More than €300,000 allocated to almost 150 community groups across Donegal
The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) provides capital supports essential for many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas
Almost 150 community groups across Donegal have received a total of more than
€300,000 in Local Enhancement Programme Funding for Community Groups Across Donegal.
The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) provides capital supports essential for many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas, so they can make improvements to their facilities and buy equipment for community use.
The initiative provides small grants to community groups in a manner consistent with each area’s Local Economic and Community Plan, with allocations ranging from €750 to €5,000.
Making the announcement, Minister Dara Calleary said:“The impact of the Local Enhancement Programme is considerable, and it allows community groups to carry out the invaluable work they do on behalf of others in local areas throughout the country.
“It helps groups to improve their facilities through small-scale funding for a wide range of projects including minor renovations to buildings and the purchase of essential equipment for the maintenance of public areas. It also allows groups to purchase items such as IT equipment to enable groups to conduct their business.
“As Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, I am delighted to be able to continue providing any support I can to community groups across the country.”
Welcoming the allocation of €303,465.26 to Donegal, Donegal minister of state, Charlie McConalogue, said: “The Local Enhancement Programme delivers substantial, measurable benefits to our local organisations. It allows community groups to carry out the invaluable work they do on behalf of others in local areas throughout Donegal.”
“Donegal’s allocation is part of a €7 million funding package that will benefit over 4,100 community projects nationwide. The programme provides targeted grants to support small, local groups and organisations, particularly in disadvantaged urban and rural areas, aligning with the ‘Our Rural Future’ policy,” the minister of state with special responsibility for sport and postal policy added.
Donegal Fianna Fáil TD Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher welcomed the announcement of the funding describing it as a major investment in the voluntary spirit that keeps Donegal’s communities strong.
Deputy Gallagher said the funding will support more than 150 groups countywide, delivering essential upgrades, equipment purchases, and facility improvements for organisations that play a vital role in local life.
“This funding is a tremendous boost for Donegal. Our community groups—large and small—are the backbone of local life, and these grants will help them continue their invaluable work. I want to congratulate every organisation that has secured support,” he said.
He highlighted the positive impact of the grants in Dungloe, Burtonport, Keadue, Gweedore and Leitirmacaward, noting that these areas have long demonstrated exceptional community spirit and volunteer commitment.
The groups that received the fuding are: Active Seniors Lettermacaward and Doochary – €760.00; An Gailearaí Dhún na nGall GLC – €5,000.00; An Machaire Le Cheile CLG – €1,000.00; Aodh Ruadh GAA Club – €5,000.00; Ard Baithin Residents Group – €750.00; Ardara Ladies GAA Club – €1,000.00; Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland – €1,000.00; Awake Tourism – €5,000.00; Ballindrait Badminton Club – €1,000.00; Ballintra Active Group – €500.00; Ballintra Orange Hall – €5,000.00; Ballybofey & Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce – €889.00; Ballybofey and Stranorlar Tidy Towns – €5,000.00; Ballylennon Presbyterian Church (Hall) – €1,000.00; Balor DCA Group CLG – €1,000.00; Barrack Hill Town Park Steering Committee – €5,490.54; BASICC – Ballybofey & Stranorlar Integrated Community Company – €889.00; Board of Management – Loreto Secondary School – €1,000.00; Bruckless Community Centre CLG – €5,000.00; Buncrana Community Garden – €1,000.00; Buncrana Tidy Towns Initiative – €1,000.00; Butt Drama Circle – €1,000.00; Cappry Rovers FC – €1,000.00; Carndonagh Boxing Club – €1,000.00; Carndonagh Football Club CLG – €1,000.00; Carrigans Tidy Towns – €5,000.00; Carrigart Development Association – €1,000.00; Carrowmenagh Community Centre – €5,000.00; Castlefin Celtic F.C. – €1,000.00; Castlefinn Tidy Towns – €5,000.00; CDP na Rosann CTR – €5,000.00; Céim Aniar CTR – €1,000.00; Church Hill Community Development Group – €500.00; CLG Ghleann Fhinne – €1,000.00; Clogher Le Cheile – €637.78; Cloughaneely Men's Shed – €5,000.00; Coiste Cultúir Loch an Íuir – €1,000.00; Coiste Forbartha Ceantair Mhín an Aoire – €5,000.00; Coiste Forbartha Croithlí – €1,000.00; Coiste