Large allocation for Creative Ireland local authority projects in Offaly

THE Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’ Brien TD, have announced a funding allocation of €175,161 for the implementation of Creative Ireland initiatives in Offaly.

Since the Creative Ireland Programme was launched in 2017, it has received investment of €21 million from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This has enabled local authorities to deliver over 5,700 community-led creative projects to support their respective Culture and Creativity Strategies 2018-2022 along with the flagship Cruinniú na nÓg – the national day of free creativity for children and young people that takes place in June.

This funding is part of a €6.6 million investment in local authorities throughout the country that will support creative projects that will connect people, creativity and wellbeing in 2022. The Creative Ireland Programme is committed to the vision that every person in their community should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential.

During 2021 in Offaly, the Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Team delivered 66 projects including:

Following on from the 2017 publication of 'Flights of Fancy; Follies, Families and Demesnes in Offaly' written by Rachel McKenna architect with Offaly County Council, the Offaly Creative Ireland team have supported the conservation of follies in the county. This is a five year legacy project which will have a considerable long term effect in the county. To date the Gloster Arch, the Ballycumber Folly and Acres’s Folly have all been conserved and in 2021 work on the Kinnitty Suspension Bridge in Kinnitty Demesne began. The bridge is a rare surviving example of a multiple-wire cable suspension bridge dating back to circa 1840. 
Meadow - was a site-specific sound installation created as an Offaly Drama Project for the former Birr Workhouse burial ground with support from Creative Ireland. Through a musical setting of historical information and records The Meadow gave a voice to the thousands of lives lost in the workhouse during the Great Famine of 1845-1852. Conceived by Fiona Breen in collaboration with composer Tom Lane and historian Margaret Hogan. This project was originally developed in 2020 but was finally performed in August 2021.
Minister Martin said:“I am very pleased to continue to support the excellent work undertaken by local authorities on behalf of the Creative Ireland Programme. Every Creative Ireland project delivered by our local authority teams harnesses the creative potential of our people and their communities. Their work is the cornerstone of the Creative Ireland Programme and brings together local expertise in arts, heritage, libraries, enterprise and community engagement in a meaningful and inspired way. As we emerge from the last two years, I know that they will once again deliver creative programmes that can build resilience, foster personal confidence and sustain their communities”.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, added: “Local authorities have extensive expertise across heritage, arts, libraries as well as vital local relationships. I firmly believe that culture plays a key role in local government’s work in creating great places to live and work. Creative Communities takes this a step further. Culture and creativity can be part of responses to social isolation, to creating a sense of place and to integrating new communities.”

Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Peter Burke, TD, said:“Our Local Authorities are the closest arm of the State to our citizens and are well placed to engage directly with local artists and community groups. Through the PPN and other statutory committees and vehicles, they are linked in with our older people, members of the traveller community, community and voluntary groups and key stakeholders in every locality in the country. This scheme is wide reaching, and as a Government we want all members of society to have equal access cultural and creative opportunities.”

For an overview of Creative Ireland projects in Offaly please go to https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/offaly/