New Offaly students selected for €60,000 Bord na Móna scholarship scheme

Bord na Móna has announced the recipients of its 2024 Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarship Scheme.

The company said scholarship funding was awarded to eight new scholars, all of whom live "in the vicinity of Cloncreen Wind Farm" which is approximately 4.5km southwest of Edenderry and 4km east of Bord na Móna’s Mountlucas Wind Farm.

The total of €62,500 in funding also included contributions to ten third level students who received multi-annual financial support as part of their scholarships awarded in 2023.

Bord na Móna said this was part of a broader investment of over €572,000 in North Offaly communities.

The new recipients of the Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarship Fund in 2024 are as follows: Logan Rave, studying Electronic Engineering at Maynooth University. Heather McCabe Comerford, studying a Bachelor of Arts (English and Geography) at the University of Galway. Luke Behan, an Apprentice with the Chief Mechanical Engineering department in Irish Rail. Cillian Lowry, studying Architectural Technology at SETU Carlow.

Connie Leech, studying a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery at the University of Limerick. Daniel Hanlon, studying Computer Engineering with Network Infrastructure at TUS Athlone. Chloe Merrigan, studying Children’s Studies at the University of Galway, and Cillian Foran, studying Project & Construction Management at the University of Galway.

Since it was launched in 2023, €145,000 has been awarded through the Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarship Fund, with 21 scholarships granted to date.

Bord na Móna said the scholarship initiative was a cornerstone of its community engagement strategy, providing financial support to local students pursuing further education.

The scholarship includes a monetary grant for each student to the value of €2,500 for each year of study, up to a maximum of 4 years.

Applications for the Scholarship scheme were evaluated against predefined criteria, giving special consideration to courses related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and those contributing to sustainability, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Applications were welcomed from all third level courses and further education, from Level 6 and upwards as per the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Speaking at the announcement of the scholarship awards, John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy at Bord na Móna said: "We would like to congratulate the latest recipients of the Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarships.

"This is an essential part of our broader investment into the communities where we operate. We are extremely proud of all of the students we have supported through the programme to date.

"This scholarship programme, as well as the community projects and initiatives we have supported with over €2 million of funding to date, have had direct positive impacts on the communities in North Offaly."

Students living in the vicinity of Cloncreen Wind Farm who wish to find out more about the scholarship programme can do so by contacting cloncreenwindfarm@bnm.ie or by visiting: www.cloncreenwindfarm.ie/community-benefits/