The Blues go green at St. Finbarr's!
19/02/2025
The Hurling and Football Club team up with Cork City Council on climate action.
St. Finbarr's Hurling and Football Club launched their Community Climate Action Programme Project this weekend, with Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Dan Boyle. The club has teamed up with Cork City Council to put the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications funding to use across their facilities.
The group has installed 136 solar panels which will produce enough electricity to power 13 average-sized Irish homes according to data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The microgeneration array on site will meet approximately 28% of the club’s energy needs and will supply the local electricity network with excess electricity during sunnier days. This will see the club save energy while also reducing their carbon emissions.
On top of the installation of the solar panels St.Finbarr's Hurling and Football Club is looking to make more energy savings through an energy efficiency focused approach to modifications on their club house. St. Finbarr's is one of 23 community-based projects that received funding under Cork City Council’s Community Climate Action Fund.
Lord Mayor, Councillor Dan Boyle said: “St. Finbarr's is a great example of how a community-based sports club can lead the way making sustainability work for them. It is exciting to see the Community Climate Action Fund start to bear fruit around the city, to create positive and lasting climate impacts”
Colette McCarthy, treasurer of St. Finbarr's Hurling and Football Club and member of their sustainability committee, said:
“Since we formed our club sustainability team “Blues Go Green”, our awareness and knowledge around climate action has increased dramatically. We are doing the right thing for our environment and the changes we are making will result in substantial savings on our energy bills, which for a voluntary organisation is a great bonus!”
The Community Climate Action Programme Fund
23 community groups have received a share of €860,000 to support the city’s climate and biodiversity ambitions. Cork City Council’s Community Climate Action Programme Fund is supported by the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications, and will see concrete actions such as the installation of solar panels and tree planting be delivered on throughout the entire city.
St. Finbarr's Hurling and Football Club
St. Finbarr's is one of the oldest GAA clubs in Ireland, founded in 1876 and even predating the formation of the GAA in 1884. A famous club within the GAA and holds the honour of being the first club to win both All Ireland Club titles in both Hurling and Football. They received funding from the Community Climate Action Programme fund of just under €50,000 for the creation of the solar array.
DATA Sources:
Supplier PV Generation:
CO2 emissions avoided: 25,850kg/year
PV System Output: 55,023kWh/year
Average House Electricity Usage:
SEAI: Residential | Energy Statistics In Ireland | SEAI
Commission for Regulations of Utilities via Switcher.ie Ireland's Average Gas & Electricity Use & Prices | Standing Charges & kWh