Waterford City and County Council has allocated €564,000 to support seventeen community groups for local climate action projects.

Waterford City and County Council, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications launched the Community Climate Action Programme earlier this year.

The programme is designed to assist both small and large, rural and urban communities in addressing climate action locally. It provides these communities with opportunities to adopt a comprehensive approach and actively transition to low-carbon, sustainable living.

Community projects from Tallow to Tramore and Ballyduff to Ballysaggart have received respective funding of between €4,000 and €92,000 to provide their communities with the support and resources to implement a myriad of climate action initiatives.

Under the programme, projects needed to address themes such as energy, travel, food and waste, shopping and recycling and local climate and environmental action. They could include a range of measures rather than a single specific action. Successful projects include upgrading pitch lighting to LEDs, installing solar PVs, creating urban orchards, establishing pollinator plantations, setting up a community fridge and initiating a school uniform recycling programme.

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One notable project, Tallow GAA Club, received over €59,000 for several initiatives, including installing solar pitch lighting, water refilling stations, bike parking and pollinator planting at both Tallow GAA and Bridewell AFC.

The Top of the City Community Garden received €45,000 to introduce vertical growing spaces and green roof structures, along with a rainwater filtration system, foraging area for community hens and a raised pond.

Susan Lee, Community Climate Action Officer with Waterford City and County Council said: "These community groups have shown their commitment and foresight in implementing climate action measures that will have a resounding impact on their communities as a whole."

Ardmore Tidy Towns received €48,150 to lead a town-wide initiative benefiting St. Declan's GAA Club, St. Declan’s Camogie Club, Ardmore and Grange LGFA, St. Declan’s Community Park, Ardmore Community Hall and Ardmore and Grange ICA Hall.

Louise Carlton of Ardmore Tidy Towns said: "We wanted to make a positive change in the community and one that we would all benefit from. This is a true collaborative effort between multiple local groups working together to make our area more sustainable for the future and we have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm this initiative has generated."

Affane Cappoquin Tourin GAA Club and Sigersons GAA Club Strabane in Tyrone were awarded €92,007 (€42,200 and €49,807 respectively) for a Cross-Border collaborative project, where both clubs installed solar panels, with Affane introducing bike parking, along with the transformation of a dying ash plantation into an accessible biodiversity amenity space, a pre-loved sports kit programme and a hybrid converter.

Image Credit: Patrick Browne