The RISE Community Fund has awarded a cash grant to Lisnafunchin 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.

Lisnafunchin National School is a vibrant and welcoming rural primary school at the heart of the Conahy Parish community on the outskirts of Castlecomer. The school provides a modern, student-centred learning environment that harnesses the power of digital technologies to foster creativity, innovation and digital literacy for every learner. 

Shane Campion, Principal at Lisnafunchin National School, commented:“At Lisnafunchin National School, we are committed to ensuring all students have equal access to digital technology and resources that support their diverse learning needs. This grant will help us further develop creativity, digital learning, and cyber awareness within the school. Our students will have more opportunities to design and publish work in a variety of formats, while also expanding activities such as 3D design and printing. Additional Chromebooks and tablets will help us continue to build these skills, while supporting our wider school values around biodiversity and sustainability.”

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. Lisnafunchin National School has done a fantastic job investing 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.

National Broadband Ireland is encouraging all Kilkenny 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.