St Finbarr’s GAA club launch green initiative

A local GAA club has launched a new community climate action programme project in line with Cork City Council.

St Finbarr’s Hurling and Football Club in Togher, which was awarded €100,000 under Cork City Council’s Climate Action Programme Fund, launched the initiative this weekend, alongside the Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Dan Boyle.

The club is one of 23 community groups to receive a share of the €860,000 fund, which is aimed at supporting the city’s climate and biodiversity ambitions.

Cork City Council’s Community Climate Action Programme Fund is supported by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, and has seen projects use funding for concrete actions such as the installation of solar panels and tree planting.

The group at St Finbarr’s Hurling and Football Club has used the funding for the installation of 136 solar panels, which will produce enough electricity to power 13 average-sized Irish homes according to data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The microgeneration array on site will meet approximately 28% of the club’s energy needs and will supply the local electricity network with excess electricity during sunnier days.

This will see the club save energy while also reducing their carbon emissions.

Savings

On top of the installation of the solar panels, St Finbarr’s Hurling and Football Club is looking to make more energy savings through an energy efficiency focused approach to modifications on their club house.

Speaking about the project launch, Mr Boyle said: “St Finbarr’s is a great example of how a community-based sports club can lead the way making sustainability work for them.

“It is exciting to see the Community Climate Action Fund start to bear fruit around the city, to create positive and lasting climate impacts.”

Treasurer of St Finbarr’s Hurling and Football Club, Colette McCarthy who is also a member of the club’s sustainability committee, said: “Since we formed our club sustainability team ‘Blues Go Green’, our awareness and knowledge around climate action has increased dramatically.

“We are doing the right thing for our environment and the changes we are making will result in substantial savings on our energy bills, which for a voluntary organisation is a great bonus.”

St Finbarr’s is one of the oldest GAA clubs in Ireland, founded in 1876, predating the formation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884.

The facility is a famous club within the GAA and holds the honour of being the first club to win both All Ireland Club titles in hurling and football.

For further information on Cork City Council’s Climate Action Programme Fund, visit: https://www.corkcity.ie/en/