Funding bonanza for East Clare villages

Nine East Clare community and Tidy Towns groups have benefitted from a once-off funding allocation, totaling €34,000, under the Public Area Enhancement Scheme, to improve their own locality.
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is providing 75% of the finance, with the remainder being matched by Clare County Council.
Scariff Community Council’s project to carry out improvement works to Riverside Park, and Sixmilebridge Development Association/Tidy Towns’ proposal to develop a Slí na Sláinte Walk Route have benefitted from most of the funding available, each receiving €6,000.
Further to this, two East Clare groups will receive €5,000 under the fund.
They include Kilkishen Development Ltd, which aims to develop a Kilkishen Castle Bog Walk, while Tuamgraney Development Association will also benefit from this funding, which will be used to carry out improvement works to the approach road to Tuamgraney from Bodyke.
Aistear Iniscealtra Mountshannon have been awarded €3,000 in funding to upgrade the public park, while, in a separate initiative, also in Mountshannon, €3,000 has been provided for Mountshannon Community Council, to install outdoor fitness equipment at the Aistear Park.
In addition to this, O’Callaghan’s Mills will benefit from €2,000 in funds, to develop a seating and picnic area in the village. Feakle Tidy Towns will use funding of €2,000 to develop a well area, providing a focal point in the village.
Whitegate Tidy Towns also received €2,000, to provide new road signage on regional roads in the locality, to construct flowerbeds of stone and to undertake general amenity works in their community.
Mayor of Clare and Killaloe Electoral Area candidate, Councillor Joe Arkins said this funding announcement meant that a huge number of local projects can now be undertaken across Clare.
He said the funding boost was especially welcome, considering the reduction in recent years of finance for such community-based projects.
A total of 32 funding applications were received from around County Clare at the Tidy Towns information evening, held during March. All 32 will benefit under the funding announcement, which came to a total of €112,500 in the county.

By Carol Byrne