KCC have announced a brand new highlight of the Brigid – Spirit of Kildare Festival 2026, the Spirit of Kildare Awards!

These awards will celebrate the incredible individuals and groups across Kildare who bring Brigid’s values to life, through creativity, compassion, community, and commitment. Award categories include:

Deadline for nominations: 5:00pm, Thursday, 4 December 2025

We’re asking our member groups across County Kildare to share their views in the Kildare PPN Member Survey 2025.

Your feedback will help us plan the supports, training, and focus areas that matter most to community, environmental, and social inclusion groups.

All groups who complete the survey will be entered into a draw for a One4All gift card.

Thanks for being part of the PPN network and helping shape our work for 2026!

Kildare County Council has prepared its draft annual budget for 2026. It will be discussed at the Budget Meeting on Monday, 17th November 2025.

You can view the draft budget:

– At the Council offices (during opening hours) – free to inspect

– On the Council’s website here

– Hard copies are also available for €20 on request.

Date: Wed 26th November Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm Location: Online

Designed for all staff and volunteers working within non-profit organisations. The AI Awareness Training
workshop will provide participants with a solid understanding of the transformative role of AI on the world of
work and society. Course outline:

Brigid 2026 – Spirit of Kildare Festival will run from Thursday 29 January to Monday 2 February 2026, presenting a vibrant five-day programme of music, art, conversation, and community-led events across the county. Proudly delivered by Kildare County Council, highlights include the Spirit of Kildare Sessions featuring Blindboy, Gurriers, How to Gael Podcast, Celine Byrne, Jack L, and the sold-out Picture This homecoming show. A new festival hub, Cruinniú Chill Dara, will host intimate performances in a Spiegeltent at Áras Chill Dara, Naas. With a mix of free and ticketed events in unique venues, Brigid 2026 celebrates St. Brigid’s enduring legacy of creativity, compassion, and community. Tickets go on sale Thursday 27 November at 10am. 

HUGG, Ireland’s national suicide bereavement organisation, has extended its peer support service with HUGG Walks in Dublin. These walks provide a safe, welcoming space for adults bereaved by suicide to connect with others, while enjoying the benefits of movement and nature.

– Led by an experienced walker and supported by a HUGG volunteer

– Open to anyone over 18

– Non‑judgmental space for mutual support and shared understanding

Next Walk: Sandymount Strand to Poolbeg Lighthouse 🕙

Time: 10.30am, Sunday 30th November

Register: via the online form, email walks@HUGG.ie, or call Helena on 083 433 5701.

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) has launched the 2026 Community Water Development Fund, inviting applications from community and voluntary groups nationwide to support projects that protect and improve local streams, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.

The scheme has previously supported initiatives such as river restoration, flood alleviation, invasive species removal, and biodiversity action plans.

Applications for the 2026 fund are open until 11:30pm on Tuesday, 20 January 2026

A fund of €20,000 has been allocated to assist community- based projects which complement or fulfil the delivery of the Waterways Ireland Heritage and Biodiversity Plan 2030 along the Barrow Navigation, Erne System, Grand Canal, Lower Bann, Royal Canal, Shannon Navigation, Shannon-Erne Waterway, and the Ulster Canal (Upper Lough Erne to Clones).

Applications will be considered from communities seeking assistance for projects that help support the Objectives of the Heritage & Biodiversity Plan 2030. 

Grants from €50,000 to €200,000 for larger enhancement or significant refurbishment projects involving historic structures, where a clear community or public benefit is demonstrated or in residential use.

Full details are available on the conservation page of Kildare County Council website via the link below.

Do you have an idea to make your community more sustainable? The Community Climate Action Programme can help you bring it to life. Apply for 100% funding to support local climate action projects across Kildare. 

Kildare County Council, in conjunction with the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment, will support communities to promote and assist in the scale up of community climate action. The overall objective of the programme is to shape and build low carbon, sustainable communities in a coherent way to contribute to national climate and energy targets.

Kildare County Council have been given an allocation of €897,000 for projects under strand 1. Under this scheme communities will partner with the local authority to carry out projects that have a direct climate action impact.

As part of the EirGrid Kildare Meath Grid Upgrade, a Community Benefit Fund of €4,610,000 has been established to support local community groups, not-for-profit organisations, and social enterprises operating within 2km of the new electricity infrastructure. The aim is to deliver projects that create positive social and environmental impacts across the region.

M-CO, who are administering the Fund, are inviting local community and voluntary groups, individuals, and stakeholders to take part in a consultation process to explore the needs and priorities of the area — helping ensure the Fund is designed for the local community, by the local community.

7pm – 8.30pm, Thursday November 20th: Naas GAA

7pm – 8.30pm, Tuesday November 25th: Clane Project Centre

Sundew Solar DAC is delighted to announce that the Timahoe North Solar Farm Community Benefit Fund (The Fund”) will open on the 13th of January 2026 for applications.

In advance of the Fund opening, the Timahoe North Solar Farm Community Benefit Fund Team are hosting a community information evening. This session will be an opportunity for local community groups and prospective applicants to learn more about the Fund and how to apply, and to ask questions to the Fund Administrators, SECAD Partnership CLG.

Date:    26th of November 2025 Time:    7.00pm – 8.30pm Venue: Hamlet Court Hotel, Johnstown, Johnstown Bridge, Co. Kildare, A83 WC04

FundingPoint – Funding for community and voluntary / non profits (October – November edition)

Kildare LCDC have engaged The Wheel to provide a bimonthly publication for Kildare which will include EU, national, philanthropic and local funding information for community and voluntary groups in Kildare.

Kildare County Council, in partnership with Laois and Offaly County Councils, has completed a feasibility study exploring six potential routes for a new greenway between Monasterevin and Portarlington.

The study examined areas such as biodiversity, heritage, recreation, and climate action, and the project is now at the ‘options’ stage.

Public input is invited to help shape the preferred route, supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. A Public Information Event will take place at Monasterevin Community Centre, Whelans Row, Monasterevin (W34 FH24) on Tuesday 25 November 2025, from 18:00–20:00.

Kildare County Council has published Proposed Variation No. 3 to the Development Plan. This update aligns the Plan with recent Ministerial Guidelines, including:

– Housing Growth Requirements (2025) – reflecting the National Planning Framework First Revision.

– Sustainable Residential Development & Compact Settlements (2024).

Key amendments include:

– Increased housing growth targets for the remaining 3 years of the Plan.

– Updated residential density ranges and criteria for new developments.

A draft Biodiversity Action Plan has been produced by the local authority with the support of the Biodiversity Working Group of the Kildare Heritage Forum. The draft Plan presents Kildare County Council’s ambition and commitment to the protection, conservation, restoration and celebration of nature in the county over the next six years.

KCC want to hear your views on the draft Kildare Biodiversity Action Plan 2026-2031.

Is there anything that has been omitted, overlooked, or could be improved?

What should be prioritisied in your opinion?

A draft Heritage Plan has been produced by Kildare County Council with the support of the Kildare Heritage Forum.

Kildare has a rich, built cultural and natural heritage with many groups and individuals in the county working to protect, preserve and promote it.

The overall objective of this draft Plan is to help us all to achieve these aims over the next six years.

So KCC want to hear your views on the draft Kildare Heritage Plan 2026-2031.

Have they overlooked an important heritage issue or does something need to be improved?

What should be prioritised in your opinion?

More Public Consultations:

Community and Culture, Level 7, Áras Chill Dara, Naas, Co. Kildare

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