South Donegal's Meenadreen Community Benefit Funds - Last Call For Applications

2021 is a fresh start for everyone. Kickstart your year positively by applying for the Meenadreen Scholarship and Community Benefit Funds available to South Donegal.

If you have not already seen our promo video featuring local Donegal Town student Jack Myers, view below to find out more details on the scholarship.

The new student scholarship scheme is part of the €90,000 annual Meenadreen wind farm benefit fund in south Donegal.

The new strand to the established community fund is designed to support local students who are undertaking an undergraduate or postgraduate course and will prioritise areas of study which focus on sustainability. Funding will be provided to cover tuition costs up to a maximum of €3,000 for undergraduates and partial funding for postgraduate students will be considered.  All funds will be paid directly to the educational institution.  In certain cases, a small stipend of up to €500 for travel and living expenses may also be provided. 

Applications from students whose home address is located within 10km of the Meenadreen wind farm will be prioritised but students living within a radius of up to 14km may also apply. 

Together with the new element of the scholarship fund, we are also urging community groups to apply for funding also.

Three strands of funding are available to applicants:

• Strand One - General support to local non-profit and charitable organisations up to a maximum of €10,000.
• Strand Two – Large-scale local infrastructure projects up to the value of €60,000 over two years.
• Strand Three – Student scholarship scheme.

To find out more about the Energia Meenadreen Windfarm scholarship and annual community benefit fund and apply for funding visit www.energia.ie/community - from here you will be redirected easily to the application forms on the Community Foundation of Ireland's website.

Further information is available from the Community Foundation grants team on 01 8747354.

Scholarship Funding

• Scholarships for undergraduate studies will only cover an individual’s first undergraduate degree cost, i.e. students repeating a year or undertaking a second degree will not be eligible.
• For all public universities in the ROI, the scholarship will cover a recipient’s registration fees (€3,000 per annum).
• Scholarships for courses taking place in NI will be awarded at the same rate, i.e. a maximum of €3,000, albeit at the sterling equivalent.
• Stipends of up to €500 per annum to cover travel/living expenses may also be considered.
• Scholarships will be paid to the educational institution and not directly to any individual.