Solar Grants for Community Groups and Sports Clubs in Ireland
GAA clubs, community centres, pools, tennis and rowing clubs all over Ireland have put solar panels on their roofs, and most of them didn't pay the full price. This guide sets out the funding routes groups actually used, the awards they won, and what the panels are doing for them now. It is built from 19 installed projects and 17 recent awards, each one linked to its source below.
Open now: Community Sport Facilities Fund 2026
Sports clubs and community groups can apply until 5pm on 26 February 2027. Local grants go up to €250,000 for a club's capital project, and solar panels have been funded in past rounds. How the fund works (Irish Times).
Featured funding partners
Advertise hereFeature your fund or service here
Lending to clubs, running a community fund or helping groups with grant applications? Reach the clubs and halls planning solar projects.
See advertising optionsFeature your fund or service here
Lending to clubs, running a community fund or helping groups with grant applications? Reach the clubs and halls planning solar projects.
See advertising optionsThe funding routes clubs and groups used
Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP), Strand 1
Your county or city council, funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
The route clubs use most. Each council runs its own call for not-for-profit groups in its area. Solar and battery projects at clubs mostly win between about €17,000 and €40,000, and bigger awards (up to €100,000) usually bundle in LED floodlights or insulation. Mayo's guidelines, for example, offer up to 100% funding and expect projects to be finished within 18 months. Phase 2 Strand 1 awards were announced in May 2026.
Used by: St Finbarr's (Cork), Naomh Ólaf (Dublin), Howth Yacht Club, Fingallians, Spa GAA (Kerry)
Community Sport Facilities Fund
Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (this used to be the Sports Capital Programme)
Open to voluntary, not-for-profit sports clubs and community groups. In the 2023 round, solar-only awards ranged from about €15,000 to €39,000, and 43 lines in the published list mention solar or PV. The 2026 round opened on 19 October 2026 and closes at 5pm on 26 February 2027.
Used by: Carrigtwohill GAA, Galway Rowing Club, St Brendan's Loughrea, Claremorris Boxing Club
SEAI Community Energy Grant
SEAI, usually through a registered project coordinator
Best for a bigger upgrade, where solar is one part of a package with LED lighting, insulation or heating. Grants are given first come, first served until the year's money is committed. One club noted it had to pay in full before the grant came through, so plan your cash flow.
Used by: Drumree GAA (Meath), Edmondstown Golf Club, Fermoy Swimming Pool, Lahinch Seaworld
LEADER
Your Local Action Group (local development company)
Rural programme money. It gave the highest grant rate we found for a small system: 75% of Kilanerin Community Centre's €15,000 solar project.
Used by: Kilanerin Community Centre (Wexford), Knockshegowna GAA (Tipperary)
Wind and solar farm community benefit funds
The operator of a nearby wind or solar farm, or EirGrid near new grid works
Every farm supported by RESS pays €2 per MWh into a fund for the surrounding area. Only groups near a farm can apply, but they often stack it with an SEAI grant and their own fundraising.
Used by: Clonbullogue GAA (Offaly), Rahoon/Newcastle GAA (Galway), Ballinakill pool (Laois)
SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant
SEAI, claimed through your installer
The standard business solar grant, and clubs and halls can claim it. It is less generous than a council climate award, but there are no funding rounds, so you can apply any time.
Used by: Commercial solar grants
Smaller top-ups
Credit unions, daa's Dublin Airport Community Fund, the Community Recognition Fund, Shared Island cross-border awards
Useful for closing the gap on a bigger grant. Buccaneers RFC in Athlone added a credit union community fund to an SEAI grant. Kill GAA in Kildare applied for cross-border climate funding with a partner club, Dromintee GAA in Armagh.
