This 2026 Grant Scheme aims to support new and existing clubs, voluntary physical activity groups/organisations, coaches and volunteers to develop greater participation among target groups as reflected in the Kildare Sports Partnership Strategy.

A LIMITED number of projects/initiatives will be funded with an emphasis on the following areas:

– Women In Sport

– People with Disabilities

– Training & Education

– Coaching & Training Aids

This 2026 fund focuses on upgrading and enhancing existing community centres.

The fund supports upgrades such as: New roofs & essential repairs,  Energy‑efficiency improvements, Accessibility upgrades, Kitchen refurbishments, Stage, lighting & sound systems, Safety works, painting, signage & more.

Category 1: €10,000 – €25,000 (95% funding)

Category 2: €25,001 – €100,000 (90% funding)

Registration on the online portal is open now

Applications open 29th May  and closes 13th July 2026

The 2026 CLÁR Programme is now open for applications, offering new funding opportunities to support small‑scale community projects in rural areas. For the first time, Ballitore ED has been designated a CLÁR area, creating a significant opportunity for local groups.

Under Measure 1, Kildare County Council is seeking Expressions of Interest for community facility improvements such as centre renovations, playgrounds, walking tracks, accessibility works, and other publicly accessible amenities, with grants from €5,000 to €65,000 (deadline: 30 April 2026). Find out more.

Measure 2 supports transport services for mobility needs, cancer care, community first responders, and Meals on Wheels, with funding available for vehicle purchase and fit‑out (deadline: 22 May 2026). Capacity‑building seminars for Measure 2 applicants will take place on 25 March. Find out more. 

€1,500,000 is being made available to applicant groups, operating at national, regional and local level, to support community services and promote visibility and inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people.

Funding aims to promote inclusion, protect rights and to improve quality of life and wellbeing for LGBTIQ+ people in Ireland.

Grant scheme is open to applications from existing LGBTIQ+ non-government organisations and community organisations working with LGBTIQ+ people.

The Intel Pride of Place competition is about supporting projects that enrich the lives of people in our local communities of Leixlip, Celbridge, and Maynooth.

The competition invites people to share their project ideas to help improve local organisations while also benefitting the local community more broadly.

A number of ideas will be funded, with up to €5,000 being donated to each of the successful organisations to complete their project.

The application window for the Pride of Place Competition closes on April 26, 2026.

Other funding opportunities 

Kildare County Council hosted the Inaugural Meeting of the Kildare Local Community Safety Partnership on the 12th of March. The inaugural meeting brought together representatives from An Garda Síochána, Kildare County Council, Tusla and HSE, alongside our Kildare PPN Representatives.

We’re delighted to see Mario, Kildare PPN Youth Representative nominated as Vice Chair of the Kildare Local Community Safety Partnership. It’s fantastic to have young people’s voices represented at such an important level, helping shape community safety and collaboration across the county.

Kildare County Council invites all residents’ associations from Local Authority and Approved Housing Body Estates to take part in this year’s Local Pride in Your Place competition.

KCC also have their Youth participation awards and our community / Youth group of the year award. This award is open to any community/youth group in the county.

The closing date is 10th of April at 5pm

The 2026 SuperValu TidyTowns Competition has officially been launched. Now in its 68th year, TidyTowns remains one of Ireland’s most respected environmental and community initiatives.

The 2025 competition saw a record 929 entries, reflecting the growing commitment of communities working to create cleaner, brighter and more vibrant towns and villages.

Entries for the 2026 competition close on Monday, May 11th, 2026. Further details and entry forms are available at www.tidytowns.ie.

Kildare County Council is inviting expressions of interest from local community groups who wish to be nominated for the 2026, IPB National Pride of Place Competition, in association with Co-Operation Ireland

Pride of Place is an annual all-island competition run in conjunction with local authorities.  It aims to recognise improvements made by local communities to create civic pride in their area. The competition celebrates the efforts and endeavours of communities throughout Ireland, focusing on people coming together to shape, change and improve the daily lives of people in their communities. Pride of Place acknowledges local communities working together to enhance amenities, activities, facilities, and the character of their area in a way that generates awareness, respect, and inclusion for every sector in their community.

