Kildare community groups to benefit from €250k pot
Athy Family Resource Centre was one of the beneficiaries
SEVERAL Kildare applicants have been approved funding under the Local Enhancement Programme 2026, a joint effort by Kildare County Council and Kildare Local Community Development Committee.
A total of sixty-four successful community and voluntary groups and organisations across Kildare will share funding of €246,667.65 to support small scale capital and equipment costs.
The funding will support a wide range of community-led projects across the county, including improvements to community facilities, sensory supports, storage, equipment and renovation works. Examples of projects supported under the Local Enhancement Programme 2026 include:
Curragh Family Resource Centre will receive €7,425.18 towards storage, chairs, painting and repairs, while Rathangan Community Association will receive €8,715.07 towards toys and materials for a sensory room.
South Kildare groups received significant support, including Teach Dhiarmada Ltd with €9,817.75, Brownstown Community Hall with €9,656, Rathangan Community Association with €8,715.07, Nurney Kildangan CEP with €6,694.54 and Monasterevin Tidy Towns with €5,865.83.
Community organisations in Athy also featured strongly, with Athy Resource Centre receiving €7,448.56, Athy Sing and Sign receiving €4,067, Athy Community Family Resource Centre receiving €3,556.05, Arch Athy receiving €624.25 and Athy Men's Shed receiving €860.
Several youth and scouting groups also benefited from grants, with the 23rd Kildare (Sallins) Scout Group receiving €9,662.52, 5th Kildare Athy Scouts receiving €2,261.41, 9th Kildare Kilcullen Scouts receiving €1,553.59 and 8th Kildare Allenwood Scout Group receiving €465.
Funding was also provided to groups supporting health, wellbeing and social inclusion, including Kildare Traveller Action with €7,144.60, Curragh Family Resource Centre with €7,425.18, Newbridge Access Group with €3,154.58, Tiglin Challenge with €2,021.69, McAuley Place with €2,460 and Rural South Kildare Community First Responders with €2,149.70, while Castledermot First Responders Group received €3,761.81.
In the Naas and Sallins area, Newbridge Men's Shed received €7,553, Sallins Men's Shed received €2,075, Naas Community Men's Shed received €1,178, Naas Women's Shed received €1,169.50 and Sallins Sunshine Club received €1,114.
Other recipients included Kildare Town Community Garden with €8,243.13, Kilcullen Community Action with €4,771, Narraghmore Dev CLG trading as The Old Hardware with €2,411.80, Timahoe Active Age Group with €1,458.90, Kildangan Indoor Bowls Club with €1,450 and Ryston/Newbridge Bowling Club with €1,510.71 A full list of successful Kildare LEP applicants is available on Kildare County Council’s website at https://kildarecoco.ie/AllServices/Community/CommunityGrants/LocalEnhancementProgramme2026.