Used by: Buccaneers RFC, Kill GAA, Portmarnock Pitch and Putt
Recent solar awards to clubs and groups
Awards named in council and government lists. Many cover more than solar, so the amount is the whole award, not the price of the panels. An award doesn't mean the panels are up yet.
| Group | County | What it covers | Award | Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarinbridge GAA and Camogie Club | Galway | 13.3 kWp solar, 10 kWh battery, two water stations | €26,519 | Galway Climate Action Fund, Phase 2 |
| Meelick Eyrecourt GAA | Galway | 14 panels, 10 kW battery, bike shelters, water station | €29,869 | Galway Climate Action Fund, Phase 2 |
| Beagh Community Centre & GAA Club | Galway | Solar PV | €20,000 | Galway Climate Action Fund, Phase 2 |
| Esker Celtic FC | Dublin | Solar PV and battery | €24,164 | South Dublin CCAP, Phase 2 |
| Kilnamanagh AFC | Dublin | Solar PV and battery | €28,650 | South Dublin CCAP, Phase 2 |
| St Patrick's Palmerstown GAA | Dublin | Solar PV and battery, water fountain | €31,807 | South Dublin CCAP, Phase 2 |
| Ballyfermot Sports Complex | Dublin | Solar PV, bicycle parking | €39,270 | South Dublin CCAP, Phase 2 |
| Thomas Davis GAA | Dublin | Solar PV and battery, LED floodlights, tree planting | €96,400 | South Dublin CCAP, Phase 2 |
| Cashel Rugby Club | Tipperary | Solar and battery, EV charge point | €22,385.60 | Tipperary CCAP, Call 2 |
| Toomevara GAA | Tipperary | Solar panels, trees, water station, bike rack, rainwater | €26,195 | Tipperary CCAP, Call 2 |
| Rosanna Lawn Tennis Club | Tipperary | Solar, hedgerows, bike rack, rainwater harvesting | €29,892.20 | Tipperary CCAP, Call 2 |
| Drom and Inch GAA | Tipperary | Solar PV and battery, LED lights, bike stand, planting | €17,425 | Tipperary CCAP, Call 2 |
| Spa GAA (second phase) | Kerry | More solar, battery storage, LED main-pitch floodlights | €89,132 | Kerry CCAP, June 2026 |
| Carrigtwohill GAA | Cork | Solar PV panels | €17,285 | Sports Capital, 2023 round |
| Galway Rowing Club | Galway | Solar panels | €34,023 | Sports Capital, 2023 round |
| St Brendan's Hurling Club, Loughrea | Galway | Solar PV | €38,946 | Sports Capital, 2023 round |
| Summerhill Community Centre | Meath | Solar panels | €24,418 | Sports Capital, 2023 round |
Installed projects and what they report
Results are as the club or source states them. Only Kilanerin's saving is a measured figure; the rest are expectations.
| Group | County | System | How it was paid for | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilanerin Community Centre | Wexford | 11.2 kW | LEADER, €11,250 (75% of €15,000) | €3,300 saved in the first 12 months, 21% of its electricity (measured) |
| Clontarf GAA | Dublin | 36 panels, up to 14 kW, battery | Grant covering the full installation cost (scheme not named) | Expects electricity spend to fall by €3,000 a year |
| St Finbarr's Hurling & Football Club | Cork | 136 panels | €100,000, Cork City Council CCAP | Expected to meet about 28% of the club's energy needs |
| Fingallians GAA | Dublin | 120 panels | Fingal Climate Action Fund | Over 51,000 kWh a year expected; payback in 3 to 5 years |
| Howth Yacht Club | Dublin | 44 panels, up to 19 kW | CCAP via Fingal County Council | Commissioned February 2024 |
| St Finians GAA, Swords | Dublin | 32 panels | €55,000 CCAP via Fingal, shared with four other local groups | Joint application covered solar on two roofs and other measures |
| Naomh Ólaf GAA | Dublin | 83 kWp, 108.5 kWh battery | CCAP via Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, 2025 | Largest club system in our records |
| Spa GAA, Killarney | Kerry | 28.5 kW, 60 panels, 10 kW battery | Kerry County Council Climate Action Grant Scheme | Won a further €89,132 in 2026 for more solar and LED floodlights |
| Ballinakill outdoor pool | Laois | 46 panels, about 20 kW | EirGrid Community Benefit Fund | Expects to save about €6,000 a year, roughly half its €12,000 bill |
