Scotland's SSE Renewables has announced the recipients of it's 2021 Community Funds awards – benefitting community groups in the vicinity of its wind farms in County Cork.

The 2021 Coomacheo and Curragh Community Fund of €119,000 was awarded to 37 groups, while the Coomatallin Community Fund of €11,722 was divided between nine recipients.

Through the Community Funds for its wind farms, SSE Renewables makes annual contributions to local community groups. The company has been funding community projects in Co. Cork since 2006, and these latest presentations take its overall contribution in the Rebel County to over €1.7 million.

SSE Renewables is the leading developer and operator of renewable energy in Ireland and is the power behind leading greener energy provider and sister company SSE Airtricity.

This year marks a change in the name of the community funding programme. Previously promoted under the SSE Airtricity brand, the programme will now be known as the SSE Renewables Community Fund. The change is designed to better link annual funding award payments from SSE's wind farms in Northern Ireland to SSE Renewables, which owns and operates each of the company's wind farm sites.

Irish Community Air Ambulance which operates Ireland's first and only charity funded HEMS Air ambulance received funding from the Coomacheo and Curragh Community Fund to run their services.

Karen O'Sullivan, Key Relationships Manager, said: "We're delighted to be receiving funding from the SSE Renewables as this will enable us to continue our services. Support like this helps us to bring hope to those most vulnerable so they can receive equal health care to those living near cities and major hospitals. July 2021 was one of our busiest months to date, crew were tasked to 57 separate incidents in 8 counties."

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Margaret Murphy, Secretary Drinagh Community Association said: "The funding from SSE Renewables Community Fund will enable us to meet the financial costs incurred this year, ensuring our insurance costs are met for the coming year. The insurance cost for the Association also includes the outdoor tennis court & gym facility. Our tennis court, picnic area and outdoor gym provides a safe environment for people of all ages to come together in the community."

The majority of this year's recipient groups are putting the funding towards Covid measures and running costs towards opening their schools, clubs and community centres. A diverse range of initiatives were supported including computer and iPads for Banteer Sportsfield Ltd, Cloughla National School, Kilcorney National School and Scoil Aban Naofa to outdoor classrooms at Scoil Chuil Aodha, Rylane National School and Presentation National School Millstreet, to pitch lighting project for Cumann Peile Beal Athan Ghaorthaid, to light the bridge by Coiste Forbartha Beal Áth'n Ghaorthaid, to equipment upgrades for Carriganima Childcare Centre, Comharchumann Forbartha Múscraí Teo, Rylane Community Park Association, Cuil Aodha Tidy Towns, Ballyvourney Tidy Towns, Baile Mhic Ire Tidy Towns, Comhaltas Cosanta Gaeltachta Chuil Aodha Teo, Halla Baile Mhuire , Millstreet Housing & Day Centre and Peileadoire an tSuláin, to outdoor gyms at Clondrohid Community Recreational Facility and Aghinagh GAA Club, to replacement windows for Ballinagree National School, to replacement exit doors at Cox's Hall Dunmanway, to hand dryers at and Scoil Mhuire Millstreet and Carriganima National School ,to heating project at Comhlacht Tithe Sóisialta & Forbairta Iona Lae and Kilcorney Community Development Association, to light projects at Clann na nGael GAA & sacred Heart Church Graveyard in Drinagh, to a Defibrillator at Millstreet GAA, to a website upgrade for Coiste Forbartha Beal Áth'n Ghaorthaid Súgán Museum, to sponsoring Chumann na hEireann Reigiun na Gaeltachta, to a contribution towards restoring Dan Joe Videos LTV Ltd, to contribution towards a garden project at Colaiste Ghobnatan, as well as a contribution towards Phase 5 Carriganima Broadband Committee to increase the number of households connected to broad band around Commacheo & Curragh Wind farms.

Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said: "We're very proud to be making a difference in the local area particularly in this difficult time for communities, this year's fund has been repurposed to assist in the relief measures around Covid-19. It is hoped this fund can provide some support with the ongoing pressures in the community owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. This latest funding brings our total contribution to the communities close to our Coomacheo, Curragh and Coomatallin Wind Farms to over €1.7 million since 2006, with 46 groups benefitting this year."

SSE Renewables operates three wind farms in Co. Cork with a combined capacity of around 66 MW and produce enough green energy to power nearly 34,000 homes.