Page last updated on: 21 February, 2025
This grant booklet summarises the key elements of Kilkenny County Council and other National Community Grants. It informs community groups of funding streams available to carry out and complete various types of community activities and projects in their neighbourhoods.
Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership (KRSP) is holding a free information webinar regarding grants offered by KRSP. This webinar will be delivered by the Community Sport Development Officer Ciara.
This webinar will run through the types of grants available, the terms and conditions and important dates.
IMPORTANT: Anybody who wishes to apply for the grants offered by Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership MUST attend the information webinar. If a representative from the club or community group does not attend, they will be ineligible to apply for funding.
If you have any further questions you can contact Ciara on 085-8782773 or
WEBINAR DATE: Thursday 27th February 2025
The RISE Community Fund is a not-for-profit working in partnership with corporate sponsors with a shared vision to tackle the urban/rural digital divide and use technology and entrepreneurship to create jobs in rural Ireland. Its founding partners were National Broadband Ireland (NBI) and Granahan McCourt Capital. Today, the fund is supported by a growing number of corporate sponsors including KN Circet, KPMG, Test Triangle, DreamDev Technologies, and TLI Group.
All grants provided by the RISE Community Fund are privately funded. No State funding is used in the provision of grant funding.
CLOSING DATE: 28th February 2025
Applications are now open for the Music Capital Scheme 2024 Piano Award to support the purchase/refurbishment of concert standard grand pianos by arts venues and music presenters. A total fund of €180,000 is available through the award.
CLOSING DATE: 19th February 2025
The Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is now OPEN for applications. Applications are invited from farmers participating in the Department’s schemes- ACRES, EIP (European Innovation Partnership) Calls 1, 2 and 3, Hen Harrier and Pearl Mussel Projects and The Burren Programme and participants in the Organic Farming Scheme.
Note- You do not have to apply for a building under this scheme. The scheme also funds repair works to gates, walls piers and other farming structures other than buildings.
A 15-minute information webinar for applicants interested in applying for the grant is available to watch here.
CLOSING DATE: 10th March 2025
The Heritage Council is now accepting applications from voluntary or community groups and not for profit non-governmental organisations around the country for its Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2025.
A full overview of eligibility criteria and other relevant details are available on the Community Grants Webpage
The Closing date for applications is Friday, 14th of March 2025 at 11.30pm. Applications must be made via the Heritage Council’s online grants management system. Funded projects must be completed by 14th of November 2025.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a key capital investment scheme which directly supports the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy.
The RRDF supports projects that have the potential to revitalise rural towns and villages in line with the Town Centre First Policy through planned and sustainable regeneration that will drive greater economic activity and footfall, address vacancy and dereliction and ensure the reuse of heritage and other existing buildings and provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure in settlements, which will assist in attracting people to live, work and invest in rural areas.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
CLOSING DATE: 14th March 2025
Katharine Howard Foundation ‘Children’s Promise’ Grants Programme, in collaboration with Community Foundation Ireland and the Sunflower Charitable Foundation, aims aims to support community-based organisations working with young children and their families in disadvantaged areas in Ireland, who may not reach their potential due to the corrosive impact of poverty.
The programme is a promise from KHF to provide financial and other supports to selected organisations, to support and develop the potential of the children engaged with the organisations. It aims to build on the powerful work taking place at statutory and community-level to address child poverty.
CLOSING DATE: 20th March 2025
The Brighter Futures Fund is a three-year fund aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for marginalised groups in Ireland. Rethink Ireland are inviting applications from projects and organisations that proactively identify mental health challenges within marginalised communities, enabling early intervention that can prevent the escalation of these issues. This fund is created by Rethink Ireland in partnership with an anonymous donor and the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund.
CLOSING DATE: 24th March 2025
Want more information? Join one of their application clinics on Wednesday, 19 February, or Wednesday, 5 March. These one-hour webinars provide more details on fund eligibility and the application process and an opportunity to answer any questions. Register for an application clinic here:
The Amenity Grant Scheme is intended to improve outdoor community facilities for the protection or improvement/enhancement of natural or man-made amenities e.g. grass cutting, tree & flower planting, purchase of small gardening equipment/tools.
