€165,000 funding boost announced to support over 130 community groups across Laois

132 groups all across County Laois, each wide-ranging and rooted in their communities, have this week received a boost in funding support.

The investment, made under the Local Enhancement Programme, is designed to empower local groups to continue their invaluable work, whether that’s through enhancing facilities, covering operational costs, or launching small but impactful local projects.

The Government described their announcement as “a celebration of community resilience and local pride, recognising the dedication of volunteers, leaders, and residents who shape the heartbeat” of local communities.

From sports clubs to town teams to voluntary services, the funding provides “a vital boost” to grassroots organisations making a real difference.

Laois Fine Gael TD Willie Aird welcomed the news, saying: “I am delighted today to announce funding to support over 100 organisations that do fantastic work right across County Laois.

“These grants are small in nature but I know they make such a big difference to the organisations involved. The groups might use the funding to pay a particular bill or fund a project or idea.

“I have visited many of these groups across County Laois and I have seen first-hand the fantastic work that they do for the benefit of their communities.

“These groups do invaluable work to make our communities better places to live, work and raise a family.”

Laois Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming also welcomed the funding supports, saying: “I want to congratulate the successful Laois applicants and thank them for the vital work they do in providing services in local communities.

“I am committed to and will continue to help all local groups who carry out work on a voluntary basis for the benefit of their local communities.”

All recipient groups are encouraged to liaise with their Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), which is administering the programme locally.

The full list is as follows:

1. Portlaoise AFC – €7,956.00
2. Portlaoise Community First Responders – €7,515.00
3. Portarlington Scout Group – €6,500.00
4. Arles-Kileen GAA Club – €5,000.00
5. Vicarstown Old Community Centre – €4,280.00
6. Castletown Community Centre – €4,000.00
7. Youth Services Portlaoise – €4,000.00
8. St Berndette’s Community Hall, Errill – €3,970.00
9. Old Fort Celtic FC, Portlaoise – €3,845.00
10. Irish Wheelchair Association, Portlaoise – €3,795.00
11. Castletown ICA Guild – €3,500.00
12. Domestic Abuse Service Portlaoise – €3,500.00
13. Spink Comhaltas Ballyroan Road – €3,166.00
14. Timahoe NS Parents Association – €3,000.00
15. Abbeyleix AFC – €3,000.00
16. Park-Ratheniska GAA Club – €3,000.00
17. Stradbally GAA – €2,527.00
18. O’Brien Community Hall Borris-in-Ossory – €2,500.00
19. Gaelscoil Shlí Dala Parents Association, Kyle – €249.00
20. Aghaboe Abbey Preservation Committee – €2,213.00
21. The Swan NS Parents Association – €2,125.00
22. Portlaoise Community and Family Resource Centre – €2,100.00
23. Durrow Scouts Durrow – €2,115.00
24. Oak Vale Residents Association, Stradbally – €2,000.00
25. St Brigid’s LGFA – €1,199.00
26. The Rock GAA Club – €1,997.00
27. Shanahoe GAA – €1,924.00
28. Timahoe Community Hall – €1,816.00
29. Shanahoe Community Hall – €1,602.00
30. Mountmellick Men’s Shed – €1,532.00
31. The Blooms Lady Birds, Ballybrophy – €1,478.00
32. Portlaoise Panthers Basketball Club – €1,495.00
33. Hawthorn Community Building, Portlaoise – €1,412.00
34. The Swan Ladies Club – €1,392.00
35. Mountrath Men’s Shed – €1,326.00
36. Ratheniska NS Parents Association – €1,257.00
37. Vicarstown Community Hall Committee – €1,250.00
38. Portlaoise Athletic Club – €1,218.00
39. Rathdowney Women’s Shed – €1,210.00
40. Ballinakill Comm Dev Association – €1,175.00
41. Tigh Mochua Le Chéile – €1,000.00
42. Wolfhill Development Group – €1,000.00
43. Grange United FC, Borris-in-Ossory – €1,000.00
44. Errill Snooker Club – €1,000.00
45. Mountmellick Gun Club – €1,000.00
46. Arles-Kilcruise Wellbeing Committee – €1,000.00
47. Ballinakill Indoor Bowls – €1,000.00
48. Ballyroan Active Retirement – €1,000.00
49. Colt Shanahoe Juvinile GAA Club – €1,000.00
50. Shanahoe Ladies Football – €1,000.00
51. Portlaoise Active Retirement Group – €1,000.00
52. Dignity Partnership Kilminchy – €992.00
53. Errill Tidy Towns – €977.00
54. Knock Vintage Men’s Shed – €976.00
55. Holy Family Junior School Parents Council – €959.00
56. Errill Christmas Lights – €945.00
57. Corran Na Noir Residents Association, Abbeyleix – €935.00
58. Embrace Farm Mountrath – €911.00
59. Killenard Active Retirement Association €879.00
60. Clough Tidy Towns – €847.00
61. SVT Canoeing and Kayaking Club €845.00
62. Castlecuff NS Parents Association – €843.00
63. Portarlington Men’s Shed – €821.00
64. Shanahoe NS Parents Association – €816.00
65. Borris-in-Ossory GAA Club – €811.00
66. Abbeyleix Community Garden – €800.00
67. Naomh Eamann Camogie, Castletown – €728.00
68. Mountrath Scout Group – €716.00
69. Knock NS Parents Association – €680.00
70. Rosenallis Tidy Towns €664.00
71. Skeirke Graveyard Development Association – €650.00
72. Camross Tidy Town – €628.00
73. Abbeyleix Women’s Development Group – €600.00
74. Mná le chéile Portlaoise €599.00
75. Ballylinan Community Council – €591.00
76. Clough NS Parents’ Council – €588.00
77. Beekeeping Association Abbeyleix €500.00
78. Mountmellick Women’s Shed €484.00
79. Coderdojo Portarlington €480.00
80. Portlaoise Men’s Shed – €479.00
81. Annanough GAA – €470.00
82. Borris in Ossory Men’s Shed – €470.00
83. Borris Innovation Centre – €470.00
84. Camross Community Association – €470.00
85. Clonad GAA – €470.00
86. Ballyroan Juvenile Basketball Club – €470.00
87. Emo Sportsfield Committee – €470.00
88. Barrowhouse Community Association – €470.00
89. Ballacolla Tidy Towns – €470.00
90. Graigue Cemetery Committee, Mountmellick – €470.00
91. Donaghmore Workhouse and Agricultural Museum – €470.00
92. Mountmellick ICA – €470.00
93. Portarlington Community Centre – €470.00
94. One Voice with God, Portlaosie – €470.00
95. Portarlington GAA – €470.00
96. Portarlington Social Services – €470.00
97. Rathdowney Community Centre – €470.00
98. Ratheniska Community Hall St Aongus Club – €470.00
99. Spink Community Development Association – €470.00
100. Stradbally Social Services Council – €470.00
101. Stradbally SVP – €470.00
102. The Swan Development Committee – €470.00
103. Lakeglen Residents Portlaoise – €470.00
104. ARCH Club Portlaoise – €470.00
105. Portarlington Camogie – €470.00
106. Abbeyleix Bog Project – €450.00
107. Arles-Kilcruise GAA – €450.00
108. Ballypickas Hurling Club – €450.00
109. Ballyroan Community Development – €450.00
110. Ballyroan Community Hall – €450.00
111. Borris in Ossory Garden Club – €450.00
112. Droimnin Residents Association, Stradbally – €450.00
113. Emo GAA – €450.00
114. Errill GAA – €450.00
115. Fourth Wall Laois Theatre Group, Portlaoise – €450.00
116. Kilcotton GAA – €450.00
117. LABRAS Portlaoise – €450.00
118. Africa Support Group Mountmellick – €450.00
119. Friends Special Needs, Social and Recreational Committee, Portlaoise – €450.00
120. Mountrath Golden Years – €450.00
121. Sarsfields LGFA – €450.00
122. Peter Bradley Foundation, Portlaoise – €450.00
123. Timahoe GAA Club – €450.00
124. Ukrianian Laois Support Association, Portlaoise – €450.00
125. Vicarstown Youth Club – €450.00
126. White Horse Indoor Bowls Club, Mountrath – €450.00
127. Portlaoise Mothers and Others – €400.00
128. Scout Group Rathdowney – €399.00
129. Brazilian Support Association Portlaoise – €389.00
130. Hawthorn Drive Residents Association – €380.00
131. Portlaoise Women’s Shed – €300.00
132. Port Art Collective – €295.00

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