Green Light for Green Energy: Ardee St Mary’s Included in Massive €650,000 County Climate Windfall
Louth County Council has formally welcomed a significant capital injection of €651,374 aimed at funding community-led carbon reduction, renewable energy transitions, and biodiversity frameworks across the county.
The extensive investment package, officially announced by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien T.D., has been awarded to 17 community organizations under Phase 2 of the Community Climate Action Programme. Funded directly by the Department, the scheme issues individual grants reaching up to €100,000, allowing local voluntary panels to execute comprehensive environmental renovations in full.
📋 Mid-Louth Recipients & Slated Eco-Works
The approved funding will pay for multiple practical engineering and environmental upgrades across active community hubs:
- Ardee St. Mary’s GFC & Mattock Rangers: Leading the charge for local sports infrastructure, these prominent clubs will utilize the capital support to optimize energy usage and install sustainable systems.
- Naomh Máirtín & Clan na Gael: Further expanding the sports sector’s green footprint alongside the likes of Dundalk Young Irelands, Oliver Plunketts, and Kilkerley Emmetts.
- Dromiskin Tidy Towns: Fueling localized biodiversity protection, pollinator-friendly landscape planting, and eco-preservation fields.
- Infrastructure Core Improvements: Across the 17 successful projects, the capital will deliver physical installations of rooftop solar panels, high-efficiency LED lighting transitions, bike shelters, EV charging stations, water refill points, and rainwater harvesting networks.
Local Authority Leaders Commend Civic Innovation
Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Seán Kelly, expressed his delight at the massive grassroots engagement. “This funding explicitly recognizes the paramount role local voluntary groups play in taking daily climate action. It provides the financial backing needed to create a more resilient, sustainable county for future generations,” he stated.
“The exceptionally high quality of these applications showcases the deep commitment and innovation thriving across our communities. We are incredibly proud to support these eco-upgrades and the long-term economic and environmental benefits they will bring to our towns.” — David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council
Fiona Lennon, the local authority’s Community Climate Action Officer, added that building upon the solid foundation laid down in Phase 1, these new grants will profoundly strengthen local capacity to handle modern climate challenges. Additional successful county groups include St. John of God North East Services, Louth Beekeepers Association, Drogheda Homeless Aid, Dundalk Tennis Club, Dundalk Dog Rescue, Albion Rovers FC, Muirhevnamor Community Gardens, the Stephenstown Pond Trust, and the Haggardstown and Blackrock Community Centre.
A Highly Progressive Local Framework
This major financial windfall caps off an extraordinary week of local progress and celebration across Mid-Louth townlands. The environmental boost perfectly aligns with **Ardee St. Mary’s superb late victory to go top of GAA Division 1**, right alongside the exciting news that **17 new homes have secured final approval at Moorhall Rise on Hale Street**.
Similarly, the emphasis on local community health matches several big seasonal highlights launching this June Bank Holiday weekend—including the **free Castlebellingham/Kilsaran Street Feast** celebration and the **Tallanstown Ladies local Mini Marathon** benefiting the Ardee Hospice network. With planning staff and project managers set to advance solar and energy refits over the summer, Louth’s civic facilities are firmly on track for an eco-friendly future.
