Westmeath Projects Awarded €34,399 Under the Heritage Council’s Community Heritage Grant Scheme
Three community heritage projects in County Westmeath have been awarded a combined total of €34,399 under the Heritage Council’s Community Heritage Grant Scheme.
This comes as part of a nationwide investment of more than €2 million supporting 127 projects across Ireland.
The Community Heritage Grant Scheme is an annual initiative that supports community groups, voluntary organisations and non-governmental organisations to protect, share and celebrate heritage at a local level.
It enables groups to continue existing projects or to develop new initiatives that enhance community engagement.
Funding is available for a broad range of activities, including conservation management plans, conservation works on buildings and biodiversity sites, skills-based workshops and training, collections management, biodiversity initiatives, digital resources and the purchase of specialised conservation equipment.
Following a competitive call for applications in March, the Heritage Council received hundreds of submissions from heritage volunteers, community groups and organisations demonstrating strong public engagement with Ireland’s shared heritage.
In County Westmeath, the funded projects include Athlone No 1 Gun Battery Heritage Group’s “Conservation of Finds and Repairs to the No. 1 Gun Battery, Athlone,” which has been awarded €25,000, alongside other projects supporting local heritage and community initiatives across the county.
All funded projects are required to host an in-person event during National Heritage Week (15-23 August) providing an opportunity to showcase their work and engage directly with the public.
“I am delighted to see these projects in County Westmeath receiving support under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme,” said Christopher O’Sullivan, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
“This funding empowers local communities to protect and celebrate their heritage.
“From preserving built heritage to capturing personal stories from our past, these initiatives ensure that our shared heritage is safeguarded and made accessible for future generations.
“The strong level of interest in this scheme demonstrates the deep commitment of communities across Ireland to their local heritage and I look forward to seeing the positive impact these projects will have in the coming months.”
Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan, said, “The Heritage Council is proud to support these community led projects that bring our heritage to life at a local level.
“The projects selected in Westmeath reflect both the richness and diversity of our heritage, from oral histories that deepen our understanding of everyday life in the past, to practical conservation planning that will protect important built assets.
“This Scheme is about enabling communities to take an active role in caring for their heritage and sharing their stories. We look forward to seeing these projects develop and to the opportunities they will create for public engagement, particularly during National Heritage Week.”
A full list of projects funded under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme is available at https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/funding/funding-schemes