|
|
€88,000 windfall for local groups
21.03.11
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
NINE Inishowen groups are set to share in an €88k
windfall after Donegal County Council announced its
first full Community Innovation Fund in several
years.
For much of the last decade the annual pot has been
used to support the running of the Foyle ferry but
this year the emergence of a new county-wide
Strategic Development Fund has allowed councillors
to free up money for other vital local associations.
The biggest beneficiary is the Barrack Hill Town
Park project in Carndonagh, which will receive
€57,000. In the pipeline for almost five years,
Donegal County Council hopes to construct one of the
country’s most ‘imaginative and ambitious’ community
spaces and play parks at the site.
The next big gainer is Inishowen Tourism, which has
been awarded €29,500 to help boost its digital
development plan for 2011.
Web designer Kieran Henderson said the group intends
to push its digital strategy with ten times more
people visiting the online site than both local
tourist offices combined. Inishowen Tourism also
intends to install information kiosks at City of
Derry Airport, Donegal Town, Moville and Carn ahead
of the 2013 Derry City of Culture. The group will
also use the fund to develop its website and drive
online traffic to it.
The Malin Head Community Association has been
awarded €7,000 for essential kitchen and electrical
equipment. The money will also be put towards a new
craft centre at Malin Head.
The Buncrana Music Festival, which gets underway on
July 21 next, has been allocated €1,200 for running
costs while Aileach Football Club will get €3,100
for fitting changing rooms at Lakeside.
Culdaff Development Association has also been handed
€3,100 for the restoration of the village pump roof,
maintenance of Ardmore Graveyard and for directional
maps and signposts to historical sites of interest.
Buncrana Tidy Towns will get €3,100 towards bridge
repairs while the Moville St. Patrick’s Day parade
was boosted to the tune of €1,000. |
|
