The Heritage Council and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys have today announced funding for six heritage projects in County Roscommon under its 2017 Community Heritage Grants Scheme.
A total of 196 heritage projects nationwide have been awarded funding under the Community Heritage Grants Scheme, which supports the continuing conservation and development of Irish heritage through local community based groups. Funding of 800,000 has been offered through the Heritage Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and 429 projects across the country applied for funding.
Michael Parsons, Heritage Council Acting Chair, commented,
“the Community Grants Scheme continues to be a hugely popular initiative, and while we weren’t able to support all of the projects which applied, I am very pleased that so many projects across the country will benefit from support. These projects contribute to local economies, improve our tourism product and give people the opportunity to contribute to their local community. In addition they help keep important parts of our Heritage alive.”
Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys said,
“I am delighted that my Department is in a position to support these very worthwhile schemes which provide a boost to heritage groups and projects around the country. This round of funding focuses on community projects and events that make it easy for members of the public to learn about our heritage during National Heritage Week, as well as a diverse number of cultural projects and ongoing support for our vernacular thatched buildings.
I am a great believer in the importance of supporting local heritage projects, which play such an important role in community life in every county nationwide. I would like to commend the communities which have been successful in securing funding; it’s a competitive process and being selected is a clear reflection of a top quality project. Through the Action Plan for Rural Development, I will be prioritising increased funding for heritage projects which have such a positive and tangible impact on our rural towns and villages.”
The Community Heritage Grant Scheme supports projects that promote an appreciation and enjoyment of heritage and make a lasting difference to heritage, people and communities.
A total of €32,500 has been awarded to Roscommon projects.
The largest allocation, €10,000, went to St. John’s Parish Heritage Group for the completion of emergency conservation works to the gable of the medieval Rinn Duin Parish Church, which is in serious danger of decay.
€5,500 has been allocated to Kilteevan Graveyard Committee for similar works at Kilteevan Medieval Parish Church and the adjoining Burial Vault. Some areas of the buildings are in imminent danger of collapse and the funding will be used to safeguard it, promote it’s value and guarantee it’s future.
The Roscommon Town Team in Roscommon has been awarded €8,000 to create the Roscommon Town Interactive Heritage Tour 2017. Using a mobile phone, points of heritage interest in Roscommon are brought to life through stunning video footage along with interviews with local historians about various points of heritage interest.
The Ballydangan Bog Red Grouse Project has been awarded €5,500. The project aims to provide a range of best-practice community-based conservation strategies aimed at increasing the red grouse and breeding curlew numbers on Ballydangan Bog.
€2,000 has been allocated to a similar project – the Mount Allen Habitat Management Plan. It aims to restore and manage rare and endangered habitats. Former wading bird nesting habitat and an area of raised bog have been lost to tree and scrub encroachment and the plan is to restore these sites.
Elsewhere Digital Heritage Age has been awarded €1,500 towards Sheela-na-Gig 3D. This project aims to develop an open source 3D database of sheela-na-gig (SnG) carvings and a best practice methodology for community focused digital heritage projects.