Four Laois projects have been awarded €153,040 under the Community Monuments Fund.
The core objective of the Community Monuments Fund is to support the conservation, maintenance, protection, and promotion of local monuments and historic sites.
This is in alignment with the aims of the Government’s new heritage plan, Heritage Ireland 2030, and the Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan.
The scheme contains a range of measures that seek to enable conservation to be carried out on archaeological monuments in need of urgent support, encourage access to these monuments and improve their presentation, and build resilience to enable these monuments to withstand the effects of climate change.
The scheme offers three funding streams to support a broad range of measures aimed at protecting and promoting archaeological monuments.
This includes emergency conservation repair works at monuments, masonry repair, the development of Conservation Management Plans, access infrastructure and installation of interpretation signage, and communication projects aimed at disseminating knowledge of Ireland’s archaeological heritage.
In Laois, €43,241 under Stream 1 is going to Baunaghra Church, outside Rathdowney, while €60,300 under the same Stream has been awarded to Dysart Enos Church in Ratheniska.
While €21,710 under Stream 12 is going to Clonkeen Church and Graveyard, outside Ballinakill, with €27,789 under the same Stream for Ballyadden Medieval Church and Graveyard near Ballybrittas.
Laois TD Sean Fleming said: “The main aims of the Community Monuments Fund are the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites.
“It has a number of funding streams aimed at enabling conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support, encouraging access to monuments and improve their presentation also to build resilience in monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.”
Senator Pippa Hackett added: “From an national fund of €8m, itself an increase of 33% over last year’s allocation, the fact that the 3 counties of Laois, Offaly and Westmeath have received over €1.1m is a glowing testimony to the work of the Council’s heritage teams and the communities they partner with.
“I am aware that over the next few months, work projects at sites from Killeigh Chapter House in Offaly, to Clonkeen Church and Graveyard in Laois and St Owen’s Church, Ballymore in Westmeath will be underway to ensure a high quality of work within timeframes.
“My sincere thanks to all concerned – your work conserves our heritage, provides employment and builds a pride of place across our communities.”
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