Funding boost for swathe of local heritage buildings and projects
Ongoing work on the No 1 Athlone Gun Battery is to receive further funding, with news that €50,000 is being allocated to the project.
The funding is part of €9 million in financial support through the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) for 2024, announced by Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan.
In Westmeath, 15 projects will benefit from funding under either scheme and in Roscommon, there are 22 projects receiving funding.
The largest funding allocation in the wider Athlone region goes to the No 1 Athlone Gun Battery project, which has been allocated €50,000 from the HSF, which provides grants of between €15,000 and €200,000 to support major conservation works to significant historic buildings.
The funding is for the clearing of brambles and undergrowth to the northern section of the battery enclosure down to the original ground surface and for the laying of grass sod to battery enclosure and limestone round pebbles to the northern gun platform. Masonry repairs and rebuilding of the retaining walls of the battery enclosure are also included in the work to be funded.
Mullingar's Belvedere House will receive €100,000 under this scheme, the other allocation in Westmeath, while in Roscommon, four projects, all in North Roscommon, receive a total of almost €105,000.
In nearby Shannonbridge in Offaly, a project at Luker's Public House, is to be funded to the tune of €30,000. This will involve the underpinning, supporting and repairs to the shop front and roof, and re-plaster front of building, the renovation of timber sash windows, as well as fascia, soffit and rainwater goods.
And in Longford, funding of €15,000 is being provided for work at Creevaghmore House, south east of Ballymahon. This is for the replacement of lime render to all rear return elevations and renewal of roof on lean-to outbuilding.
This property is also to receive €11,800 for work on the exterior walls and roofs under the BHIS scheme, which provides grants of up to €15,000 for maintenance and smaller conservation works to help prevent historic buildings from falling into disrepair and possible disuse.
Under the BHIS funding, a total of €131,400 went to 13 projects in Westmeath and a total of €104,169 went to 18 projects in Roscommon.
In this area these include €15,000 for external joinery repair to 31 Connaught Street, Athlone, and €2,500 for work at a thatched cottage at Carrowphadeen crossroads, St John's, Lecarrow.
In Offaly, there is €9,000 for roof work at Temple Connor, Clonmacnoise; €6,000 for work on windows and doors at Bellair House, Ballycumber, and just over €10,500 for work on Hennessys Pub, Ferbane, including on the shopfront and thatch.