Over €275k allocated to 136 Offaly groups
Some 136 community group will share over €275,000 following the announcement of funding awards by Offaly County Council's Local and Community Development Committee (LCDC).
The total funding of €277,101 will be awarded to the community groups under the Community Activities Fund 2021.
This is a once-off fund which supports community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with either their operating/running costs such as utility bills, insurance, or capital costs of enhancing facilities or purchasing equipment.
Priority has been given under this fund towards assisting community groups who have struggled with meeting their operating costs during the pandemic. There was a tremendous response to the Programme, with 144 applicants seeking funding.
Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council and Chair of Offaly LCDC, Councillor Declan Harvey, warmly welcomed the funding. He said: “These grants will be of enormous benefit to a whole range of community groups across the county who have struggled to fundraise during the past two years of the Covid pandemic. This funding will help get them back on track.”
Chief Executive of Offaly County Council, Anna Marie Delaney, congratulated all of the successful applicants and thanked them for the outstanding work they do on a voluntary basis to enhance their communities and to keep vital community facilities open and available for the public. She also noted and welcomed the fact that over €65,500 of the funding was ring fenced specifically for community playgrounds.
The Community Activities Fund (CAF) is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
A full list of the successful groups in receipt of Community Activities Fund grants is available on the Offaly County Council’s website at www.offaly.ie
Minister Pippa Hackett and Cllr Mark Hackett welcomed the allocation under the Community Activities Fund.
Cllr Mark Hackett highlighted the €7,000 each for the repair and upgrade of playgrounds in Geashill and Edenderry.
Minister Hackett welcomed the spread of projects across the county: "This fund is widely spread in small but meaningful ways, from Shannonbridge to Edenderry, Tullamore to Shinrone. I believe this reflects an acknowledgement by my colleagues in the Department of Rural and Community Development of the invaluable contribution of volunteers to our communities. This is a view that I share and I thank all of these projects for their tremendous ongoing efforts to make their local communities better, brighter places to live.”
The 136 recipients
Shinrone Community playground €7,945 Repair and upgrade of facilities
Clara Community playground €7,293 Repair and upgrade of facilities
Edenderry Community playground €7,000 Repair and upgrade of facilities
Geashill Community playground €7,000 Repair and upgrade of facilities
Ballinamere Community playground €7,000 Repair and upgrade of facilities ; administration & accountancy costs
Kilcormac Community playground €7,000 Repair and upgrade of facilities
Cloghan Community playground €7,000 Repair and upgrade of facilities
Offaly PPN €6,765 Equipment
Shannonbridge Action Group - playground €6,603 Repair and upgrade of facilities: insurance fees
Moneygall Development Association playground €6,356 Repair and upgrade of facilities
St. Brigid's Boxing Club Edenderry €5,000 Electricity, insurance, heating, cleaning, wifi & water bills/costs
Dunkerrin Community Centre €5,000 Utility bills, insurance and maintenance
North Offaly Community Development Network €5,000 Utility bills
Kinnitty Community Centre €5,000 Utility bills & Insurance
Lusmagh GAA €5,000 Operational costs
Rhode Community Pre-School Ltd €5,000 Rental costs
Shannonbridge Community Services Group €5,000 Utility bills, replace 2 no. windows
Birr Leisure Centre €5,000 Utility bills & pool maintenance costs
Edenderry Billiards & Snooker Club €5,000 Rent, Insurance, ESB & Heating
Offaly Rowing Club €5,000 Insurance, repairs, accounts, utility bills
Mucklagh Soccer Club €5,000 Insurance costs, rental of a pitch, website maintenance
Clara GAA €5,000 Utility bills & insurance costs
2nd Offaly Scout Group Clara €4,400 Utility bills and running costs
St. Brigids Social Club Cloneyhurke €4,044 Utility bills and insurance
An Síolán, Ferbane €4,000 Fire Safety equipment, Utility bills
Killoughey Community Centre €4,000 Replacement of fire doors; utility bills & accountant
BLC Developments CLG €3,425 Utility bills
Bracknagh Hall Committee €3,000 Insurance and utility bills
Edenderry Community First Responders €3,000 Public AED and equipment
Tullamore Food Fayre €3,000 Insurance, utility bills & rent
Charleville Centre €3,000 Utility bills
Tullamore Show €3,000 Equipment
B.O.L.D €3,000 Purchase of defibrillator; insurance costs
Irish Parachute Club €3,000 Equipment, maintenance, signage
Mucklagh Community Development CLG €3,000 Accounting costs
Daingean Town Hall Committee €3,000 Utility costs and insurance
Rhode Parish Enterprise Association Ltd €2,700 Utility costs
Ballinagar Development Group €2,500 Utility bills & insurance
Killeigh Comhaltas €2,500 Equipment and building maintenance
Offaly Search & Recovery Underwater €2,405 Insurance costs
Banagher Shannon Bank Park Trustees €2,400 Utility bills
High Street Community Centre Belmont €2,340 Utility costs, maintenance materials & running costs
Ferbane Bridge Club €2,333 Utility bills and insurance costs
