FOUR Donegal projects have been awarded funding under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund.
The Donegal based projects received over €200,000 to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future.
Assaroe Abbey in Ballyshannon received €100,000, while Doon Fort received over €50,000.
Finner Church and Graveyard and Old Killaghtee Churchyard both received over €28,000 each.
A total of 122 projects across the country will be awarded €7.5 million in funding.
The Community Monuments Fund 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 encourages public access and improvements to the presentation of local monuments.
Speaking following the announcement Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, TD, said he was delighted to announce these awards under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund.
“The importance of our archaeological heritage cannot be overstated and this fund has a very real and profound impact on the custodians and communities in our cities, villages, towns and countryside,” he added.
“I sincerely thank the owners of archaeological monuments for their dedication to the preservation of our wonderful heritage. This investment will ensure that our built heritage can continue to be enjoyed by local and visiting communities, as well as acting to create work and preserve important traditional skills in towns and villages right across Ireland.”
Speaking today, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD said this vital initiative not only preserves our rich heritage but also strengthens the connection between our communities and their history creating opportunities for education and tourism.
“Since this fund was first introduced in 2020, it has invested €25.5 million in communities nationwide. It is now a bedrock of our support for archaeological heritage across the country helping conserve buildings as varied as churches, roundtowers, castles, forts, barracks and, abbeys.
“This scheme helps to build robustness in our heritage against the extremes of weather, addressing key actions in our Climate Adaptation Plan as well as under Heritage Ireland 2030.
“These awards also deliver jobs for the heritage sector and traditional skills craftspeople, providing thousands of hours of employment every year.”
“The quality of applications for the fund for 2025 has been extraordinary and I wish all of the award recipients, including the many spearheaded by local communities, the best of luck in rolling out their projects,” he concluded.
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