Works that will qualify include:
- Improvements to or maintenance of, parks and open spaces, green areas in residential areas and other public open areas.
- Works for the conservation or protection of natural or man-made amenities, scenic walks, nature trails, planting of trees, flowers, shrubs etc.
(This scheme will only cover public amenity areas where access is available free of charge, it will not cover clubs where a membership fee applies).
CLOSING DATE: 28th March 2025
For more information, contact Lisa Bourke (Parks Department, Kilkenny County Council) at 056-7794441 or by email to
Childminding Development Grant 2025
The Childminding Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist both registered and unregistered childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes.
The grant aims to support childminders to enhance quality and safety in their service through the purchase of toys, childcare equipment, safety equipment, equipment to support inclusion and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths (STEAM) education, as well as IT equipment to assist childminders to engage with training and registration processes.
The grant scheme is open to all childminders, including those who are planning to open a childminding business during 2025. 75% of the grant is paid in advance to help childminders with the upfront costs of purchasing equipment.
CLOSING DATE: 4th April, 2025
Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Community Grant
Eligible Works: Projects that support community groups/organisations to combat litter and graffiti issues in their local community, including:
- Community clean ups on public lands
- Community art projects to combat/deter graffiti
- Environmental awareness litter themed workshops
Grant Amounts ranging from €150 – €1,500
CLOSING DATE: 23rd May 2025
Contact Margaret Whelan (Environment Section, Kilkenny County Council) at
The SEAI Community Grant supports energy efficiency community projects through capital funding, partnerships, and technical support.
Through the support of SEAI, communities are improving the energy efficiency of shared community buildings and businesses are becoming more competitive through reduced energy costs. In addition, homes are being upgraded making them more comfortable and helping alleviate the effects of energy poverty.
This SEAI Community Grant is managed by Project Co-ordinators. If you are a local community service operator and you are interested in applying for the Community Grant, it is advised that you get in touch with a project coordinator.
Town & Village Renewal Scheme (To Be Announced)
Target Group: Towns/Villages population under 10,000
Successful expression of Interest Application will demonstrate close collaboration between communities and business interests in the design and delivery of proposed projects and must have the support of the Local Authority.
Examples: Capital Works-Community Centre / Community projects/shops/cafe/gardens.
Closing Date: To Be Announced
PwC has launched the PwC Ireland Resilient Communities Fund in collaboration with ChangeX. The PwC fund is designed to empower individuals and teams to spearhead local community projects that promote inclusion, equitable access to opportunities, skills development, and sustainability.
Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny provide services to new and established businesses in county Kilkenny.
These include:
- Business Information, Signposting and Advice
- Enterprise Development Training including Start Your Own Business Courses
- One-to-One Business Specific Mentoring
- Business Expansion Services including Management Development Training and LEAN Business process programmes
- Direct Financial Assistance*
*Where eligibility criteria are met, the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny offers a range of financial supports to assist the start-up, and expansion of small businesses in the manufacturing and export services sectors:
- Priming Grant (for business trading less than 18 months)
- Business Expansion Grants (for businesses trading greater than 18 months)
- Feasibility Study/Innovation Grants
- Technical Assistance for Micro-Exporters
- Microfinance Ireland Loan Scheme
- Trading Online Voucher Scheme – aimed at micro-enterprise
The purpose of the ‘Small Business Vacant Premises Incentive Scheme’ is to give an incentive, to a start up business or a small business expanding, to occupy previously vacant commercial property. Entry costs are lowered through a grant related to the level of rates payable on the property (not exceeding €5000p.a.).
The grant is based on a correlation to the business’s commercial rates paid on a reducing basis of 75%, 50% and 25%, over a three year period. This scheme will allow a business to receive up to €7500 over the three years of the scheme.