CMF investS €600,000 to protect Westmeath archaeological monuments
An award of €596,761.75 has been made for eight Westmeath projects under the 2026 Community Monuments Fund (CMF).
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, announced a total of €8 million for 104 heritage projects nationally, today, Thursday 16 April.
These grants help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future and improve access.
Minister Browne commended the network of heritage professionals whose stewardship make the scheme so successful each year: “I want to acknowledge the work of the National Monuments Service of my department for their diligence, dedication and hard work in managing the CMF.
“I would also like to recognise the local authorities and their heritage professionals for their work in administering these awards and for their overall crucial role in heritage protection and promotion.
“The €8 million I’m announcing under this year’s CMF will help 104 heritage projects across the country, supporting custodians and communities and ensuring the protection of our archaeological heritage as a community asset for our collective benefit.”
With an overall increase in grant funding available through the Community Monuments Scheme this year, Minister O’Sullivan stated: “I’m delighted to be continuing the positive funding trajectory for archaeological heritage with the increase of this year’s CMF to just over €8 million, a step up from €7.5m in 2025.
“The CMF is a hugely impactful grants scheme that supports custodians to protect and restore the towers, graveyards, churches, castles, forts and other monuments that are valued so highly by communities all over the county.
“As minister for heritage, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the individuals and community groups in Westmeath who have stepped up to care for their local monuments and volunteered their time, energy and enthusiasm to ensure their conservation. I wish all of the award recipients the best of luck in rolling out their projects and I look forward to seeing the progress for myself in the coming months and years.”
Projects in Westmeath awarded funding this year include:
Stream 1: grants up to €100,000 aimed at essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair of archaeological monuments. Exceptional projects may be awarded up to €130,000.
• Killare Church €89,897.25
• Castlelost Church €126,914
• Kilpatrick Church €130,000
• Carrick Castle €130,000
Stream 2: grants of up to €30,000 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports that are aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.
• Moate Castle €29,950.50
Stream 3: grants of up to €30,000 for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation (including virtual/online) at archaeological monuments.
• Pass of Kilbride Church and Graveyard €30,000
• Wayside Crosses, Fore €30,000
• Ballymore Stone and Dysart High Cross €30,000
Established in 2020, the CMF supports a range of initiatives to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites. This investment safeguards monuments for the benefit of communities and the public. It does so by enabling conservation works and repairs as well as building resilience through protecting monuments from the effects of extreme weather and climate change. The scheme also helps facilitate public access and improvements to the presentation of local monuments.