Moneygall Development Association - Tidy Towns €2,156 Insurance & fuel
Barna Development Association Community Hall €2,040 Utility bills and maintenance costs
Moneygall Community Hall Committee €2,000 Utility Bills, insurance, & fire safety equipment
Edenderry Men’s Shed €2,000 Utility bills, insurance and rent
Tullamore Men’s Shed €2,000 Equipment and running costs
OTM Men’s Shed €2,000 Purchase of equipment & materials for newly established Community Men's Shed
Eglish & Rath Community Centre - Building €2,000 Equipment and building maintenance
Leamore Leabeg Boora Development Co. Ltd €1,994 Insurance and utility bills
Cloghan Community Development Association €1,970 Insurance and audit costs
Kinnitty Tidy Towns €1,700 Equipment maintenance, running and insurance costs
Edenderry Tidy Towns €1,690 Utility bills, equipment and insurance
The Acorn Project €1,600 Security fencing around perimeter of outside covered space
Daingean GAA €1,585 Utility bills and insurance
Tullamore Presbyterian Church €1,564 Insurance costs
Moneygall Football Club €1,500 Rental and insurance costs
Tullamore Community & Family Resource Centre €1,500 Equipment and building maintenance
Clara Community & Family Resource Centre €1,500 Maintenance
Tullamore Tradfest €1,322 Insurance and accounting fees
Killina Presentation Resource Centre €1,065 Utility Bills and equipment
BHM Community Development Group €1,050 Equipment and insurance costs
Rights for the Elderly VHA - Darmagh Centre €1,000 Utility bills
Edenderry Cabin Management Committee €1,000 Utility bills
Eglish & Rath Community Centre €1,000 Utility bills
Dunkerrin Tidy Village €1,000 Insurance, utility bills and equipment
Lough Boora Sensory Garden €1,000 Equipment
Rahan Hall €1,000 Utility Bills
Daingean Development Association €1,000 Insurance costs
Cloghan Hall €1,000 Operating Costs
Banagher Community Centre €1,000 Utility Bills
West Offaly Comhaltas €1,000 Running costs
Pollough Community Centre €1,000 Utility bills
Pollough Community Shop €1,000 Utility and running costs
Shannonbridge Action Group - Tourist Office €1,000 Utility costs
Gracefield GAA €1,000 Utility costs
Rhode Community playground €1,000 Upgrade & maintenance of Community Playground
Eden Pitch & Putt €976 Upgrade to facilities; insurance and utility bills
Banagher Snooker Club €900 Utility bills
Tullamore Canoe Club €900 Insurance costs
Shannon Harbour Community Association €855 Insurance, running costs and equipment
Clara Heritage Society €850 Insurance costs
Banagher Development Group €841 Insurance costs & equipment
Ballyskenagh / Killavilla GAA €840 Utility bills
Offaly Traveller Movement €700 Upgrade to The Hazel Hub premises - purchase equipment for training room
St. Brochans Park Residents Association €700 Lawnmower and equipment
Leamonaghan Graveyard and Heritage Site Group €700 Lawnmowers and equipment
St. Cormacs Residents Association Kilcormac €700 Lawnmower and equipment
Ballycommon Telework & Training Centre €700 Upgrade of facilities
Arden Vale Residents Association €700 Development of community facilities
Daingean Community Development CLG €700 Lawnmower and equipment
Killyon Village Renewal Committee €700 Upgrade & maintenance costs
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre €700 Equipment and upgrade of facilities
Oakview Residents Association €700 Lawnmower and equipment
Pullough Tidy Towns €700 Equipment
Ballycumber Community Group (Tidy Towns) €700 Lawnmower and equipment
Edenderry Festival Committee €700 Equipment and running costs
Clonbullogue Parish Council Hall Committee €700 Repair and upgrade of facilities
Shannonbridge Tidy Towns €700 Equipment
Crinkle Tidy Villages €700 Development of community facilities
Shinrone Sensory Walking Group -Tidy Towns €700 Development of community facilities and equipment
Offaly Downs Syndrome Association €690 Equipment
Rhode Ladies GAA €600 Utility and running costs
Birr Festival of Music & Voices €600 Equipment
Cappincur GAA €500 Development of facilities
St Manchans Ladies Football Club €500 Equipment
Seir Kieran Community Group €500 Lawnmower and equipment
Kilcormac Development Association €500 Upgrade facilities and purchase new chairs
Shannonbridge GAA Club €500 Upgrade facilities
Clonmore Harps GAA Club €500 Lawnmower
Ballinagar GAA €500 Upgrade facilities in community gym area
Shamrocks GAA €500 Lawnmower
Shamrocks GAA - training equipment €500 Equipment
Ballinamere Durrow Ladies Football Club €500 Equipment
Edenderry Canoe Club €500 Equipment for people with special needs
Raheen GAA Club €500 Upgrade facilities
Kilclonfert GAA €500 Energy efficient upgrade
Portarlington Community Development Assoc Ltd €500 Equipment
Kilcormac Killoughey Camogie Club €500 Equipment
Shinrone Camogie Club €500 Equipment
Tullamore Tennis Club €500 Maintenance of building
Offaly GAA €500 Equipment and repairs
Lynx Cycling Club €500 Equipment
Edenderry GAA €500 Equipment
Sionn Mhara Sailing & Rowing Club €500 Website and equipment
Tullamore Town Football Club €500 Lawnmower
Pollough Youth Space €500 Equipment
Erry Pitch & Putt €500 Lawnmower
Tullamore Golf Club €500 New website
Geashill Social Basketball Club €460 Rental costs
Rath Eglish Foroige Club €255 Rental costs and equipment
Daingean playground €230 Operating Costs
Belmont District Fishing Club €220 Equipment
Kinnitty Community playground €130 Upgrade & maintenance of Community Playground
Mick The Miller Commemoration Committee €110 Website maintenance and utility bills