Over €660k funding for 11 community centres in Louth announced

€663,988 in funding to deliver enhancement and refurbishment works on 11 community centres in Louth has been announced today by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary.

The funding, under the 2024 Community Centre Investment Fund, is part of a €26.1 million funding package for 369 community centres nationwide. The successful community centre projects announced today will receive capital grants of up to €100,000 under category 2 of the fund. 

The 11 organisations in Louth that will be receiving the funding, along with the facility, the project being funded and the funding amount are as follows:

• Cooley Kickhams GFC - Cooley Kichams GAA Club - To fund the installation of new energy-efficient hot water tanks, triple-glazed uPVC units and energy efficient PVC composite external doors - €85,359
• Kilkerley Community Development Group Ltd - Kilkerley Community Centre - To fund a new roof, install an automated extractor fan system and an automated smoke extraction fan in the stairs - €40,000
• Mattock Rangers GFC - Mattock Rangers Community Centre - To fund the renovation of the roof, upgrade the toilets, light fittings and replace floor covering - €50,000
• Naomh Fionnbarra & St. Anne's GFG - Naomh Fionnbarra & St. Anne's Community Centre - To fund the renovation of meeting room, hallway, kitchen and toilets - €31,497
• St. Bride's GFC - St. Bride's Community Centre - To fund installation of a lift - €25,000
• St. Nicholas GFC - St Nichola's GFC Community Clubhouse - To fund the refurbishment of centre to include the installation of acoustic undercarriage to the 1st floor to the function rooms and new floorcovering - €67,728
• St. Kevin's GAA - St. Kevin's GAA Community Hall - To fund the renovations and upgrade to address structural issues, improve energy efficiency, safety and functionality - €100,000
• Drogheda Community Services Trust - Drogheda Community Services Centre - To fund an extension to the Drogheda Community Services Centre - €100,000
• St. Fechin's GAA - St. Fechin's GAA Community Centre - To fund upgrading the acoustic paneling and stage lighting - €32,000
• Geraldine's GFC - Haggardstown/Geraldine's Community Centre - To fund improvements to kitchen and toilet facilities and essential maintenance of the walls/floors - €55,454
• Killanny Community & Sports Association - Killanny Community Centre - To fund the installation of solar PV panels and the upgrade to LED fixtures - €76,950

News of the funding was welcomed by Louth Fine Gael TD, Paula Butterly, who said that, “community centres play an essential role in bringing our communities together. Whether it’s local meetings, celebrations, or classes for children or retired people, our community centres in Louth have always been a central point in every town and village for people to come together.

“Communities across Louth will now be empowered to make the changes they need to their community centres to ensure they are up to a high standard."

The news was also welcomed by Louth Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan, who said that "community Centres are the lifeblood of our communities. They play host to some of our most important occasions, in good times and in bad. Again in recent weeks we have seen the importance of these centres for their local communities as many of them became emergency hubs in the aftermath of storm Éowyn.