The Heritage Council is now accepting applications from community groups and not for profit non-governmental organisations in Clare for its Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2024.
A broad range of project types are eligible for funding under the scheme including:
Conservation works to collections, objects or places, including natural heritage projects e.g. control of invasive species or habitat restoration works; conservation works to buildings, including churches; stabilisation works to ruined structures;
Surveys, reports, plans, and audits to inform the future management of buildings and monuments, habitats, collections, or objects.
Accessibility projects that make heritage activities more accessible for people with disabilities e.g. building ramps, automatic doors, handrails, tactile interpretation
Projects that help people engage more with their heritage e.g. interactive maps, videos, virtual exhibitions, podcasts, websites
Purchase of specialised equipment e.g archival boxing for vulnerable documents, monitoring equipment for humidity or light, interpretation/multimedia equipment, specialised software
Projects that address the heritage of minority groups e.g an oral history project documenting Traveller heritage
Training in traditional skills and crafts e.g. workshops on skills such as roofing, thatch, dry stone walling etc.
Citizen science projects on environmental conservation
Last year, six Clare-based projects were funded through the scheme, including the Irish Iron Heritage Foundation who organised the Caherconnell International Furnace Festival with the funding and the Eldertree Community Group in Lahinch who used the funding to facilitate a wild space for the community to connect with each other and with nature.
The minimum grant that can be requested through the scheme is €500. The maximum is €25,000.
The closing date for applications is Monday, 25th of March 2024 at 5pm. Applications must be made via the Heritage Council’s online grants management system. Funded projects must be completed by 15th of November 2024. Full details are available here
The Heritage Council will host a Zoom information webinar on the scheme at 12 noon on the 4th of March with general application advice followed by a question and answers session. The event will be recorded and available on our website for viewing afterwards.
All relevant information is available from the Heritage Council’s website here.