Community Monuments Fund 2020
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
B. Doherty
Four projects within the county have been awarded funding through the Irish Government’s Jobs Stimulus Package. Galway County Council are administering the funding on behalf of The National Monuments Service. This is a step in the right direction for our ongoing protection, conservation and promotion of our rich archaeological heritage in the county.
Minister Noonan Announces Grants for 71 Projects under €1.4m July Jobs Stimulus Plan for National Monuments
The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Mr Malcolm Noonan, TD, announced the approval of grants for a wide range of heritage projects under the July Jobs Stimulus package. The funding will support 71 heritage projects across 30 Local Authorities under a new Community Monuments Fund.
The objective of July Jobs Stimulus is to offset some of the effects of Covid-19 by revitalising the economy, providing protection for small businesses and getting people back to work. The Community Monuments Fund has been established as part of the €1.4m in additional capital earmarked for national monuments under the Stimulus Plan.
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.
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 and to stimulate local employment and economic activity.
Abbeygormican Church and Graveyard
Abbeygormican Cemetery Committee were successful in their funding application for conservation works to a collapsed medieval wall within the graveyard. This wall was part of the medieval abbey. Funding shall also incorporate a conservation plan which will enable further applications for funding and encourage the local group in the future preservation and promotion of this Recorded Monument GA107:002 (Church and Graveyard). Works to date involve the trimming of ivy and stabilisation of a medieval wall. Mattieu and Mitchell, Moore Group Archaeological Services, John Britton Consulting Engineer and 7L Architects are working together on the project under the project management of Abbeygormican Cemetery Committee.
Ballinastack, Glenamaddy/ Boyounagh Heritage Group
Ballinastack Megalithic Monument and Children’s Burial Ground is on privately owned land. The owner appreciates the importance of allowing the public to visit this site. Maintenance of recorded monuments requires permission from the National Monuments Service and archaeological supervision. Very often ecological mitigation measures are required when sites are overgrown. This funding shall enable the clearing of the children’s burial ground, signage and allowing safe access to this very sensitive site. Works shall be carried out under archaeological supervision with permission from The National Monuments Service.
Kilclooney, Milltown
Kilclooney Tower House, is one of Milltown’s most impressive antiquities. This ruined tower house, popularly known as Kilclooney Castle, was once the seat of a bardic school. It lies roughly halfway between Tuam and Claremorris just off the N17. A conservation plan shall enable the local group apply for further funding to contribute in maintaining and conserving this recorded monument. ‘Immediate necessary works to stabilise and maintain the remaining medieval fabric of the tower house is essential’.
Lydacan Tower House, Kiltartan
Lydacan Castle is a state owned tower house on lands adjacent to a turlough. A conservation plan shall enable Galway County Council to initiate its preservation and maintain this very important monument as a possible attraction in the future.
These past few months have seen a rise in the public’s appreciation of their local heritage. The funding is very welcomed by The Heritage Office and Director of Services, Galway County Council. The future works will further stimulate local employment and services throughout the county, while helping to maintain our local archaeological heritage for future generations to enjoy.
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