€61,000 in funding available for Donegal's 41 Tidy Towns groups

Efforts of the hundreds of Tidy Towns volunteers to make our towns and villages more vibrant and better places to live, work and raise a family received a boost today with the news that they may be eligible for some extra cash for their projects.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced the details of €1.4 million in funding to support groups preparing for the 2023 SuperValu Tidy Towns competition.

As part of the initiative, grants of between €1,000 and €4,000 will be provided to almost 900 Tidy Towns groups right across the country.

Here in Donegal 41 groups can apply for the various cash sums.

They are €1,000: Clonmany, Doochary, Narin/Portnoo, Glencolmcille, Malin, Gortahork, Baile na Finne, Kerrykeel, Oilean Ghabhla, Maghery, Ardara, Kilcar, Castlefin, Culdaff, Ballyliffin, Glenties, Loch an Iuir, Rathmullan, Kilmacrennan, Carrigart, Carrigans, Downings, Annagry, Manorcunningham and Dore.

The towns eligible for €2,000 are Dungloe, Moville, Raphoe, Ramelton, Killybegs, Muff, Falcarragh, Newtowncunningham, Carndonagh, Donegal, Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Gaoth Dobhair while Ballybofey-Stranorlar and Buncrana are eligible for €3,000 and Letterkenny the €4,000 grant.

They will be contacted before Christmas to confirm their funding. Applications for funding must be returned to Pobal no later than February 28, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted. All projects and initiatives funded through this support must be completed by July 31, 2023.

Minister Humphreys is keen to see the groups expand their initiatives.

"I am encouraging groups availing of the funding to look at projects for their green spaces and parks, and projects that are sensitive to our biodiversity and promote sustainable living. I am confident that this funding can help further support such initiatives,” she said.

“I want to support our Tidy Towns Groups in preparing for next year’s competition and I am delighted to announce the detail of the €1.4 million in funding which I confirmed at the event in the RDS in October.

“The funding of between €1,000 and €4,000 is being provided to groups to assist them in preparing for the 2023 Competition, the 65th anniversary of the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition, but no sign of retirement on it – it’s stronger it’s getting."

She added: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the thousands and thousands of Tidy Towns volunteers that have given of their time and skills so generously over the years. I am confident that the funding provided by my department in recent years, in addition to the funding I am referring to today, has made and will continue to make, a real difference in the towns and villages of Ireland.”