A Kilkenny GAA Club has been hailed 'county champions' in taking positive climate action

Windgap Camogie were recently crowned the 2025 Senior A League Final champions, but Windgap GAA Club in its entirety are County Champions in taking positive climate action.

Kilkenny County Council’s Climate Action team have recorded a short video with Windgap GAA Club showcasing their climate action project. The club are one of 22 groups who received grant funding to undertake local climate actions under the Community Climate Action Fund Phase 1.

They were awarded €21,700 to make their club house more energy efficient and their club grounds more sustainable and biodiversity friendly. This project enables them to install solar panels on the club house roof which will greatly reduce their energy costs. They are installing a bike repair station to cater for cyclists and to encourage more people to cycle to the club, instead of travelling by car. READ MORE NEWS RELATING TO KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

They have already installed a water refill station which has reduced the use of single use plastics and they have sowed plants for the pollinators and will introduce more plants in the autumn.

"The Community Climate Action Fund was a perfect fit for our club," said Yvonne Power, Green Club Officer.

"We are members of the GAA Green Club programme and this fund enabled us to carry out works that would reduce our carbon footprint and bring biodiversity into our club grounds. We want to play our part in contributing to the national climate and energy targets and we are grateful to Kilkenny County Council’s Climate Action Office for their help and encouragement with this project”.

The project demonstrates how achievable it is for sports clubs and communities to take positive climate action to deliver local climate projects which benefit local communities.

The video can be viewed on the Climate Action page on Kilkenny County Council’s website or on You Tube under Windgap GAA Club County Champions in taking positive Climate Action or at this link https://youtu.be/tDTU92sWJbY

Kilkenny County Council Cathaoirleach Mary Hilda Cavanagh said: “I admire and thank every sports club and community group that submitted an application for phase 1 of the Community Climate Action Fund. I congratulate Windgap GAA Club and all the other groups for taking the opportunity to embark on projects that will contribute to help reach national climate targets. Everyone should be taking ownership for climate action, even the smallest action can make a big difference. I would encourage community groups to apply for Phase 2 which is currently open for Expressions of Interest.”

Kilkenny County Council’s A/Community Climate Action Officer, Claire Prendergast said: “Kilkenny County Council’s Climate Action Team are so proud of the work Windgap GAA Club has already completed and look forward to the coming weeks when the solar panels and bike repair station will be installed. We hope this video will encourage other sports clubs and community groups to apply for the Community Climate Action fund in the future. The club committee were a pleasure to deal with and we were delighted to work with them on their project and on this video."

Phase 2 of the Community Climate Action Fund is now open for Expressions of Interest. Please refer to https://submit.link/3U5 for more details.