Applications now open for 2024.
Community Monuments Fund 2024 Launched
Conservation works in progress at Moygara Castle, Co. Sligo with the support of the Community Monuments Fund
- Applications now open for 2024
- €7 million in funding being provided to protect archaeological monuments
- Approximately 120 projects set to benefit nationwide
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, and Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien TD, have launched the 2024 Community Monuments Fund.
The fund will invest €7 million to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future. It is estimated that the funding for 2024 will support approximately 120 projects nationwide.
The core aims of the Community Monuments Fund are to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local 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 enable them to 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.
Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Gerard Mullaney, welcomed the announcement saying:
“The Fund will support the conservation of archaeological monuments and will provide thousands of hours of employment for conservation architects, archaeologists and traditional skills workers. Sligo County Council is delighted to participate in the Community Monuments Fund 2024, providing a vital link between the Department and monument owners on the ground and getting this funding out to local communities”.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of State Noonan said:
“I am delighted to announce a €7 million Community Monuments Fund for 2024. The fund has been a resounding success since it was established in 2020 and is now widely regarded as a vital contributor to the protection and preservation of our precious archaeological heritage. The CMF supports these vulnerable community assets by improving public accessibility and preserving the irreplaceable richness and sense of place that they bring to communities, villages, towns and cities.”
Councillor Dónal Gilroy, Chair of Sligo Heritage Forum added:
“Our archaeological heritage lies at the heart of communities across this county. It is fantastic to see the co-operation between Local Authorities and the National Monuments Service in rolling out and operating this fund. By providing advice and support to monument owners and local communities we can continue to support their custodianship of this valuable heritage resource.”
The Community Monuments Fund 2024 as operated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will be administered by the Heritage Office, Sligo County Council.
The Fund will provide investment in Ireland’s archaeological heritage and is prioritised for Local Authorities, private owners, custodians and community groups. It will:
- Enable conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support;
- Build resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change;
- Encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation.
The Community Monuments Fund has 3 streams:
- Stream 1 - will offer grants up to €100,000 for essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments.
- Stream 2 – will offer grants of up to €30,000 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports and detailed Specification of Works aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.
- Stream 3 – will offer grants of up to €30,000 for the enhancement of access infrastructure, interpretation (including virtual/online) at archaeological monuments.
Maximum grant aid under all Streams is 100% of eligible costs.
Full details of the grant scheme and application forms are available to download at www.sligococo.ie/grants.
Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 4pm Wednesday 1st February 2024.
For further information please contact: Heritage Office, Sligo County Council on:
Telephone: 071 911 4446 or email: cmf@sligococo.ie