Laois groups to share €520,000 windfall
St Canice's Hall in Borris-in Ossory is the biggest winner, with a grant of almost €84,000. File image
COMMUNITY groups and sports clubs across Laois will share almost €520,000 in climate action grants announced this week.
Men’s and women’s sheds, community halls and Tidy Towns committees are among those awarded funding totalling €519,164, for community climate action projects in the county.
The biggest award is almost €84,000 for St Canice’s Hall in Borris-in-Ossory, while the smallest is just over €1,000 for the O’Moore Place Allotment Group in Portlaoise.
The grant scheme is administered by Laois Co Council’s community climate action officer, who gives local groups guidance, support and practical assistance in delivering lower carbon and more sustainable projects.
As the biggest winner, St Canice’s Hall Enhancement and Preservation Group has been awarded €83,827.43 for preservation of the building, which will go towards retrofit, insulation, drylining, slabbing and LED lighting.
The grant will also allow the group to replace a window and establish a community garden and a pantry shipping container.
Killenard Community Centre will get €55,873.63 for wall insulation, retrofit of windows and doors, biodiversity planting, bins, a bike shelter and wool spinning equipment.
In Portlaoise, the Tidy Towns group has been awarded €43,340.27 for its community bike library, while Portlaoise Women’s Shed will get €1,341.84 for equipment for their community garden and the establishment of an upcycling group.
Portlaoise Rugby Club has been granted €45,903.53 for the installation of a rainwater harvesting system, excavation and installation of Bioswale for rainwater management, retrofitting of lighting, installation of a hot air curtain and smart controls for club house heaters. The grant will also see the installation of segregated bins and a bike shed.
Mountrath Community Forum received €36,003 for installation of solar panels and a garden around ground-mounted panels at Bloom HQ, as well as a community garden at the Macra Hall on Main Street.
Rathdowney Vision has received €34,708.44 to retrofit windows, provide community garden raised beds, rainwater harvesting and a solar irrigation system.
The 4th Laois Scout Group in Portarlington will get €25,488.03 for energy upgrade works to the scout den building and creation of a community garden.
Also in Portarlington, the GAA club has been awarded €31,591.59 to retrofit windows and doors in the clubhouse and community hall, while the Tidy Towns group will get €10,824 for its reusable cup scheme.
Clonaslee Parochial Hall Redevelopment Committee will receive €49,321 for dry lining of walls, installation of raised beds in the community garden, floor insulation and a bike repair stand.
The community hall in Vicarstown has been granted €24,000 to retrofit cavity wall and suspended ceiling insulation, install new windows on the ground floor and install a stud wall and drop ceiling.
Camross Community Association will get €11,648.72 for installation of a solar PV system and raised flower planters made from recycled plastic, while Ballyroan Community Development will receive €8,928.72 for installation of solar panels.
Droimnin Retirement Village residents’ association in Stradbally has been awarded €5,105 for creation of a ‘mini-forest’, with planting of native trees and shrubs.
A total of €6,140.19 will go to Ballylinan Regeneration Team for establishment of a community garden, planting of native trees and plants, installation of an insect hotel, swift boxes, seating and raised planters, compost, a compost bin and a pergola.
Meanwhile, the Laois Beekeeping Association has been awarded €3,741.75 for bike parking and an off-grid solar generating kit to replace diesel generators.
Abbeyleix Bog Project has been granted €5,966.90 for improved protection of peat fringes at bog bridges and use of recycled sleepers in the boardwalks. The grant will also help showcase the interactive audio-visual trail on screen, replace generators with solar-powered alternatives and install a bicycle rack to encourage cycling to the bog walk.
Also in Abbeyleix, the national award-winning Tidy Towns group will get €4,934.48 for the town’s beautiful community garden, provision of bike parking and upcycling of sports equipment.
Laois Friends Special Needs was awarded €19,701.50 for efficient smart controlled heaters, a toy library, rainwater harvesting, a biodiversity pond and herb planters.
Mná le Cheile Women’s Shed will get €1,467.05 for the provision of tools for furniture upcycling and a tool library, while Mountmellick Women’s Shed will receive €2,473.12 to set up an upcycling project, including purchase of sewing machines.
Mountmellick Men’s Shed has been awarded €5,830.71 to establish a community garden and a polytunnel with a solar-powered irrigation system.
