The RISE Community Fund has awarded a cash grant to  St Paul’s National School, Walshestown 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.

St Paul’s National School, Walshestown is a welcoming rural primary school located in Grangebellew on the outskirts of Drogheda, Co. Louth. The grant will enable the school to provide laptops to the junior classrooms which will help to enhance teaching, learning and digital skills development across the school.

Anne-Marie Swinburne, Principal at St Paul’s National School, Walshestown, commented:“We are extremely grateful to receive €1,000 through the RISE Community Fund. This funding will be used to purchase additional laptops for our junior classrooms, providing more opportunities for our pupils to engage with technology as part of their learning. Having extra devices available will make a real difference to both our teachers and students.

“At our school, we are guided by our mission statement, which encourages everyone to treat others as they would like to be treated themselves. We work hard to foster a caring and inclusive environment where children learn the importance of kindness, respect, and responsibility towards others. This support from the RISE Community Fund will help us continue to provide the best possible learning experience for our pupils while reinforcing these important values every day.”

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. St Paul’s National School, Walshestown 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 Louth 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.