Kildare group's climate grant a recognition of local work
Some Ballyshannon families at their recent annual spring clean of the area. Photo: Ballyshannon Action Group
THE announcement last week of a grant from the Climate Actions Work Engagement Fund has been welcomed by Ballyshannon Action Group as a recognition for the work they have been carrying out for the past six years to highlight the biodiversity of their small rural area.
The group have been allocated €2,500 from the €500,000 national fund designed to engage new audiences in local regions on climate issues.
"We have worked really hard to raise awareness of the importance of the biodiversity and rich heritage in Ballyshannon and its surrounds," a spokesperson told the .
"It is a huge endorsement for us to receive this funding from the government, to ensure that we can continue to get our message out and continue to teach future generations just how precious this area is and what steps we can take to protect it.”
The group was initially formed to fight plans for a Kilsaran quarry in their local rural community, permission for which was refused by Kildare County Council but later allowed by An Bord Pleanála. Ballyshannon Action Group are currently awaiting a High Court decision on their application for a Judicial Review of that decision.
Last July, the group produced a Community Biodiversity Action Plan, commissioned from ecologist Dr Catherine O'Connell with the help of a previous €5,500 grant from Community Foundation Ireland.
Dr O'Connell identified at least 110 different species in hedgerows, streams, gardens and road frontages in the local area, and the plan assessed these and also provided ideas for further improvements to local biodiversity.
The Climate Actions Work Engagement Fund supports are aimed at groups or organisations working to bring people together to share information on climate action. The individual amounts granted nationally ranged from €2,500 to €10,000.
Two other Co Kildare recipients are the Maynooth Sustainable Energy Community, awarded €5,000 for raising awareness of the Maynooth Decarbonising Zone and showing communities what initiatives they can take, while the Naas-based No Planet B club which runs courses on ‘Youth Climate Action and Leadership’ was awarded €2,500.
