Offaly projects awarded €49,845 under Community Heritage Grant Scheme
Three community heritage projects in County Offaly have been awarded a combined total of €49,845 under the Heritage Council’s Community Heritage Grant Scheme
Three community heritage projects in County Offaly have been awarded a combined total of €49,845 under the Heritage Council’s Community Heritage Grant Scheme, as part of a nationwide investment of more than €2 million supporting 127 projects across Ireland.
The Community Heritage Grant Scheme is an annual initiative that supports community groups, voluntary organisations and non-governmental organisations to protect, share and celebrate heritage at a local level. It enables groups to continue existing projects or to develop new initiatives that enhance community engagement.
Funding is available for a broad range of activities, including conservation management plans, conservation works on buildings and biodiversity sites, skills-based workshops and training, collections management, biodiversity initiatives, digital resources and the purchase of specialised conservation equipment.
Following a competitive call for applications in March, the Heritage Council received hundreds of submissions from heritage volunteers, community groups and organisations demonstrating strong public engagement with Ireland’s shared heritage.
In County Offaly, the funded projects include Oxmantown Settlement Trust’s “Conservation of Objects in the Birr Castle textile archive,” which has been awarded €24,500, and Birr Tidy Towns’ “3rd Earl of Rosse statue by JH Foley - Conservation Report,” which has been awarded €13,220, alongside other projects supporting biodiversity and heritage initiatives across the county.
All funded projects are required to host an in-person event during National Heritage Week (15-23rd August) providing an opportunity to showcase their work and engage directly with the public.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said: “I am delighted to see these projects in County Offaly receiving support under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme. This funding empowers local communities to protect and celebrate their heritage. From preserving built heritage to capturing personal stories from our past, these initiatives ensure that our shared heritage is safeguarded and made accessible for future generations. The strong level of interest in this Scheme demonstrates the deep commitment of communities across Ireland to their local heritage, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact these projects will have over the coming months.”
Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan, said: “The Heritage Council is proud to support these community-led projects that bring our heritage to life at a local level. The projects selected in Offaly reflect both the richness and diversity of our heritage, from oral histories that deepen our understanding of everyday life in the past, to practical conservation planning that will protect important built assets. This Scheme is about enabling communities to take an active role in caring for their heritage and sharing their stories. We look forward to seeing these projects develop and to the opportunities they will create for public engagement, particularly during National Heritage Week.”