Forbartha Ghleann Bhairr – €978.23; Coiste Forbartha Mín Ná Leice – €1,000.00; Colgan Community & Resource Centre Limited – €1,000.00; Comharchumann Forbartha & Fostaíochta Árainn Mhór – €1,000.00; Comharchumann Forbartha Ghaoth Dobhair – €5,000.00; Comhlucht Traenach na Gaeltachta Láir (2000) Teoranta – €5,000.00; County Donegal Railway Restoration CLG – €1,000.00; Creeslough Community Day Centre – €5,000.00; Crolly Anglers Association – €892.00; Crossroads and Killygordon Enterprise CLG – €5,000.00; Crossroads Community Christmas Lights – €1,000.00; Cumann Iacsairí Bhaile na Finne – €1,000.00; Derryveagh Boxing Club – €1,000.00; Desertegney Youth Club Incorporating Dunree FC – €1,000.00; Donegal Ancestry CLG – €982.19; Donegal Archers – €1,000.00; Donegal Athletics County Board – €1,000.00; Donegal Community Games – €1,000.00; Donegal Town Basket Club – €1,000.00; Drimarone Development CLG – €1,000.00; Drumkeen Environmental Community Group – €5,000.00; Dungloe Amateur Boxing Club – €1,000.00; Fanad Development Association – €1,000.00; Fanad United Football Club – €5,000.00; Finn Valley Family Resource Centre – €5,000.00; Finn Valley Rugby Club – €1,000.00; Finn Wheelers Cycling Club – €1,000.00;
Fort Dunree Military Museum CLG – €529.00; Foxhall Community Hall – €5,000.00; Frosses Hall Committee – €1,000.00; Glen Rovers FC – €1,000.00; Glengad Community Association CLG – €5,000.00; Go Visit Inishowen (Explore Inishowen) – €936.24; Golf Cumann Gaoth Dobhair – €1,000.00; GRASP (Greater Responsibility and Awareness in Suicide Prevention) – €630.00; Halla Paróiste Chill Chartha – €5,000.00; Illies Community Development Association – €5,000.00; Illistrin FC – €5,000.00; Inishowen Traditional Singers' Circle / Ciorcal Amhránaíochta Traidisiúnta Inis Eoghain – €921.22; Ionad Pobail Cholmcille CTR – €1,000.00; Keadue Rovers Football Club – €1,000.00; Killaghtee Active Retirement Association – €1,000.00; Killaghtee Temp LOL 1319 – €1,000.00; Killybegs Employment Project Ltd – €1,000.00; Killybegs Festival and Events – €5,000.00; Killygordon and Crossroads Youth Club CLG – €1,000.00; Killymard Hall Committee – €1,000.00; Kilmacrennan Community Hall CLG – €1,000.00; Kilmacrennan Men's Shed – €1,000.00; Kilmacrennan, Termon, Gartan, Churchill and Trentagh Community First Responders – €5,000.00; Letterkenny Boxing Club – €1,000.00; Letterkenny Community Centre CLG – €1,000.00; Letterkenny Community Development Project CLG – €5,000.00; Letterkenny Community Gardens – €980.00; Lettermacaward Development CLG – €5,000.00; Lifford Association Tourism Commerce Heritage CLG (LATCH CLG) – €966.40; Lifford Celtic FC – €1,000.00; Lifford Clonleigh Community Centre (St. Patrick's Church, Murlog) – €995.00; Lifford Meals on Wheels Services – €919.00; Longvale Community Fishery – €820.00; Malin Head Community Association Ltd – €1,000.00; Manorcunningham Pipe Band – €1,000.00; Mevagh Day Centre CLG – €1,000.00; Mevagh Development Association – €5,000.00; Mevagh Men's Shed / Scioból na bhFear, Na Dúnaibh – €1,000.00; Milford Ju Jitsu Club – €1,000.00; Mountcharles Dyslexia Group – €1,000.00; Moville and District Family Resource Centre – €5,000.00; Moville Men's Shed – €1,000.00; Moyne Pipe Band – €1,000.00; Moyne Ulster-Scots Association (Youth Club) – €1,000.00; Muff Community Development – €5,000.00; Muileann Coirce Leitir CTR – €1,000.00; Naomh Padraig Leifear GAA CLG – €5,000.00; Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin – €1,000.00; Planet Youth – €874.00; Pobail Páirtiúcht Iar Dheisceart Dhún na nGall – €1,000.00; Premier Darts Community – €5,000.00; Radharc na Cille Residents Association – €1,000.00; Ramelton Community Playgroup – €1,000.00; Raphoe Cathedral Hall Management Committee CLG – €500.00; Raphoe Community In Action CLG – €976.10;
Raphoe Family Resource Centre CLG – €5,000.00; Raphoe Seniors Friday Club – €1,000.00; Rathmullan Tidy Towns under the banner of Rathmullan the Way Forward CLG – €957.00; Ray Community Group – €5,000.00; Raymochy Parishes Historical Society – €750.00; Red Hughs GAA Club – €1,000.00; Rosses Men's Shed – €1,000.00; S.N. Glasáin – €1,000.00; Sliabh Sneacht Centre CLG – €5,000.00; St. Brigid's Youth & Community Co-Operative Society Ltd T/A Clonmany Youth & Community Resource Centre – €5,000.00; St Johnston & Carrigans Groups Ltd – €5,000.00; St. Columba's Community Development Group – €5,000.00; St. Johnston Orange Lodge – €1,000.00; St. Ninian's Convoy Parish Church – €1,000.00; Swilly Sisters' Shed – €958.00; The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation – €5,000.00; The Finn Valley Guild ICA – €800.00; The Forge Family Resource Centre – €5,000.00; Thiepval Memorial Hall – €1,000.00; Trustees of Leghawney Hall CLG – €5,000.00; Twin Towns Boxing Club – €1,000.00; Twin Town's Projects CLG – €1,000.00; Whitestrand United Football Club – €1,000.00.