| Clonbullogue GAA | Offaly | 14.79 kW, 10.2 kW battery | Bord na Móna wind farm community benefit funds | Installed 2024 |
| Rahoon/Newcastle GAA | Galway | 14.7 kWp | Galway Wind Park Community Fund, SEAI grant and club fundraising | Installed 2024 |
| Buccaneers RFC, Athlone | Westmeath | 91 panels, up to 38 kW | SEAI grant plus a credit union community fund | Installed 2024 |
| Knockshegowna GAA | Tipperary | 6 kW, 5 kW battery | LEADER, via North Tipperary Development Company | Battery runs the walking-track lights at night |
| Dunshaughlin Community Centre | Meath | 110 panels, 50 kW inverter | Meath County Council climate action funding | Up to 50,000 kWh a year; grid electricity down about 75% |
| Drumree GAA | Meath | Solar PV with LED pitch lights and insulation | SEAI Community Energy Grant, 50% of about €110,000 | €892 in renewable energy savings reported by SEAI |
| Edmondstown Golf Club | Dublin | 14 kW | SEAI Community Grant | Installed 2022 to 2023 |
| Claremorris Boxing Club | Mayo | Roof solar with battery | Sports Capital and Equipment Programme | Installed 2023 |
| Fermoy Swimming Pool | Cork | 170 panels, as part of a deep retrofit | €271,000 SEAI grant towards a €1.2 million upgrade | Completed May 2024 |
| Loughrea Golf Club | Galway | Size not stated | Self-funded, €12,000 plus VAT | Payback of a little over three years at 2022 prices |
What these projects tell you
Council climate money is the main route
More clubs named their council's Community Climate Action Programme than any other fund, and those awards often covered the full cost. GAA clubs tend to quote the grant; golf clubs more often pay from reserves and quote a payback instead.
Add a battery to the application
Most recent council awards fund solar and a battery together. In South Dublin, 6 of the 7 sports solar projects in Phase 2 include one. A clubhouse is busiest in the evenings and at weekends, so storing daytime power matters.
Expect about a fifth to a quarter of the bill
The measured and large-site figures show solar covering 21% to 28% of a club's electricity. Higher claims of 50% to 75% come from projections or from buildings used mainly in daylight, like offices and summer pools.
Small systems, big impact on the bill
Stated savings for 10 to 20 kW systems run from about €2,900 to €6,000 a year. For sizing, costs and battery choices, see our guide to solar panels for GAA clubs and community halls.
How to apply, step by step
Register with your PPN
Some councils, Fingal for one, ask that applicants for community climate funding are registered with the local Public Participation Network. Registering is free, and your PPN will also tell you when calls open.
Get a site survey and a written quote
Funders want a real number. Ask for the system size, expected yearly generation, battery size if any, and a fixed price. Two or three quotes make the application stronger.
Pick the right fund for the project
Solar and a battery on its own suits a council climate call or the Sports Capital fund. A bigger upgrade with lighting and insulation suits the SEAI Community Energy Grant. If you're near a wind or solar farm, check its community benefit fund first.
Think about a joint application
St Finians GAA in Swords applied together with River Valley Community Centre, Swords Tidy Towns, Swords Woodlands Association and Broadmeadow Community Garden. Bundling local groups can make the case stronger and spread the admin.
Plan the cash flow
Some grants pay out after the work is done, so the club may need to fund the job first. Council projects usually have 16 to 18 months to finish.
For PPNs, council climate officers and community energy advisors
You're welcome to link to this page or share it with the groups you support. If a project in your county is missing or out of date, or your council has a new call open, email us at support@solarinfo.ie and we'll add it.
Looking for the bigger picture? Our community solar guide covers community-owned solar farms, co-ops and community benefit funds.
