Eleven Offaly projects to share €700k in community grants

Eleven Offaly projects are to share some €700,000 in local community grants.

The funding was announced today by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys as part of a national allocation of €16.5 million to 185 community projects across the country through the Community Recognition Fund.

In Offaly, four of the eleven grants are for projects in Tullamore, three in Banagher, two in Birr and one each in Geashill and Edenderry.

The biggest allocation is an €87,000 grant to Birr Community Development Centre CLGf for an upgrade of the plant room at Birr Leisure Centre.

The other Birr allocation, of €80,000, is to Birr Playground, for an upgrade of the playground in the town.

In Tullamore, Tullamore Municipal District and Connolly Park Community Plaground have been granted €80,000 for an upgrade of the playground at Connolly Park. Tullamore Harriers is to receive €50,000 for an upgrade of the stadium. There is also €70,000 for Esker Arts for a toilet upgrade and €60,000 for a Tullamore Town Park playground upgrade.

In Banagher, €50,000 has been awarded for an upgrade of the playground at Banagher Marina. The same figure is being granted to Offaly West Community Enterprise Society Limited for a roof and energy upgrade at Crank House in Banagher. And finally, the third allocation of €50,000 in the Banagher area is to West & South Offaly Community Network for the purchase of two vans for Homefix Service Transport.

Edenderry Golf Club is being awarded €65,000 for a mower upgrade and Geashill Community is to receive €60,000 for an upgrade to the basketball court.

The scheme is designed to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities for the benefit of the entire community, in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.

It is aimed at outdoor and recreational facilities which would improve infrastructure for the entire community.

Welcoming the funding, and nothing that five projects in South Offaly were being grant aided, Cllr John Clendennen said:

'Birr playground has been allocated €80,000 and Banagher allocated €50,000, the upkeep and maintenance of our playgrounds has repeatedly been on the agenda for some time, and I am confident this funding will go a long way in making a tangible difference. It is also good to see funding secured for Birr Leisure Centre (€87,000) Crank House (€50,000) and Homefix Service Transport (€50,000)', continued Cllr Clendennen.

Offaly Cabinet Minister Pippa Hackett said: “Our communities are changing and growing and we are adapting together with the support of collective voluntary effort.

“Today’s announcement recognises the scale of community and voluntary commitment across Offaly.

The projects to receive funding in Offaly, from playground upgrades to the purchase of equipment and vehicles, will have a significant impact, and are all made possible because of the efforts of the many volunteers in our communities. They are the heroes of today’s announcement, supported by Offaly County Councils, and I applaud and thank them.”

Minister Humphreys said: “This investment is just the first of a number of tranches that will be announced under the Community Recognition Fund over the coming months.

“This is about giving back and saying ‘thank you’ to communities for what they do week-in, week-out.

“I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this funding will have on the ground in communities all across Ireland.”