The RISE Community Fund has awarded a cash grant to Kilkea National School as part of its new national programme to provide cash injections to schools in every county throughout 2026.  

Supporting technology investments that enhance digital learning and maximise the benefits of high-speed broadband connectivity, The RISE Community Fund is backed by National Broadband Ireland and partners involved in the delivery of the Government’s National Broadband Plan, including KPMG, DreamDev Technologies, TLI Group, Entegro, Obelisk and Circet.

Kilkea National School is a small, three-classroom school nestled in the beautiful south Kildare countryside. The school has previously implemented initiatives aimed at addressing the digital divide and supporting its students at risk of educational disadvantage as a consequence.  The latest grant will be utilised to significantly enhance its teaching around STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). 

Established by David McCourt, the RISE Community Fund has awarded close to 200 cash grants nationwide to rural schools, community groups, farms, small businesses and social enterprises seeking to use technology to scale the positive impact of their work. 

Commenting on the grant, David McCourt, Chairman of National Broadband Ireland and founder of the RISE Community Fund, said: “When we created RISE, it was with a clear purpose – to ensure that rural communities could fully benefit from the transformative power of connectivity. As the National Broadband Plan progresses towards completion, it’s vital that our schools are equipped not just with access to broadband, but with the technology that allows them to use it effectively. Kilkea National School has shown tremendous commitment over a number of years to invest in technology to empower their young pupils, and now we’re delighted to accelerate that further with this grant.”

Through its 2026 national schools programme, RISE aims to ensure that children in rural Ireland can fully benefit from digital connectivity and develop the skills needed to thrive in a modern, technology-driven world.

Acting Principal, Lucy Behan, said: “Kilkea National School is a modern, vibrant country school where we strive to nurture joy, curiosity and lifelong learning in every child. We are very grateful to NBI and the RISE Community Fund for awarding us this €1,000 grant. This support will help us enhance our STEM, coding and computational thinking resources across all class levels. The new tools will strengthen pupils’ problem-solving and early programming skills in line with the Primary Curriculum Framework. We truly appreciate this investment in our school and in the future of our students.” 

Damien Gallagher, Managing Director (Ireland) at Circet, commented: “Circet is proud to be one of NBI’s delivery partners for the National Broadband Plan, and we’re delighted to support the RISE Community Fund and the opportunities it creates for schools across the country. The rollout of high-speed broadband is transforming rural communities, and this initiative helps ensure young people can explore and benefit from the digital possibilities it brings.”

National Broadband Ireland is encouraging all Kildare residents to visit nbi.ie and check their Eircode to see if they are ready to connect and to find out more about placing an order.

Further information about the RISE Community Fund is available at www.riseglobalfoundation.com.