*Athenry Town, South Galway
GALWAY County Council has opened applications for the 2026 Local Enhancement Programme, which will allocate €213,600 to voluntary and community groups across the county.
The scheme, administered locally by the Galway County Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and nationally by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, supports the upgrade of community facilities, the purchase of essential equipment, and measures that improve accessibility and energy efficiency.
This year’s programme places particular focus on designated Community Support Centres following Storm Eowyn in January 2025, when many rural areas of Galway were left without electricity for extended periods. Groups are invited to apply for funding to help purchase a generator, as well as for the supply and installation of a changeover switch, enabling the use of a county-owned mobile generator to maintain essential services during future disruptions.
LECP Chair Cllr Michael Connolly noted the strong level of engagement with the programme in 2025.
“The scheme attracted strong interest and supported a wide range of community projects last year,” he explained. “Groups used the funding for hall upgrades, youth facilities, heritage work, Men’s Sheds and improvements to local meeting spaces. Even small grants can make a real difference to the everyday work of volunteers in towns, villages and rural areas.”
Director of Services Michael Owens said Galway County Council is committed to supporting projects that build community resilience and improve local facilities across the county.
He continued, “This funding will help groups carry out essential repairs and upgrades and invest in equipment for community use. There is also a strong focus this year on improving the power resilience of community buildings so that local hubs can stay operational during future storms or emergency events, particularly in rural areas that faced long disruptions last year.”
Applications must be submitted online at www.galwaycoco.submit.com before midday on Monday 23 February 2026. Funding will be released only when projects are approved by the LCDC, all conditions are met and the application aligns with one or more priority areas in the Local Economic and Community Plan.
Further information is available from the Community Department at communitygrants@galwaycoco.ie.