For further information and to view all previous category winners visit https://prideofplace.ie/

All applications must be made on the official application form – https://submit.link/4Ox

Submitted by 5pm on the closing date, 23rd April 2026

Following on from the submission of planning for the Water Supply Project Eastern & Midlands Region, Irish Water’s dedicated Community Liaison Officer will be hosting a series of Community Engagement Clinics along the project route in Kildare, Offaly, Tipperary, Clare and Limerick.

These clinics are a great way of finding out more about the project, proposed Community Gain Fund, as well as the benefits it will provide to communities.

9th April 2026 – 11am to 1pm – The Mill Celbridge Community Centre, Co. Kildare (W23 P6P5)

For full details of the clinic dates and venues near you please visit water.ie/watersupplyproject.

To mark the International Day of Families on 15 May, Eniola Oke Consulting is convening International Day of Families Ireland 2026, a national dialogue bringing together policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and community organisations to reflect on issues affecting families in contemporary Irish society.

The event will focus on how inequalities experienced by families impact children’s wellbeing and development. Organisations working in family support, parenting, social inclusion, housing, migrant support, and community wellbeing may find this particularly relevant.

PPN member organisations who would like to learn more about the initiative or express interest in participating are welcome to contact: Eniola Oke at: eniola@eniolaoke.com or +353 86 804 5774

The March meeting of Kildare County Council will take place on Monday 30 March at 3pm.

You can watch proceedings live from the Council Chamber in Aras Chill Dara at – https://youtube.com/@cocowebteam?si=YEqxc-xpjh1NA6Y8

Members of the public and media are invited to watch a live stream of our monthly Council meetings where your local councillors work alongside Council officials to make decisions on behalf of County Kildare.

The JAM Card and JAM App is the FREE, easy and discreet way to let others know that you need ‘Just A Minute’ of patience and support.

The JAM Card is useful when on public transport, in a retail or any other customer facing environment. You can also download the JAM Card App directly to any smart phone.

The JAM Card© was created by NOW Group, a social enterprise that supports people with learning difficulties and autism into jobs with a future.

This will be a national home for groups working together to reduce the impacts of climate change.

Funded by Community Foundation Ireland and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, the Digital Hub is a free-to-use directory, sharing space, and interactive map. Nature Networking Ireland are inviting you to join this collective movement today.

A new trailhead is being planned for the Barrow Blueway in Athy, right beside the newly built towpath on the Grand Canal Barrow Line. This project will create a welcoming starting point for walkers, cyclists, families, and visitors.

This trailhead will support the already popular Barrow Blueway and provide a safe, attractive place for people to park, rest, and enjoy the outdoors. It will also act as a pilot project showing how sustainable drainage can protect nature and manage rainwater in a smarter way.

If you want to share your views on the project, you can send a submission before 5:00pm on Tuesday, 28 April 2026 at the link below.

The Department of Health is currently undertaking a public consultation on the new Healthy Ireland Framework.

They are inviting organisations and their networks to share their views and help shape the future direction of health and wellbeing policy in Ireland.

The consultation is open until 22nd of April and submissions can be made online via the link below.

The new framework will help guide national policy and action to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities over the coming years. Ensuring diverse input at this stage is critical to its success.

Iarnród Éireann has officially announced that DART services will be extended to Kilcock, with a brand‑new DART+ Depot proposed just west of the town. A public consultation is now open, giving our community a real opportunity to shape this transformative project.

Public Consultation Now Open until the 27th of April

Your voice matters. Local knowledge will play a key role in shaping the final design.

Full details and feedback submission options are available on the DART+ website

Sport Ireland has commissioned S3 Solutions to carry out research aimed at broadening and diversifying the volunteer base in sport. They are seeking input from people across the country — both volunteers and non‑volunteers — to help shape future practice at local, regional and national levels.

Your support in sharing this survey with volunteers and organisations working with underrepresented groups (including Women, People with Disabilities, Ethnic Minorities, LGBTQI+, Traveller/Roma Communities, Youth and Older People) would be greatly appreciated.

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

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