Bord na Móna Celebrates Mountlucas and Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Funds Recipients at Awards Ceremony
- €572,441 invested in North Offaly Communities this year through the Mountlucas and Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Funds, supporting community groups, near neighbours and local scholars
- 41 local community projects in the region announced as new beneficiaries of over €250,000 in Bord na Móna Community Benefit Funds
- 270 households receiving annual Near Neighbour Scheme electricity contribution
- Total invested in North Offaly communities since 2014 through Cloncreen and Mountlucas Wind Farms Community Benefit Funds now stands at over €2 million
Tullamore, December 16th, 2025: Bord na Móna has announced the awarding of over half a million euro in funding during 2024 for communities neighbouring the Mountlucas and Cloncreen Wind Farms in North Offaly., the Mountlucas and Cloncreen Wind Farms Community Benefit Funds are continuing to provide significant financial support to community groups, near neighbours and local scholars.
Bord na Móna’s announcement brings the total investment provided by the combined Community Benefit Funds at Mountlucas and Cloncreen over the past ten years to over €2 million. This funding has supported 327 community projects in Edenderry, Clonbullogue, Ballyfore, Daingean, Mountlucas and Walsh Island, providing annual electricity contribution to 270 households through its Near Neighbour Schemes, ensuring that those living closest to these wind farms directly benefit.
In 2024 alone, the Mountlucas and Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Funds have provided over €250,000 in funding for 41 local community projects. Community initiatives supported in 2024 span across educational institutions to community centres, community development groups and sports clubs including – Gaelscoil Éadan Doire who received investment for educational resources to support immersive Irish-language education within the school.
Bord na Móna’s Community Benefit Funds have also supported the Acorn Project which is helping to drive environmental awareness and sustainability programmes, and funding provided to Walsh Island Development Group will help the delivery of local development initiatives and community infrastructure. Clonbullogue GAA Club was supported in the installation of a 14.79kW Solar PV array and 10.2kW Battery.
Funding provided through the Community Benefit Funds to the Ballycommon Telework and Training Centre is helping the rollout of digital literacy and training programmes, ensuring the community remains connected and empowered in the digital age.
The investments made in these local community initiatives, along with all recipients of Mountlucas and Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Funds in 2024, were celebrated at an Awards Night held by Bord na Móna in Tullamore and hosted by Midlands 103 presenter Ronan Berry. The event recognised the dedication of local groups and individuals who go above and beyond to make a difference in their local communities.
Speaking at the announcement of 2024 funding from the Mountlucas and Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Funds, John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy at Bord na Móna said, “Since 2014, Bord na Móna has been deeply committed to supporting the communities around the Mountlucas Wind Farm and more recently the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund has been introduced. With over €2.2 million invested to date, the positive impact of these Funds is clear to see in the remarkable projects and community-led initiatives that have been delivered. In 2024, we are proud to continue supporting these local communities through our allocation of over €500,000 in financial support for community groups, near neighbours and local scholars. We will continue to work in collaboration with these communities and look forward to building on this work in the years to come.”
For more information on the Mountlucas Wind Farm, please visit: Bord na Móna Wind Farm | Mountlucas Wind Farm
For more information on the Cloncreen Wind Farm, please visit: Bord na Móna Wind Farm | Cloncreen Wind Farm