The RISE Community Fund has awarded a cash grant to Dromore West Central 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.
Dromore West Central National School is a welcoming co-educational Catholic primary school, located in rural west Sligo. Built in 2008, the school has worked hard to create a modern environment with strong digital capabilities to significantly enhance teaching, learning and digital skills development across the school.
Eimear Higgins, Principal at Dromore West Central National School, commented: “Receiving this grant is a wonderful support for Dromore West Central National School and our pupils. Our school motto, ‘Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí’, reflects our belief that encouragement, praise and opportunity allow children to flourish. As a rural Sligo school, ensuring every child has regular access to modern, reliable technology is a priority for us, and this funding will help us improve digital access across all class levels.
“Our staff and pupils are very excited about the receiving the RISE Community Fund grant. This grant will support our teachers to integrate technology more effectively into daily learning, while helping pupils build the digital literacy, confidence, problem-solving skills and responsible technology habits they will need for the future.”
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. Dromore West Central 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 Sligo 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.
