More than €900,000 in funding for community projects across Kilkenny - see details!

Kilkenny is to receive just under €950,000 in funding under the first ever Community Recognition Fund.

The projects are among 880 nation-wide to support and reward communities that have welcomed families and citizens from Ukraine and other countries.

Plans for landmark new building in Kilkenny appealed to An Bord Pleanála

The fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used by all members of the community.

See the recommended allocations for Kilkenny below:

Kilkenny Countryside Park, Dunmore, Kilkenny - Construction of a recreational and biodiversity park on the site of the now closed municipal landfill at Dunmore in Kilkenny City - €329,405

St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) Charity Shop, Butts Green, Kilkenny - Fit out of refurbished and expanded premises at Butts Green facility - €30,000

Community Radio Kilkenny City (CRKC), Unit 32 Hebron Industrial Estate, Kilkenny - Purchase and fit-out of mobile studio for new Outside Broadcast Unit - €35,200

Kilkenny Home Rule Club, 3 John’s Quay, Kilkenny - Upgrading of kitchen to meet HACCP standards for pop-up cafes - €10,000

Newpark Close Family Resource Centre, Newpark Lower, Kilkenny - To construct a demountable community centre, toilet and offices - €206,000

Fr. Mc Grath Family Resource Centre, St. Joseph’s Road, Kilkenny - (1) flooring and painting work, (2) office and meeting space furniture, (3) the purchase of 2 laptops, (4) storage for materials/resources/files - €12,000

Ossory Youth, Desart Hall, New Street, Kilkenny - Purchase of a community bus - €60,000

St. Lachtain’s GAA Club, Moat Road, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny - Funding for lighting of new walking track - €43,900

Castlecomer MUGA & Outdoor Gym, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny - Playground enhancement works to include upgrade of ball wall/MUGA and surrounding surfacing, items of outdoor gym equipment and bike stands - €25,630

Fair Green & Playground, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny - Playground enhancement works to include items of outdoor gym equipment, bike stand(s), upgrade of goal posts and goal mouth, perimeter path to green, within the green with unbound gravel finish, meeting focal point off adjoining playground and green area, seating and additional play units -€34,757

Bus shelter, Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny - A new bus shelter for Ballyhale to service all the surrounding area - €17,500

Thomastown Area Recreational Event, Thomastown Concert Hall, Marshes Street, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny - €2,500

Amenity Area, Scouts Den Car Park, Chapel Lane, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny - Amenity area at the Scouts Den Car Park with a new picnic area - €28,000

Dock Road, Graignamanagh, Co. Kilkenny - Purchase of land, landscaping and provision of an amenity seating area at the entrance to The Hub in Graignamanagh - €25,000

Bennettsbridge Playground, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny - Bennettsbridge playground enhancement includes the provision of an inclusive roundabout, inclusive play panels, the installation of bike parking stands and general upgrades - €35,500

Thomastown Community Allotments, Dublin Road, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny - The erection of a polytunnel including the standardisation of all the allotment bed sizes by enclosing each one in a timber frame - €9,500

‘Fifty Shades of Graig’, Lower Main Street & High Street, Graignamanagh, Co. Kilkenny - Painting of properties along Lower Main Street and High Street Graignamanagh in bright colours as part of a wider TidyTowns project - €5,248

Kilmacow Playground, Greenville, Kilmacow Lower, Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny - Playground enhancements works at Kilmacow Sports Complex to include replacement of retaining structure to facilitate play component, replacement of swings, cradle swings, cableway and planting of pollinator trees - €17,320

Mooncoin Celtic Soccer Pitch, Suir Crescent, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny - Surfacing of the access road servicing Mooncoin Celtic Soccer Pitch - €20,603

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick, has welcomed the allocations, particularly the funding for Kilkenny Countryside Park at Dunmore and the public amenity funding for Castlecomer and Ballyragget.

"These announcements will make a huge a difference to these communities," he told Kilkenny Live.

Cllr Maria Dollard welcomes the news that over €622,000 has been allocated to Kilkenny city.

"We have warmly welcomed our guests from Ukraine and those seeking international protection and they have equally been eager to get to know us here in Kilkenny through voluntary work, participation in educational opportunities and enjoying shared cultural experiences," she said.

"The funding allocated to Kilkenny Countryside Park, SVDP Charity shop, Community Radio Kilkenny City, The Home Rule Club and both Newpark and Fr McGrath Family Resource Centre is a huge investment in the ongoing work of these projects and will ensure that they are supported to continue to enhance the life of everyone in Kilkenny through their valuable work."

Also welcoming the funding was Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan, who described it as a 'very welcome move'.