Cloonakilla National School and Tulsk Digi Hub were awarded the RISE grants in partnership with National Broadband Ireland

: Two Roscommon community groups including  a primary school and a community centre have received a quick cash injection to invest in new technology thanks to the RISE Community Fund supported by National Broadband Ireland (NBI). 

Established by NBI Chairman, David McCourt, RISE has awarded over 140 cash grants across the country to rural organisations seeking to boost their digital ecosystems. The fund is further supported by corporate sponsors including KN Circet, KPMG, Test Triangle, DreamDev Technologies, and TLI Group. 

The latest funding comes off the back of a call for entries that NBI had announced as part of its national roadshow celebrating areas of the country that have shown the highest demands for its new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Government’s National Broadband Plan.

Receiving the grants of €1000 each were Roscommon-based Cloonakilla National School and Tulsk Digi Hub. 

With 15,175 properties in Roscommon now able to order or pre-order high-speed, reliable broadband on the new NBI network thanks to the Government’s National Broadband Plan, David McCourt, Chairman of NBI and founder of RISE, explained why he was keen to visit the area and give back to the community with these grants. 

“We’re delighted to have had this opportunity to meet with a fantastic array of community groups in Roscommon and give a financial boost to those who really want to capitalise on their new high-speed connectivity. We received an amazing number of entries from people looking to embrace new technologies to scale the impact of their work, which paints a bright future for rural communities such as Athlone,” said McCourt.

NBI recently announced that 4576 connections in County Roscommon have already been made to the NBI network so far. Take-up of NBI’s fibre broadband in Roscommon is at 30% overall and is highest in rural areas of the county near Athlone where take-up has surpassed 50%.

Patricia Brady, Technology Coordinator, Tulsk Digi Hub, commented: “The Tulsk facility provides an array of vital services to our local community, from remote working to digital upskilling for elderly residents. Becoming a Broadband Community Point under the National Broadband Plan has enabled us to be much more proactive in responding to community needs and now we’re delighted to have been selected for this grant from the RISE Community Fund to take this a step further. With connectivity and access to technology, we’re able to implement programmes that ae inclusive for the whole community and strengthen the impact we’re able to have with innovate programmes.” 

Patricia Cunniffe, Technology Coordinator, Cloonakilla National School, said: “Cloonakilla National School was delighted to meet NBI Chairman, David McCourt, and we are thrilled to receive the NBI grant. We have a fantastic tech team in the school and wish to purchase two tablets and a C pen to foster the love of digital skills and reading and create a lifelong hobby for our pupils.”

Neighbouring 2nd Westmeath Scout Group near Athlone also received the RISE grant.

NBI is reminding Roscommon residents to also visit their website at www.nbi.ie to check whether their home, farm or business is included in the National Broadband Plan and to sign up for Eircode specific updates on the rollout. 

Read more about the RISE Community Fund at riseglobalfoundation.com.