Christmas may be months away, but communities across Carlow are already preparing for the festive season.
Carlow County Council is inviting local groups to apply for the 2026 Christmas Lights Grant Scheme to help fund festive lighting displays in towns and villages across the county.
Application deadline: 18 September 2026.
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The Children’s Active Play Fund is a three year fund aimed at supporting children and young people across Ireland get active, stay healthy, and have fun.
This €1.5 million fund is created by Rethink Ireland in partnership with the Sunflower Charitable Foundation and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht via the Dormant Accounts Fund.
The fund is open to charitable organisations delivering innovative projects that encourage movement, activity and social connections, making it easier and more enjoyable for young people to lead active lives.
The fund offers a package of cash grants and non-financial supports for up to eight projects to help them expand and increase their social impact.
The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) provides capital supports essential for many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas.
The Programme was first launched in 2018 as the Community Enhancement Programme and funding was ring-fenced for Men’s Sheds in 2018, and for both Men’s and Women’s Sheds in 2019.
In 2020 the programme provided funding under the COVID-19 Emergency Fund to support community groups to adapt their services and operations and to become more involved in the Government’s ‘Keep Well’ campaign. It also provided capital funding to support the maintenance, improvement and upkeep of community centres and community buildings.
Carlow County Council invites community and voluntary groups to apply for the IPB LEAF Fund 2026.
Funding available: €2,000–€10,000 for projects that:
The fund encourages groups to work with their local Tidy Towns committee to deliver actions identified in local Tidy Towns and community plans.
Eligible groups include sports, heritage, youth, gardening, environmental, community development and social inclusion organisations.
Examples of projects:
Application deadline: Midnight, Monday, 3 August 2026
Apply online: Carlow County Council
Queries:
Jenny: 059 91 36231 / climate@carlowcoco.ie
Dr. Sinead McGrath Memorial International Development Scholarship – Applications Open
Maynooth University is now accepting applications for the Dr. Sinead McGrath Memorial Scholarship for the 2026/27 academic year. The scholarship offers a €2,500 bursary to one student studying a Master's programme through the Centre for Global Development.
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has announced the What Works in Communities Fund, funded through the Dormant Accounts Fund.
The fund will support community and voluntary organisations that run prevention and early intervention projects for children and young people. Funded projects must show how their work can provide useful learning and practical insights that can help improve services and support across the sector.
Local authorities may assist you in finding accommodation in the private market if you qualify for long term rent supplement and have a qualified housing need. The local authority will pay the landlord and you will pay a rent contribution to the local authority.
Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is a social housing support introduced to cater for the accommodation needs of persons who are in receipt of long-term rent supplement.
Persons normally must be in receipt of rent supplement for a minimum period of 18 months and be assessed as having a long-term housing need.
Under the RAS scheme, private rented properties provide an additional source of good quality rental accommodation for eligible persons.
Local Action Groups may provide financial support to community and voluntary groups and businesses to develop rural tourism, enterprise development, broadband and renewable energy projects to improve rural economies and the quality of life in rural areas.
The LEADER programme has been operating in Ireland and across EU Member States for over 30 years. Over the three decades of its existence, the programme has supported the development of a wide range of innovative and sustainable projects that have brought increased jobs and vibrancy to rural communities across the EU. Local Action Groups may provide financial support to community and voluntary groups and businesses to develop rural tourism, enterprise development, broadband and renewable energy projects to improve rural economies and the quality of life in rural areas.
Our sector must be heard at European level and have the capacity to engage in EU programmes.
Many Irish community and voluntary organisations seek information on European funding and policies but don’t know where to start. Our EU hub is here to help!
On the 6th December 2023 Minister Humphreys announced capital funding of €1 million for Women’s Groups. This funding is ring-fenced under the new €6 million Local Enhancement Programme 2024, and builds on the €100,000 ring-fenced funding announced last October 2022, to support the growing network of Women’s Sheds.
Women’s Sheds were also eligible to apply for funding under the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP). The €6 million LEP was set up to support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with minor capital works and improvements to their facilities, and the purchase of equipment for community use.
The funding may be used, but was not limited to; improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs.
The fund is administered by the Local Community Development Committee (LCDCs) within each Local Authority area, on behalf of the Department. Each LCDC advertised the fund and it is now closed to applicants.
The number of Women’s Sheds being set up across the country is on the rise, and the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) have committed to assisting the Women’s Sheds in building a similar successful organisation.
The IMSA contact details are located here
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) also provide supports to Women’s Sheds, for example in facilitating training courses and holding focus groups. This support remains available through SICAP.
Separately, funding under the LEADER programme is not targeted at any particular group or sector in rural communities. It is, rather, focused on a thematic approach to rural development. The budget for the LEADER programme is allocated for the duration of the programme rather than on an annual basis to allow more flexibility in the allocation of funding, to the Local Action Group delivering the programme.
Organisations, such as Women’s Sheds, may be eligible for LEADER funding but in the first instance contact should be made with the local implementing partner.
Contact details for the Implementing Partners are available on the Department’s website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c45498-local-action-groups/.
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.
Aims & Objectives:
The LIFE programme’s main goals are to:
What does it support?
LIFE funds projects that address issues within its four sub-programmes:
Who can apply?
Entities with an environmental and/or climate mission (including nature/biodiversity and clean energy transition) such as:
Application forms for Carlow County Council grants and funding schemes are available here, along with information on the range of grants and supports provided by the Carlow Local Enterprise Office.
There are a range of different investment schemes and supports available for rural and community development. This page features a brief description of each as well as links to the individual services and how to apply for them.
Patricia Duffe
Fiona Broadbery
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