Westmeath community groups to benefit from over €100,000
In a significant show of support for local community initiatives, over 100 groups across Westmeath have been awarded funding totalling more than €100,000 by the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC). The grants aim to enhance community development, promote social inclusion, and support a range of activities from sports and arts to senior citizen programmes.
Funding recipients represent a wide variety of organisations, including scout groups, active retirement clubs, sports teams, residents associations, and cultural groups, spread across towns and villages from around the county.
The Local Enhancement Programme 2025 was launched in November 2024 with funding of €7 million available, which included €1 million in current funding to support local groups with ongoing running costs.
The funding also provides capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations around the county. Almost 4,500 community organisations will receive funding nationally, with a total of over 5,400 individual projects funded.
Among the Mullingar groups that received support include the Mullingar Choral Society (€385), Mullingar Handball Club (€780), and the Mullingar Lithuanian Community (€780).
In smaller towns, Delvin’s GAA club was awarded €1,245, while the Castlepollard Town Team secured a substantial €5,000, one of the highest individual awards. Kinnegad and Kilbeggan also saw major investments, with the town team committees in the respective towns each receiving €5,000.
Announcing the successful projects recently, Minister Dara Calleary said:
“The Local Enhancement Programme 2025 continues to build on the vital supports provided to community groups through previous iterations of the fund helping them improve their facilities. It provides small-scale funding for projects which range from purchasing IT equipment to minor renovations to buildings and this year also provided an opportunity to groups to apply for help with their operational costs.
“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," he said.
(Westmeath breakdown is available on gov.ie.)