Advertise on this page
This page is read by clubs, community centres and the groups that support them while they plan and fund solar projects. All placements are clearly labelled as sponsored and do not affect our editorial content.
Featured partner
A top-of-page slot with your logo, a short pitch and a link. Clubs often have to fund the work before a grant pays out.
Open funding call notice
Promote an open round to the clubs and groups reading this page while it is taking applications.
Sponsored write-up
A clearly labelled feature in our news section on your fund, loan or service.
FAQs
Can a sports club get a grant for solar panels in Ireland?
Yes. The most common route is your council's Community Climate Action Programme call, which has paid for solar and batteries at dozens of GAA, soccer, rugby, tennis and rowing clubs. Clubs also use the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly Sports Capital), the SEAI Community Energy Grant, LEADER, wind farm community benefit funds and the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant.
How much funding do clubs get for solar?
In the awards we found, solar and battery projects at clubs mostly received between about €17,000 and €40,000. Awards of €90,000 to €100,000 usually include other work such as LED floodlights or insulation. Council climate awards often cover the whole cost of the project.
Is the Community Sport Facilities Fund open now?
The 2026 round opened at 9am on 19 October 2026 and closes at 5pm on 26 February 2027, according to the Irish Times. Check the dates and rules on gov.ie before you apply.
What size solar system does a club usually get?
Most ordinary club systems in our records are between 6 kW and about 28.5 kW, with many at 14 to 15 kW. Larger sites, like Naomh Ólaf GAA in Dublin at 83 kWp, are the exception. Most new council-funded projects pair the panels with a battery.
How much can a club save with solar panels?
Stated savings for 10 to 20 kW club systems range from about €2,900 to €6,000 a year. The best-documented case, Kilanerin Community Centre in Wexford, measured €3,300 in its first 12 months from an 11.2 kW system, covering 21% of its electricity. Most other figures are projections by the club or installer.
Do community groups need to be registered with the PPN?
For some council funding, yes. Fingal County Council, for example, asks that applicants to its community climate fund are registered with the Fingal Public Participation Network. Check your own council's call guidelines.
Sources
- Irish Times, Community Sport Facilities Fund 2026 explainer
- Fingal County Council, Community Climate Action Fund
- Mayo County Council, CCAP guidelines for applicants
- South Dublin County Council, CCAP Phase 2 project list
- Galway County Council, Climate Action Fund Phase 2 successful projects
- Tipperary County Council, CCAP Call 2 successful organisations
- Sports Capital grant allocations, September 2024 (RTÉ)
- SEAI, Kilanerin goes solar (archived)
- SEAI, GAA clubs energy case study (archived)
- SEAI, Edmondstown Golf Club upgrade (archived)
- Clontarf GAA, The solar revolution is here
- Echo, St Finbarr's solar launch
- pv magazine, Ireland reaches 1 GW of rooftop PV
- Howth Yacht Club, clubhouse
- St Finians GAA club post (ClubZap)
- Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Naomh Ólaf GAA
- Killarney Advertiser, Spa GAA solar panels
- Killarney Advertiser, Spa GAA secures €89,132
- EirGrid, Ballinakill solar-heated pool
- Bord na Móna, Clonbullogue GAA
- SSE Renewables, Galway Wind Park Community Fund 2025
- Buccaneers RFC, solar panels
- Nenagh Guardian, Knockshegowna GAA
- Changing Ireland, Dunshaughlin Community Centre
- IABA, Claremorris Boxing Club
- Construction Ireland, Fermoy Swimming Pool upgrade
- The Golf Business, Loughrea Golf Club
Last checked October 2026. Award amounts are as published; check the current call rules with your council or the scheme before applying.
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
John Rooney is the editor of Solar Info and has been covering the Irish solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official SEAI data and maintains relationships with SEAI-registered installers across Ireland.
Get quotes for your club or hall
Most funders want a written quote with the application. Tell us about your building and we'll pass it to SEAI-registered installers who work with clubs and community groups.