Community initiatives in Tipperary awarded significant funding for sustainability projects

SSE Airtricity has announced over €100,000 in funding for sustainability projects in Tipperary and Offaly.

The projects among 56 community-led sustainability initiatives across the island of Ireland to receive full funding through the €5 million fund.

The initiatives aim to develop STEM outreach, and long-term sustainability and biodiversity activities for their local areas - and
supporting communities in Longford, Laois and Westmeath –while fostering climate resilience and community engagement:

• Cloughjordan FC
• BurrenBeo Trust
• Midlands Science
• Irish Schools Sustainability Network

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The Generation Green Community Fund reflects SSE Airtricity’s long-term commitment to supporting the communities it serves, with a focus on enabling meaningful environmental and social change. The fund was developed following extensive engagement with community groups across Ireland, who helped shape its priorities around education, biodiversity, infrastructure, and climate adaptation.

Cloughjordan FC

Cloughjordan FC aims to become a greener, more sustainable club by implementing energy solutions and community focused infrastructure.

The funded initiative will benefit both members and the club in their sustainability journey, while also raising awareness in the community about environmental responsibility.

The Hare’s Corner

BurrenBeo has developed The Hare’s corner initiative to help landowners make more space for nature through creation of wildlife-friendly habitats including a mini-woodland, heritage orchard, a wildlife pond, as well as bespoke advice on the land.

Announcing the funding allocations, Stephen Gallagher, Managing Director of SSE Airtricity, said: “We’re delighted to support these projects – along with a whole range of other ambitious, community-led sustainability projects across the island of Ireland – through our Generation Green Community Fund. Achieving net zero is a shared responsibility, and these initiatives show how vital local leadership is in Ireland’s green energy transition.

“We have listened to the needs of our communities, and they’ve told us what matters most - from improving biodiversity to enhancing local infrastructure and education. We understand the challenges many projects and groups face in accessing funding resources, and we’re proud to play a part in enabling them to create lasting environmental and social impact.”

Welcoming the funding from the SSE Airtricity Generation Green Community Fund Donal Costello, Chairperson Cloughjordan Community Football Club, said:

"We’re delighted our application was successful. This funding lets us advance our sustainability journey by installing more solar panels and batteries on our dressing room, adding full LED lighting to our walking track, applying external insulated cladding
to reduce heat loss, and purchasing a solar-powered mower and pitch marker. These improvements will lower operating costs, cut our carbon footprint, and boost the long-term sustainability of our facilities.

“This project will also educate our community about environmental responsibility and renewable energy. We’re proud to lead by example and contribute to a greener Cloughjordan."

A spokesperson for The Hare’s Corner, said: “The Hare’s Corner is a biodiversity initiative to help landowners make more space for nature through creation of habitats such as Mini-Woodlands, Heritage Orchards, Wildlife Ponds, Wildlife Hedges and through provision of bespoke 'Plans for Nature'. Coordinated by Burrenbeo Trust, a national non-profit organisation that is based in and inspired by the Burren, this initiative draws its name from the old farming expression for the corner of a field or an area of rough ground which wasn’t intensively farmed, and so instead was ‘left to nature’, becoming a refuge for wildlife.

“The Hare’s Corner offers landowners, community groups and schools practical support in the form of free woodland and orchard trees, micro-funding towards expenses of pond digging, free professional advice, guidance material and invitation to learning events. The SSE Airtricity funding for this project will enable the creation of over 300 new Hare’s Corners across various participating counties over the next year. As estimated 9,000 people will have access to new spaces for nature as a result of this funding.”

The 56 funded initiatives across the island of Ireland span a wide range of focus areas including renewable energy upgrades, biodiversity restoration, climate resilience planning, and sustainability education - and were selected for their innovation, local impact, and alignment with Ireland’s climate goals. Sustainability education and STEM initiatives have been awarded over €800,000; while almost €1m has been awarded to green infrastructure and energy upgrade projects, with over a quarter of a million people across Ireland to benefit from the full range of initiatives.