Senator Shane Cassells with St Brigid’s GFC chairman Hugh Gilsenan. They received €45,000 for works at their ground.

Five Meath projects to receive CLÁR funding

A massive investment of over quarter of a million has been allocated in Clár funding to seven groups in North Meath this morning.

The biggest winner of all is the village of Ballinacree where €95,000 has been allocated between the local school and the GAA club.

St Fiach’s NS, where famous All Black rugby player Beauden Barrett attended, has been allocated €50,000 for a multi-use games area.

The local GAA club St Brigid’s has been allocated €45,000 for surfacing works and widening of the driveway to access the running track at the grounds.

Other recipients in the area include Ballinlough GFC (€36,300), Moylagh GAA (€50,000), Kilskyre Parish Hall (€34,728), Newcastle Community Hall (€39,870) and McCabe’s Well (€15,170).

Local Senator Shane Cassells welcomed the funding this morning stating that it was “great to see rural areas of North Meath receive substantial investment.”

“The clubs who have received this money this morning are the beating heart of North Meath.

“I am particularly delighted to see the money for St Fiach’s NS which will provide an astro pitch area to create a multi-use games area for use by the whole community.”

The announcements by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, on Monday, were welcomed by Meath West TD, Minister Damien English, and his party colleague, Fine Gael Kells councillor, Sarah Reilly.

Minister Humphreys said: "I want to congratulate all of the successful applicants and I wish them the best of luck in carrying out these works which will make our rural communities even more attractive places to live, work and raise a family. In view of the hugely positive response from communities, I am exploring the possibility of providing further funding for a second tranche of projects under CLÁR and I hope to make an announcement on this in the near future."

"Recent census results demonstrate that there are now more people living and working in rural Ireland than ever before, which is extremely positive.

"As a party, we have always prioritised sustainable rural development to allow people live, work and grow old in their own communities.

"Last year, Government launched our most ambitious rural development policy in decades, and ‘Our Rural Future’ is already having big impact in communities up and down the country including in Co Meath.

Announcing €7.4 million for 175 community projects nationwide, Minister Humphreys said: "I want to congratulate all of the successful applicants and I wish them the best of luck in carrying out these works which will make our rural communities even more attractive places to live, work and raise a family."

"In view of the hugely positive response from communities, I am exploring the possibility of providing further funding for a second tranche of projects under CLAR and I hope to make an announcement on this in the near future."