Nine local projects to benefit from monuments fund

Nine projects in Westmeath are to receive a €430,595 share of the €7.4 million awarded to 140 projects around the country through the 2024 Community Monuments Fund to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD, announced the funding yesterday, Sunday.

Projects awarded funding this year include: Castlelost Church, €100,000; Kilpatrick Church, €100,000; Templecross Church, €56,000; Culleenmore Tower House, €30,000; Kilbixy Leper Hospital, €30,000; St Canice’s Church, Kilkenny Abbey, €29,520.

Established in 2020, the Community Monuments Fund aims to conserve, maintain, protect and promote monuments and historic sites.

Funding is available to allow conservation works to be carried out on monuments that are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support.

The aim is to encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation and also to build their resilience to help them withstand the effects of climate change.

The fund supports essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments and also the development of conservation management plans to identify measures that may be needed to conserve monuments. Grants are also available to enhance public access infrastructure and interpretation at archaeological monuments.

Minister of State Noonan said: "I’m delighted that 140 projects will be supported under this year’s €7.4m Community Monuments Fund. The fund has become a lifeline for the protection of Ireland’s irreplaceable archaeological heritage by revitalising hundreds of historic monuments across all 31 local authorities.

"It is enabling valuable investment in the 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 would like to congratulate the successful applicants and wish them the best of luck in with their projects this year."

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD, welcomed the announcement: "I am delighted that we can announce another significant number of awards under the 2024 Community Monuments Fund. The investment will help to ensure that heritage projects across the country will progress, ensuring the protection of our archaeological heritage as a community asset to be made more accessible to the public. Through this fund, we have been able to support local authorities and custodians in protecting our outstanding yet sensitive and vulnerable archaeological heritage."