Clare projects set to benefit under 2024 Community Monuments Fund

APPLICATIONS are now being sought under the 2024 Community Monuments Fund which has been was launched by Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan.

The 2024 fund will see the investment of €7 million - in around 120 projects in Clare and across the country -  to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future.

The core aims of the Community Monuments Fund are to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites.

The scheme will be administered locally by Clare County Council and 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.

Deadline approaches for submissions on Clare County Heritage Plan

The aim is to encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation and also 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.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Noonan said: "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.

!It also provides thousands of hours of employment for conservation architects, archaeologists, traditional skills workers and others to help deliver on key national policies, such as Heritage Ireland 2030 and the Climate Change Adaptation Plan in relation to archaeological heritage. I look forward to receiving the applications this coming February, 2024."

The closing date for applications to the local authority is Wednesday,  January 2024 - for more information and to apply, click here.