Bord na Móna is proud to announce the recipients of its 2024 Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarship Scheme, as part of a broader investment of over €572,000 in North Offaly communities. €62,500 has been awarded to eight new scholars as well as ten third level students who received multi-annual funding as part of their scholarships awarded in 2023.
Since it was launched in 2023, €145,000 has been awarded through the Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarship Fund, with 21 scholarships granted to date. This scholarship initiative is a cornerstone of Bord na Móna’s community engagement strategy, providing financial support to local students pursuing further education.
The scholarship includes a monetary grant for each student to the value of €2,500 for each year of study, up to a maximum of 4 years. Students must live in the vicinity of Cloncreen Wind Farm to be eligible to apply.
Applications for the Scholarship scheme were evaluated against predefined criteria, giving special consideration to courses related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and those contributing to sustainability, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Applications were welcomed from all third level courses and further education, from Level 6 and upwards as per the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
The Scholarship scheme is directly funded by the renewable energy generated at Cloncreen Wind Farm. This scheme forms part of the wider Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund package which provides annual grant funding for a variety of initiatives and schemes in local communities. This forms part of Bord na Móna’s broader community investment strategy, which has seen over €2 million directed into local communities through the Cloncreen and Mountlucas Wind Farms Community Benefit Funds since 2014.
The new recipients of the Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarship Fund in 2024 are:
– Logan Rave, studying Electronic Engineering at Maynooth University
– Heather McCabe Comerford, studying a Bachelor of Arts (English and Geography) at the University of Galway
– Luke Behan, an Apprentice with the Chief Mechanical Engineering department in Irish Rail
– Cillian Lowry, studying Architectural Technology at SETU Carlow
– Connie Leech, studying a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery at the University of Limerick
– Daniel Hanlon, studying Computer Engineering with Network Infrastructure at TUS Athlone.
– Chloe Merrigan, studying Children’s Studies at the University of Galway
– Cillian Foran, studying Project & Construction Management at the University of Galway
Speaking at the announcement of the scholarship awards, John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy at Bord na Móna said, “We would like to congratulate the latest recipients of the Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarships. This is an essential part of our broader investment into the communities where we operate. We are extremely proud of all of the students we have supported through the programme to date. This scholarship programme, as well as the community projects and initiatives we have supported with over €2 million of funding to date, have had direct positive impacts on the communities in North Offaly. This investment highlights our ongoing commitment to supporting local students, community groups, and near neighbours, with a focus on education and sustainability.”
In addition to the scholarship programme, Bord na Móna also supported 41 local community projects in North Offaly in 2024 through its Mountlucas and Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Funds. Recipients included educational institutions, community centres, community development groups and sports clubs.
Students living in the vicinity of Cloncreen Wind Farm who wish to find out more about the scholarship programme can do so by contacting cloncreenwindfarm@bnm.ie or by visiting https://www.cloncreenwindfarm.ie/community-benefits/