Mountain Lodge Wind Farm awards almost €20,000 to support communities across Cavan
Ten local projects, including schools, sports clubs, youth groups, biodiversity initiatives and emergency responders, will benefit from this year’s Mountain Lodge Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
This year’s Community Benefit Fund of €18,900 has been awarded to 10 local community projects, groups and clubs. It will support a wide range of local initiatives, from sensory and occupational therapy equipment in schools to youth club resources, sports facilities, a biodiversity area, a family festival day and lifesaving AED equipment for community first responders.
The Cavan-based Mountain Lodge Wind Farm, located in Drumveil North, Cootehill, is a joint venture between Galetech Group and ESB.
Established in 2015, the Mountain Lodge Community Benefit Fund has now supported more than 50 local projects, with over €200,000 awarded to enhance community services, facilities, infrastructure and overall local wellbeing.
The Community Benefit Fund initiative provides annual funding to support community groups, clubs and projects located within 10km of a renewable energy project, helping them to start new initiatives or expand existing work that benefits the local community, school or neighbourhood.
The Fund is administered by SECAD Partnership CLG on behalf of ESB and Galetech Group.
Eligible groups within 10km of Mountain Lodge Wind Farm are encouraged to consider future projects ahead of the next funding round, which will open in early 2027. Further information is available here
This year’s successful projects are:
Kill Shamrocks GAA: Funding towards the construction of a pedestrian bridge over a stream to its training pitch
Dernakesh National School: Funding towards the development of a mud kitchen and seated café area to support creative outdoor play
Kill National School: Support for the purchase of sensory and occupational therapy equipment.
Knockbride GAA: Support for the purchase of gym and GAA equipment.
Lavey Community First Responders: Funding towards an AED machine, AED trainer and replacement equipment batteries.
Knockbride Festival Committee: Funding towards a local Family Festival Day.
West Knockbride Parents Association: Support for the purchase of new basketball hoops.
Laragh United GAA: Funding towards planting for a natural biodiversity and ecology area.
Knockbride Foroige: Support for the purchase of essential equipment to enhance weekly youth club activities.
Darley National School Parents’ Association: Support for the purchase of sensory pods for students.
Deirdre Keegan, Galetech Group Community Liaison Officer, said:
“Galetech Group is delighted to announce the 10 successful projects who will receive funding this year from the Mountain Lodge Community Benefit Fund. We have been part of the local communities for over 10 years, and we continue to offer support for the lifetime of this project. We are excited to see how this €18,900 in funding will improve the amenities and important services in the local area.
Mountain Lodge is one of Ireland’s longest established wind farms, providing a vital source of renewable energy to the national power grid for more than a decade.”
Frank Kelly, ESB Stakeholder Relations Manager, said:
“At ESB, community benefit is embedded in the way we plan, build and operate renewable energy projects. Mountain Lodge Wind Farm has been developed with the support of local communities, and this Fund is a meaningful way of ensuring that renewable energy delivers practical, visible benefits on the ground.
We are proud to work in partnership with Galetech Group to deliver clean energy while supporting projects that strengthen local services, recreation, safety, education and biodiversity across the region
About Galetech Group
Galetech Group is a leading Irish renewable energy services and development business headquartered in Co Cavan. For over 25 years, Galetech has supported utilities, independent power producers (IPPs), public bodies and industrial clients with project development, engineering, project supervision, operations & maintenance, inspections and repairs, asset performance, and sustainable building solutions. The Group employs 150 people across Ireland, the UK, Australia, and Africa.
About ESB
ESB was established in 1927 as a statutory body under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1927. With a holding of 97.1%, ESB is majority owned by the Irish Government. The remaining 2.9% is held by the trustees of an Employee Share Ownership Plan. As a strong, diversified utility, ESB operates across the electricity market, from generation through transmission and distribution, to supply of customers in addition to using our networks to carry fibre for telecommunications.
ESB is the leading Irish utility with a regulated asset base of approximately €15 billion (comprising ESB Networks €12bn and NIE Networks €3bn), a 24% share of generation in the all-island market and retail businesses supplying electricity and gas to 1.6 million customer accounts throughout the island of Ireland and Great Britain. During the year ended 31 December 2025, ESB Group employed over 10,000 people on average.
Visit esb.ie to learn more about ESB.
