Five Laois heritage projects have been awarded funding totalling over €44,000 by the National Heritage Council under the Community Heritage Grants Scheme.
Nationally, the scheme will see €1.2 million allocated to community groups and not-for-profit organisations.
This follows on from an award of €374,599 made to community heritage projects in April 2021.
Col James Fitzmaurice Commemoration Society has been awarded €7,550 for archive digitisation while Donoghmore Museum has been granted €10,800 for an accessibility audit.
Mountmellick Development Association received funding of €11,350 for storyboards and productions while the Laois Heritage Society was granted €3,400 for digital recordings.
The funding will boost local economies, grow tourism, and enhance community spirit by supporting local heritage projects.
Welcoming the grant awards, Cathaoirleach Catherine Fitzgerald said: “These Heritage Council grants amount of over €44,000 to be injected into the Laois economy.
“I’d like to congratulate each of the voluntary groups involved – the Col James Fitzmaurice Commemoration Society, Donaghmore Famine Workhouse & Agricultural Museum, Mountmellick Development Association, Laois Heritage Society and Laois Federation of Tidy Towns for their hard work on behalf of the people and heritage of the county.
“Laois always punches above its weight when it comes to quality and quantity of community heritage projects and I’m delighted to see that trend continuing.
“I wish all of the groups the best with their projects and look forward to hearing about some of them during Heritage Week in August.”
Sean Murray, Chairman of Laois Heritage Society said: “We are delighted to have obtained funding for digital 3-D modelling recording of three sites in Co. Laois.
“The survey will include sites identified as of National importance with regards to the Early Church tradition in Ireland.
“The Hiberno-Romanesque doorways of Killeshin Church and Timahoe Round tower and Early Medieval Cross Slabs uncovered at Clonenagh in 1989, which were associated with St. Fintan’s Monastery there, will all feature as part of the project.
“The project will engage with the local communities in the areas and workshops are planned later in the year to train people who have an interest in the digital recording heritage monuments.”
Green Party Minister Pippa Hackett said: “Laois is taking the preservation of its heritage very seriously and it’s heartening to see funding coming to the county for these projects.
“It shows that people in local communities value their past. Laois County Council and the Federation of Tidy Towns in the county have done well to put in applications and receive this funding.”
Chairman of The Heritage Council, Michael Parsons, said: “These schemes continue to provide a central focus for the work of The Heritage Council.
“They are testament to the close collaboration between the Council, local authorities and community groups, all sharing a common purpose.”
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