West Sligo projects to get €35,000 from community fund
works of the World War II lookout post on the Aughris loop walk.
A NUMBER of local projects in west Sligo will benefit from a national community fund.
More than €35,000 was presented to 31 Sligo groups through the SSE Airtricity Community Fund. This brings the total award to recipients in the area to over €495,000 since the community fund programme was launched in 2004. The latest round of funding commenced in August 2020 when the company launched a Covid-19 response fund to support schools around Kingsmountain and Dunneill wind farms in Co. Sligo. Six schools were awarded funding of €12,000 for the rollout of Covid-19 response measures.
The remaining local community fund was opened in January and 25 groups were awarded funding totalling €23,600.
In recognition of the impact of the pandemic on many community organisations, the funds in 2020 were repurposed to support running costs as groups were unable to generate the funds to cover these costs while Covid-19 restrictions were in place.
The majority of recipient groups put their 2020 contribution towards Covid-19 measures, improving their energy efficiency and sustainable measures. Templeboy-Aughris Rural Action Group temporarily halted its activities. It has been receiving community funding since 2017 and will put its 2020 contribution towards further restoration works on the World War II Lookout Post on the Aughris Loop Walk. Raymond Lynch, chairperson of Templeboy-Aughris Rural Action Group said: “Our project will improve the Aughris Loop
Walk by ensuring the safety and restoration of this historic building. These lookout posts are part of our recent history and very few remain in existence.
“The Aughris Lookout Post is one of the best preserved nationwide and essential work now will sustain it for the future. “Construction work will be carried out by a local company and will include some sensitive maintenance work on walls, roof and installation of windows and doors. “Following completion of the building work, a wild garden will be planted around the lookout post to improve biodiversity.”
The full list of groups benefitting from the community fund is as follows: Beltra Country Market, Castleconnor GAA, CoolaneyMulinabreena GAA, Dromore West Astro Turf, Dromore West Community Centre, Dromore
West Village Enhancement Committee, Dromore West Men’s Shed, Easkey GAA, Easkey House, Enniscrone and District Community Council, Enniscrone Men’s Shed, Enniscrone Women’s Activities Group, Eoghan Rua Ladies Football Club, High Park Parents Association, Kilglass-Enniscrone United, Old School House Templeboy, Mayo Beekeepers Dromore West, Skreen Church of Ireland, Skreen Dromard Community Care, Skreen Dromard Community Preschool, Skreen Parochial Hall, St Farnan’s GAA, TempleboyAughris Rural Action, Tireragh Community Support, Western Gaels Hurling Club.
The schools benefitting from funding are: Dromore West NS, Killeenduff NS, Kilrusheighter St Mary’s NS, Rathlee NS, Stokane NS and St Joseph’s NS.