Thirteen projects in two local counties to benefit from monuments fund
Projects in Westmeath and Roscommon are to share almost €700,000 in grants through the 2024 Community Monuments Fund .
The funding is part of a national allocation of over €7.4 million will be awarded to 140 projects, and announced today (Sunday) by the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan.
The fund is designed to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future.
In Westmeath, nine projects will receive a total of some €430,000 while in Roscommon, four will share €260,000.
Two of the nine Westmeath projects are in the South Westmeath area, while all of the Roscommon projects are in the north of the county.
Both of these projects will receive funding allocations through Stream 2 of the Community Monuments Fund. These grants are for the development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports that are aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.
In this area, some €29,520 has been allocated for this purpose to St Canice's Church in Kilkenny West, near Glasson; while Tang's Noughaval Church will receive an allocation of €27,584.
In Longford, work on a conservation or management plan at Saints Island on Lough Ree has been funded to the tune of €28,905, while in Offaly, nearby Lemanaghan Castle is to receive €30,000 through Stream 3, which is for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation (including virtual/online) at archaeological monuments.
Minister of State Noonan said: “I’m delighted that 140 projects across the country will be supported under this year’s €7.4m Community Monuments Fund. Since its inception in 2020, this fund has become a lifeline for the protection of Ireland’s irreplaceable archaeological heritage by revitalising hundreds of historic monuments in cities, towns, villages and rural communities across all 31 local authorities.
“Through this, it is enabling valuable investment in the wider heritage sector, creating thousands of hours of employment for specialist craftspeople and traditional skills practitioners, as well as supporting the achievement of national commitments under Heritage Ireland 2030 and the Climate Adaptation Plan for Built and Archaeological Heritage. I’d like to congratulate the successful applicants and wish them the very best of luck in with their projects this year.”