Local community groups, charities, and farms receive cash injections to invest in new technologies

Five community groups including a business, a school, a not-for-profit, a charity, and a farm in county Leitrim have received a quick cash injection to invest in new technology thanks to the RISE Community Fund. 

Established by Granahan McCourt and NBI Chairman, David McCourt, RISE is providing monthly grants across the country for rural community 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. 

Receiving the grants of €1000 each were North Leitrim Women’s Centre, which aims to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all women in the community and empower them to reach their full potential. The Centre is set to invest in a series of classes called ‘Get Connected – Stay Connected’, aimed at providing training in technology. 

Killenummery Men’s Shed, which tackles rural isolation, will also receive funding to support the renovation of its space and formation of a technology hub to utilise its new high-speed broadband connection having recently become a Broadband Connection Point under the National Broadband Plan.  

Carrick Chamber, which works in partnership to promote local businesses, will use RISE’s grant to revamp its online presence, and co-educational primary school Scoil Mhuire Naofa is bolstering its programmes supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). 

Lastly, Kelly Farm, which produces high quality cattle with strong sustainability credentials, is investing in high tech GPS technology to track its use of fertiliser and manure spreading to maximise the efficiency and sustainability of its farming practices. 

David McCourt, founder of RISE and Chairman of Granahan McCourt and NBI, commented: “The RISE Community Fund looks for community groups, charities, small businesses and social enterprises in rural areas who are exploring how technology can scale the imThe successful grant recipients of the RISE Community Fund in Leitrim were pictured in Carrick on Shannon this week, from left Brendan Dee, Chief Operating Officer; Carrick on Shannon, Chamber of Commerce; Niall Beirne, National Broadband Ireland; Hubert McHugh, Killenummery Mens Shed, Alan O Ceallaigh, Kelly Farm; Isobel Cleary, North Leitrim Women’s Centre & Orla O’Malley, Programme Director, RISE Foundation.  Missing from photo is Helen Kenny, Scoil Mhuire Naofa.  Photo: Lorraine Teevanpact of their work. In many cases, this includes ambitious plans to utilise latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies. 

“I’m delighted to say that since opening applications in County Leitrim, the response has been incredible and now we’re excited to be awarding grants to our successful applicants. Each one of them is an inspiration, with many volunteering their time and committing a huge amount of energy and passion to bring pride of place to their local community.”

The RISE Community Fund calls on small businesses, charities, community groups and social enterprises to use technology in creative and entrepreneurial ways to deliver maximum impact. 

Allan Ó’ Ceallaigh from Kelly Farm commented: “Like all businesses, farms are exploring innovative ways to use technology to drive efficiencies and improvements. At Kelly Farm, we pride ourselves on the quality of our products and the sustainability credentials of our practices, and we’re excited to be receiving this grant funding from RISE to accelerate our use of technology.” 

Peter Hendrick, CEO of NBI, added: “At NBI, we’re on a mission to connect over 1.1 million people in rural Ireland who don’t have access to high-speed broadband to a world-class, superfast network. Whilst connectivity is a vital utility and a critical first step, it alone can’t solve all of the challenges for businesses, community groups and social enterprises trying to expand the positive impact they’re able to have – both to the local community, and to the wider economy. That’s why we’re incredibly excited to engage local communities with the RISE Community Fund and celebrate innovative uses of technology in Leitrim.”

NBI is reminding Leitrim residents to also visit their website at 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.

Photo caption: The successful grant recipients of the RISE Community Fund in Leitrim were pictured in Carrick on Shannon this week, from left Brendan Dee, Chief Operating Officer; Carrick on Shannon, Chamber of Commerce; Niall Beirne, National Broadband Ireland; Hubert McHugh, Killenummery Mens Shed, Alan O Ceallaigh, Kelly Farm; Isobel Cleary, North Leitrim Women’s Centre & Orla O’Malley, Programme Director, RISE Foundation. Missing from photo is Helen Kenny, Scoil Mhuire Naofa. Photo: Lorraine Teevan