Cork — June 3, 2026 — Amazon has announced the first recipients of its South West Cork Community Fund, awarding grants of up to €10,000 to 22 community groups, schools, and organisations across the region.
The funded projects span STEM education, sustainability, health and wellbeing, and community development in towns and villages including Union Hall, Rosscarbery, Lisavaird, Glandore, Leap, and Rathbarry. The initiative is part of Amazon’s commitment to creating lasting impact in communities where it operates, following the launch of AWS Fastnet, a transatlantic subsea fibre optic cable system connecting Maryland, U.S., with County Cork in 2025.
Community Engagement Manager Joanne Reynolds said: “Behind every one of these projects is a group of people who saw something their community needed and decided to take action. We’re proud to support them, and this is just the beginning.”
Among the projects supported are Little Haven Playschool, which will transform its outdoor yard into a safe, inclusive, and nature-rich play space; Myross Rowing Club, restoring a historic 1960s timber racing boat; Rosscarbery Ladies Football Club, expanding its Mothers & Others programme for women over 25; Warren Beach Surf Lifesaving Group, purchasing new lifesaving equipment to train more participants; and Rathbarry National School, resurfacing its astro-turf facility to create a safer, year-round outdoor space.
Councillor Deirdre Kelly praised the initiative, noting the diversity of projects funded: “From biodiversity and environmental initiatives to youth development, community safety, and the arts, this funding will have a tangible impact on people of all ages across the region.”
The Amazon South West Cork Community Fund, managed by Dublin-based non-profit ChangeX, ensures funding and resources reach local groups directly, empowering communities to lead projects that reflect their needs and ambitions.
