Offaly County Council is delighted to announce the approval of further Community Recognition Funding as approved by its Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) on 13th February 2025. The funding is awarded to 4 community groups under the Community Recognition Fund 2024 (Grant Announcement for Window 3).
The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced by the Department of Rural and Community Development in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in support cities, towns, and villages nationwide. Based on the continued impacts on communities throughout the country and the need to support these communities in welcoming new arrivals, a further €50 million was provided under the Community Recognition Fund 2024. The Community Recognition Fund 2024 was launched on 15th March 2024. Of this fund, €1,055,308 is allocated to County Offaly. The Fund aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in Offaly in recognition of the contribution being made by communities in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries. The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants (‘new arrivals’) including towns identified for the rapid build homes programme. The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community.
In Offaly, there were three areas (at the time of application for Window 3 funding) identified as having significant numbers of Ukrainians and other new arrivals. The towns were as follows: Clara, Daingean and Portarlington. There were 16 applications received from across all Municipal Districts.
Cathaoirleach of Offaly LCDC, Councillor John Leahy, warmly welcomed the funding. He said, “These grants will be of enormous benefit to the successful community groups and their communities”.
Chief Executive of Offaly County Council, Anna Marie Delaney, congratulated the successful applicants and thanked them for the outstanding work they do in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.
The Community Recognition Fund (CRF) is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Please see below link for a press release on the funding announcement by the Department on 05th June 2025. A copy of the press release can be viewed here.
The list of the successful groups in receipt of grants awarded under the Community Recognition Fund 2024 (Grant Announcement for Window 3) for County Offaly are:
| Community Recognition Fund 2024 (Grant Announcement Window 3) | ||||
| Village/Town Name | Total Costs | |||
| Offaly | Clara | Clara Family Resource Centre | Renovation and conservation of Clara Family Resource Centre | €75,542 |
| Offaly | Clara | Clara Ladies Gaelic Football Association | Provision of changing and toilet facilities | €65,000 |
| Offaly | Clara | Clara Tidy Towns | Upgrading and extending Clara Community Playground facilities | €50,000 |
| Offaly | Daingean | Molesworth Bridge Playground Committee | Upgrade of Daingean (Molesworth Bridge) Community Playground | €60,000 |
For further information, please contact community@offalycoco.ie