Watch: Kilkenny community goes green with new climate action plan

Ballyfoyle Development Group were successful applicants in phase one of the Community Climate Action Programme and as a result the whole community is going green.

Kilkenny County Council’s Climate Action team have recorded a short video with members of the Ballyfoyle Development Group showcasing their Community Climate Action project.

They were awarded funding which is enabling them to upgrade the community hall into a warm, energy efficient building.

This project involves insulating the ceiling, walls and floor, upgrading lights, installing a pump heating system, all of which will greatly reduce their energy costs and make the community hall a more comfortable space.

The group are installing bike stands and a bike repair station to encourage locals and visitors to use more sustainable methods of travel, and they can use the new way-finder map in case they get lost.

They want to reduce the need for single use plastic and therefore will install a drinking water refill station and are installing rain water harvesting tanks to use this water for plants in the summer months.

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Some allotment beds will be upgraded and a storage shed for garden tools will be installed along with the planting of a variety of native trees, hedging and pollinator friendly plants to bring biodiversity into the local area.

The project demonstrates that it is achievable for rural communities to take positive climate action to deliver beneficial effects.

Kilkenny County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh said: “I admire and thank every sports club, voluntary organisation and community group that submitted an application for phase one of the Community Climate Action Programme.”

“I congratulate Ballyfoyle Development Group and all the other groups for taking the opportunity to embark on projects that will contribute to help reach national climate targets.”

Kilkenny County Council’s A/Community Climate Action Officer, Claire Prendergast said: “Kilkenny County Council’s Climate Action Team are so proud of the project Ballyfoyle Development Group are undertaking.”

“The community hall upgrade is a huge project and is well underway. I understand the project will be complete by the end of this year.”

Phase two of the Community Climate Action programme is now open for Expressions of Interest at https://submit.link/3U5. 

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