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State Grants Over €1m For Midlands Archaeological Monuments

Monday, 15 April 2024 15:54

Clonreher Castle - Photo Credit: Google/Marcelo Beckmann

The money will be used to help protect and maintain the heritage sites around the midlands.

The midlands is set to be awarded over €1m to protect archaeological monuments.

The investment will help to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.

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

€7.4m will be awarded to 140 projects around the country.

Killeigh Chapter House, €90,393
Ballintemple Church, €100,000
Monasteroris Church and Graveyard, €120,000
Lemonaghan Castle and Seir Kieran Graveyard, €30,000 each.

Offaly total, €370,393

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

Westmeath Total: €430,595

Clonkeen Church & Graveyard - €120,000
Clonreher Castle - €99,824
Baunaghra Church & Graveyard - €38,000

Laois Total: €257,824

Speaking today, Minister of State Malcolm 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.”

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, also welcomed the announcement:

“I am delighted that we can announce another significant number of awards under the 2024 Community Monuments Fund. This 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.”

Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Alan Dillon TD, said:

“I would like to thank sincerely the Local Authorities for all of their hard work and co-operation with the National Monuments Service in rolling out and administering the Community Monuments Fund. I would also like to acknowledge the private owners as custodians of much of our archaeological heritage and I am delighted that they are able to avail of this funding.”

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