Funding granted for rain water garden in Offaly town
A stainless steel sculpture will be placed outside the Family Resource Centre in Clara
€13,975 has been awarded to Clara Tidy Towns for the creation of a Rainwater Garden in the town centre at River Street.
The funding was granted under the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), working on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality.
Mary Delaney, Chair of Clara Tidy Towns committee, said the plan which was initiated by Tim McMahon, is to locate the structure outside the Family Resource Centre.
Mary said it will involve a stainless steel sculpture. ''The water will come from the downpipes going into three stainless steel cups which will cascade down. There will be some ground level beds, and raised beds and seated areas and pollinator planting at the site.''
''We have the plans and we have been allocated the grant, we have to seek permission now,'' said Mary. ''We are also talking to the Clara town team,'' she added.
€28,975 was granted to two projects in Offaly. Under the fund local communities and groups were invited to apply for financial assistance to support the delivery of projects and initiatives to enhance local water bodies and benefit water quality and biodiversity.
In Offaly Clara Tidy Towns- Creation of a Rainwater Garden in town centre at River Street in Clara (€13,975) and Rahan Community Hall-Flood Alleviation - Hall car park and road - Creation of Rain Garden and bio retention area (€15,000).
Since 2018, on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, LAWPRO has made over €3.7m available through this funding scheme to communities, assisting in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive through Ireland’s Water Action Plan. The funding provided annually has also increased significantly during this period, from €185,800 in 2018 to over €1 million in 2025.
Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD welcomed this announcement: ''The Water Development Fund provides vital support to the tremendous efforts of local communities and voluntary groups around the country who work hard to raise awareness of their local rivers, lakes, streams and biodiversity.
“Each and every project supported plays a part in achieving our collective goal to improve water quality under the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.”