Community Monuments Fund 2021

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

B. Doherty

Transept chapel after removal of ivy, Abbeygormican

B. Doherty October 2020

Kilclooney Tower House

B. Doherty 2020

Kiltartan Church doorway

B. Doherty 2021

Water font, Kilboght, Kilreekil

B. Doherty 2021

Seven projects within the County of Galway were awarded funding under the Community Monuments Fund announced by the Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD. First established in 2020, the fund was increased from just over €1 million last year to €4.2 million in 2021.

Conservation and Maintenance

The core objective of the Community Monuments Fund is to support the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites. It contains a number of different measures 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 improving their presentation and also building resilience in monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.

Archaeological Monuments

The Community Monuments Fund is investing essential capital in our valuable archaeological heritage to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public while stimulating local employment and economic activity.

Pride of Place

Galway County Council administers the funding on behalf of the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer Galway County Council has expressed her gratitude and delight with the announcement. ‘This is a great boost to the county and will assist in tackling the many conservation issues of our monuments. Our communities take great pride in their heritage sites, and I am delighted to be in the position to assist with the implementation of these funds.’

Community Projects awarded Funding

This is the second year that Abbeygormican has benefitted from this funding. Following the completion of a Conservation Management Plan, emergency works to the abbey walls which started in 2020 can continue. Other Projects throughout the county to benefit are as follows: Kilclooney Tower House, Milltown; Dolphin Tomb, Bullaun; Kiltartan Church and Graveyard; Killora Church, Craughwell; Kilboght Church, Kilreekil and St. Kerrill’s, Gurteen.

Making public participation possible

Galway Community Archaeologist Bernie Doherty has assisted groups and individuals with the preparation of applications and highlights the positive impact this funding has in helping communities understand the importance of preserving and conserving our archaeological sites and monuments. ‘We express our gratitude to all the communities and individuals who put so much time and energy into their local heritage sites. This funding encourages public participation in caring for and showcasing our local heritage sites, which we are all so dependant on either directly or indirectly. Sincere thanks to Minister Malcolm Noonan and all at the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.’

Galway Community Archaeology Project is funded by Galway County Council and The Heritage Council

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