSORED WALK

SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest provider of 100% green energy, has presented over €108,000 to community groups close to its Meentycat Wind Farm in Co. Donegal.

The company makes annual contributions to local projects in Co. Donegal through its Community Fund programme and Sponsored Walk. These initiatives have provided over €1.1 million to local groups since 2007.

On Monday 9 December, the company presented €52,249 to local groups, topping-up the €80,000 raised by community members from this year’s Sponsored Walk at Meentycat Wind Farm. The following day, Tuesday 10 December, 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.

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 astro turf facilities at the club. Elsewhere the Green Residents Group and Green Residents Admiran Group have received funding towards landscaping in their area.

Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said:

“With our biggest ever Sponsored Walk this year, the walkers raised an incredible €80,000 for their own causes. With such a fantastic effort from the local community, we were delighted to be able to follow-up with an additional €52,249 to support the groups. We also presented a further €53,000 from this year’s Meentycat Community Fund to 11 forward-thinking and important community projects. It’s great to see so much of the money going towards improvements in energy efficiency, which is a great way to secure long-term benefit for the community.”

SSE Renewable’s Meentycat Wind Farm, and the adjoining Culliagh Wind Farm near Lifford, generate over 100MW of clean, green energy combined. The Community Fund is operated by SSE Airtricity on behalf of SSE Renewables.